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ShihTzu Vol. 6, No. 1 ■ Spring 2012 Shih Tzu Are Among the Breeds Considered At Risk for Distichiasis W hen “Harvey,” a young male Shih Tzu, awoke from sleeping, he often had gummy eyes. His owners, Jonathan Fowler and Louise Sherratt of Northwich, England, diligently wiped the corners of the eyes clean. Though Harvey showed minimal signs of irritation, his owners realized something wasn’t quite right about the dog’s eyes. Fowler had researched the Shih Tzu breed before they acquired Harvey, so they were aware of the importance of eye care. Like other breeds with big eyes and long hair, Shih Tzu are prone to eye problems. A visit to the veterinarian provided the answer: Harvey had distichiasis, a condition in which extra eyelashes, or cilia, grow in an abnormal direction or location along the eyelid. Harvey’s condition was mild and probably would have gone unnoticed if Fowler hadn’t been so attentive. “The lashes most likely accounted for the secretions that made Harvey’s eyes so gummy and required daily care,” Fowler says. “Fortunately, I don’t think the condition caused discomfort.” An Underreported Eye Disease Other Shih Tzu dogs are not so lucky. With continued irritation, the normally clear cornea can become vascularized, with small blood vessels running through it, or the cornea may appear darkened, with a dull or bluish area. When scarring occurs, the cornea looks dull, cloudy or white. Left untreated, corneal scarring can lead to loss of vision or the eye. Dogs that experience corneal ulceration may squint or rub their eyes due to increased tearing, redness and discomfort. Among the 1,038 Shih Tzu examined by veterinary ophthalmologists from 1991 to 1999 for Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) certification, 21 percent had distichia, and 1 percent had ectopic cilia, a condition in which the lashes grow from the inside of the lid, nearly always irritating the eye. Similarly, from 2000 to 2008, of the 824 Shih Tzu examined for CERF certification, 19 percent had distichia, and 3 percent had ectopic cilia. Heather Kaese, D.V.M., DACVIM, DACVO, a veterinary ophthalmologist at Eye Care for Animals in Pewaukee, Wis., says the CERF data underreports the prevalence of distichiasis. “You have to consider that the CERF statistics represent dogs that are presented for evaluation in hopes of using them in a breeding program. The statistics do not account for the large number of dogs that do not have an ocular evaluation prior to being bred. “I would estimate that the majority of Shih Tzu dogs that I examine have distichia,” Kaese continues. “Not all these dogs have clinical signs of irritation. Ectopic cilia are far less common than distichia, but both are more commonly seen in Shih Tzu than many other breeds.” Due to the prevalence of distichiasis in some breeds, the eye disorder is believed to be hereditary. Other commonly affected breeds are: Cocker Spaniel, Bulldog, Boxer, Miniature Longhaired Dachshund, Flat-Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Pekingese, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pug, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Samoyed, Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Toy and Miniature Poodle, Boston Terrier, Lhasa Apso, and Shetland Sheepdog. Distichiasis usually occurs in young dogs, some as young as 6 weeks old. Most affected dogs are diagnosed by 3 years of age. Whether the eye is irritated depends on the number of affected lashes, their size, orientation and stiffness. In most dogs, the distichia, or abnormal eyelashes, grow from the duct openings of the meibomian oil gland along the smooth surface of the lid margin next to the eye. Because the oil gland normally lubricates the eye, the openings are oriented toward the eye. The distichia exit from the gland openings, pointing toward the eyeball and often rubbing against the cornea. Detecting Distichiasis A veterinary ophthalmologist can detect distichiasis during a routine eye examination. If the abnormal lashes are irritating the cornea, the dog’s eye may by watery and inflamed. The surrounding lid area and “whites” of the eyes also may be red, and the dog may blink repeatedly, squint or rub his face and eyes. On close examination using a slit-lamp biomicroscope to illuminate and magnify the eye area, the veterinarian will see one or more small lashes growing from the normally smooth lid margin. To get a good look at the distichia, the veterinarian may anesthetize the eye. Additional testing to rule out other eye disorders may include a Schirmer tear test to assess tear production and keratoconjunctivitis or dry eye, another common problem in the Shih Tzu dog. Fluorescein staining may be used to detect corneal abrasions, and the lids are closely examined