THE KENNEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22364, 11 September 1934, Page 2

THE KENNEL

By Bhheuee. The notes appearing !n this paper every Tuesday morning under this heading are the Official Notes of the Otago Kennel Club. The Secretary