to rule out entropion, or rubbing of eyelid hairs against the eye surface. Progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts are other possible eye disorders. Harvey’s veterinarian promptly plucked some of the hairs that caused his distichiasis, while cautioning Fowler and Sherratt that the hairs would regrow. Due to the mildness of Harvey’s condition, they opted not Continued on page 2 Shih Tzu Breeders Urged to Take Health Survey he American Shih Tzu Club (ASTC) is conducting an online breed health survey to learn about health concerns in the breed. Breeders and owners are urged to complete a survey for each Shih Tzu they have owned over the past 20 years regardless whether the dog is living or has passed away. To access the survey, go to: www.offa.org/surveys/survey_shihtzu.html. Results of the survey will be used by the American Shih Tzu Club Charitable Trust to help determine funding of health research. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is recording and analyzing the information. More than 100 people have completed the survey, and partial results are available online. T Distichiasis continued from page 1 to repeat the process. Instead, they continued to closely monitor and wipe away the hairs and gumminess from the dog’s eyes. “I routinely see older Shih Tzu dogs with multiple distichia that have never shown irritation,” Kaese says. “The decision not to remove distichia may be fine for dogs with mild cases. I caution owners of dogs that are minimally affected to look for signs of irritation, particularly tearing and redness. They should be aware that some dogs do not act as though they are in pain, even if the damage is ongoing.” Dogs with mild cases and minimal tearing may benefit from ointments applied two to four times daily to lubricate and protect the cornea. In dogs that suffer from irritation, treatment usually consists of removing the lashes and treating the hair follicles to prevent the lashes from growing back. While there is no ideal treatment for all dogs, choices include cauterization, cryoepilation and carbon dioxide laser therapy. Cauterization of the affected Meibomian gland using heat or an electrical current can be used with a moderate number of distichia. This method isn’t considered the best choice for a large number of distichia because destroying too many glands will remove necessary lipid components of the tear film. Cryoepilation, the most popular treatment, destroys hair follicles using a super-cooled probe. The procedure freezes the lid margin, often causing pigmentation of the eyelashes to be lost temporarily or permanently. The eyelids will be swollen following the procedure. Specialized equipment, general anesthesia and the expertise of a veterinary ophthalmologist are required, with treatment ranging from $1,500 to $2,000, depending on the geographical area where the procedure is performed. Since the regrowth of lashes can occur, particularly in young dogs, cryoepilation sometimes needs to be repeated, usually performed at a THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF THE DISEASE IN SHIH TZU MEANS THAT BREEDERS CAN’T SIMPLY REMOVE ALL AFFECTED DOGS FROM THE GENE POOL. THE BEST ADVICE IS TO REFRAIN FROM BREEDING AFFECTED DOGS TO EACH OTHER. lower cost. Several follow-up visits are needed to ensure the lashes are not regrowing. “The procedure is not 100 percent on the first treatment,” explains Alan Brightman, D.V.M., DACVO, of Houston. “This is because you cannot destroy a hair if it is not there, and hairs fall out over time. Even under an operating microscope, some hair follicles are not always destroyed.” Another possible treatment is carbon dioxide laser therapy. This procedure, which costs from $1,500 to $2,000, uses a laser to vaporize the hair and its follicle. Even the smallest power laser beam can cause scarring in the very thin eyelids, thus the pro- cedure may not be appropriate for all Shih Tzu. “Unless you only treat a few eyelashes, I feel that this method causes too much damage or scarring of the eyelids,” Kaese cautions. “In most Shih Tzu, the hairs are present in large numbers and can run from one edge of the lid margin to the other.” Effective treatments can help Shih Tzu suffering from distichiasis irritation to live more comfortably. Though the genetics behind the disease is not known, researchers at Clarion University in Pennsylvania have begun collecting pedigree information and blood samples from affected dogs of all breeds to determine the mode of inheritance. In humans, distichiasis associated with lymphedema has been mapped to a mutation in a single gene, but there is no evidence that the same gene is the culprit in dogs. Aside from avoiding breeding dogs from at-risk bloodlines, there is no way breeders can guarantee a litter won’t produce affected dogs. The high incidence of the disease in Shih Tzu means that breeders can’t simply remove all affected dogs from the gene pool. The best advice is to refrain from breeding affected dogs to each other. Hopefully one day researchers will pinpoint the gene or genes that cause distichiasis. ■ Purina appreciates the support of the American Shih Tzu Club and particularly Carlene Synder, chair of the Health, Education and Research Committee, in helping to identify topics for the Purina Pro Club Shih Tzu Update newsletter. Pro Club Members Will Enjoy Convenience of Program Changes A mong the benefits of being a member of Purina Pro Club is receiving Puppy Starter Kits to send home with the owners of new puppies. Pro Club members also enjoy receiving checks for Purina brand dog food when they redeem Purina Points. Two recent changes will provide greater flexibility and make it more convenient for Pro Club members to enjoy these perks. Ordering Purina Dog Food Checks Dog breeders and owners particularly enjoy ordering Purina brand dog food checks for $7 to help offset the costs of feeding the dogs in their kennel. Pro Club members previously were limited to ordering checks in sets of 10, 20, 50 or 70 checks, but they may now order any quantity in multiples of 10 checks. “Pro Club members who order large quantities of dog food checks will find this process easier,” says Lisa Hoffman, Communications Manager, BreederEnthusiast Marketing. “We’ve made it more accommodating so members How to Reach Purina Pro Club o view your Purina Point balance and order Puppy Starter Kits, Pro Club members should visit www.purinaproclub.com or call 1-877-PRO-CLUB (1-877-776-2582) between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday. T no longer have to wait to accumulate enough Purina Points to order checks in preset multiples of 10 checks.” A set of 10 Purina brand dog food checks can be ordered for 7,000 Purina Points. Only one $7 check can be used with the purchase of any 17 pound or larger bag of Purina brand dog food. Members should allow three to five weeks for processing and delivery of checks. Puppy Starter Kits Food Coupons The Purina brand puppy food coupon that Pro Club members receive when they order Puppy Starter Kits now pro2 vides greater flexibility to breeders. The coupon still will cover the entire cost of most small bags of Purina brand puppy food but also may now be redeemed toward the purchase of a large bag. Along with the important information about caring for puppies that comes in the Puppy Starter Kits, the Puppy Starter Kit food coupon enables breeders to fill the complimentary sample food bags to give to each new puppy owner. Pro Club also supplies a dollars-off coupon as part of the Starter Kit for the new owner to continue feeding the Purina puppy product of his or her choice — Purina Pro Plan, Puppy Chow or Purina ONE brand puppy foods. “Our purpose in changing the product coupon was to better serve breeders,” Hoffman says. “The change was made in response to our breeders who were not able to use the free coupon on larger bags when a retailer did not carry the small bag.” The new product coupons were included in Puppy Starter Kits starting in February 2012. ■ Purina-Sponsored Dog Shows* June to August 2012 Event Date Location Fargo-Moorhead Kennel Club Dog Show Mississippi Valley Kennel Club/Rhineland Kennel Club Dog Shows June 1-3 June 1-4 Rolla Kennel Club Dog Show June 15-17 United Kennel Club Premier Yellowstone Valley Kennel Club Dog Show Central Florida Cluster International All Breed Canine Association Dog Show June 15-17 June 19-21 June 21-24 June 23-24 Oklahoma City Cluster Yankee Cluster Lone Star State Classic Ann Arbor Kennel Club Dog Show Cocker Spaniel Club of America National Specialty June 28-July 1 July 4-8 July 5-8 July 6-8 July 18-21 Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows Foothills Dog Show Summer Cluster Capital City Cluster I & II Simi Valley Kennel Club/Santa Barbara Kennel Club/ Conejo Kennel Club Dog Show & Santa Barbara Breeder’s Showcase July 19-22 July 26-29 Aug. 16-26 Aug. 24-27 Fargo, ND Purina Event Center Purina Farms Gray Summit, MO Purina Event Center Purina Farms Gray Summit, MO Kalamazoo, MI Billings, MT Orlando, FL Purina Event Center Purina Farms Gray Summit, MO Oklahoma City, OK Springfield, MA Dallas, TX Ann Arbor, MI Purina Event Center Purina Farms Gray Summit, MO Houston, TX Greenville, SC Topeka, KS Santa Barbara, CA * This table lists some, but not all, upcoming Purina-sponsored dog shows. Purina Pro Plan Introduces Canine Performance Training Treats D og trainers and handlers realize firsthand the importance of using food rewards to motivate dogs to perform at their best. Purina Pro Plan is launching Pro Plan brand Dog Snack Training Treats, a bite-sized, soft treat, to help trainers achieve top performance. Made with 80 percent chicken breast, Pro Plan Training Treats are highly palatable to help a dog stay focused on his game. Importantly, each treat is about 3 calories to help owners reward their dogs without overloading them with excess calories. Uniquely designed for training, Training Treats are easy to tear for quick rewards. Pro Plan Training Treats are formulated without corn, wheat, artificial colors or flavors. The treats will be available in June at pet specialty and farm supply stores. For more information, visit www.proplan.com or to talk to a pet nutrition consultant, call 800-PRO-PLAN or 800-776-7526, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday. ■ Purina-Sponsored Sporting Events* June to August 2012 Event Date Location Professional Kennel Club (PKC) National Championship Purina All-Age & Top Shooting Dog Awards Hunting Retriever Club Annual Meeting AKC National Amateur Retriever Championship Mid American Brace Gundog Federation Awards US Complete Shooting Dog Association Annual Meeting PKC Breeders Showcase National Bird Hunters Association Annual Meeting Montana Shooting Dog Championship UKC Autumn Oaks June 7-9 June 8-9 June 8-10 June 16-23 July 6-7 July 17 July 26-27 Aug. 11 Aug. 23-27 Aug. 31-Sept. 1 Lawrence, TN Pittsburgh, PA Memphis, TN Cheboygan, MI Henryville, IN Pinehurst, NC Aurora, KY Kansas City, MO Circle, MT Richmond, IN * This table lists some, but not all, upcoming sporting events sponsored by Purina. 3 ‘Peyton’ Leads the Pro Plan Champions Cup Award Program G CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova, a 5-year-old English Springer Spaniel campaigned by professional handler Robin Novack of Jackson, Mich., is leading the Pro Plan Champions Cup standings with 123 points earned through April 30. The No. 4 dog in the country, “Peyton,” was bred by Billie and Charlie Kerfoot of Vinton, Va., Erin Professional handler Robin Novack is shown with “Peyton,” an English Springer Spaniel. Kerfoot of Yakima, Wash., and Ruth Kirby of Earleton, Fla. He is owned by Beth Fink of Medina, Ohio, Celie Florence of Southern Shores, N.C., Erin Kerfoot, Ken Goodhue-McWilliams of Norco, Calif., and Delores Streng of Farmington, Mich. The winner of 22 Bests in Show, Peyton recently outperformed more than 2,500 dogs to win the Atlanta Kennel Club Dog Show in Perry, Ga., and he captured a Sporting Group Three at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. In 2011, Peyton won the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association National Specialty and Best of Breed at the AKC National Championship. In June 2011, he became the second dog in history to win backto-back Bests of Breed at the Eastern English Springer Spaniel Club Specialties. The yearlong Pro Plan Champions Cup award program is based on points tabulated from Bests in Show and Group placements at more than 200 Purina-sponsored all-breed dog shows in 2012. Three-year-old Black Cocker Spaniel GCH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction took top honors in last year’s program. This year’s winner will be announced in early 2013. The Pro Plan Champions Cup winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize, an original oil painting by dog portrait artist Linda Draper and a keepsake Pro Plan Champions Cup trophy. A permanent Pro Plan Champions Cup is displayed at the Purina Event Center in Gray Summit, Mo., along with a plaque engraved with the winners’ names. Cash prizes also will be awarded to the top-placing dogs as follows: • Second place, $5,000 • Third place, $2,500 • Fourth place, $1,250 To view a tabulation of individual dog’s points and a listing of qualifying shows, please visit the Purina Pro Club website at www.purinaproclub.com. The Pro Plan Champions Cup is sponsored by Purina Pro Plan brand dog food. ■ 2012 Pro Plan Champions Cup Standings Dog Breed/Variety Points Earned* GCH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova GCH Mt. View's Ripsnorter Silver Charm GCH Szumerias Wildwood Silver Six Pence GCH Starline’s Chanel GCH Babheim’s Captain Crunch GCH Marlex Classic Red Glare GCH Banana Joe Van Tani Kazari GCH Afterall Painting The Sky GCH Jaset’s Satisfaction GCH Of Skyline Captain Hook English Springer Spaniel German Wirehaired Pointer Kuvasz Whippet German Shepherd Dog Miniature Pinscher Affenpinscher Wire Fox Terrier Standard Poodle Skye Terrier 123 114 82 77 71 67 66 64 62 57 *Points earned through April 30, 2012 PuriNa Pro Club Shih Tzu update Point balance may not reflect current account activity. For your detailed account activity, go to www.purinaproclub.com Points Available Through April 30, 2012 Your Purina Points Summary St. Louis, MO Permit No. 475 PAID 1400 South Highway Dr. Fenton, MO 63026 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE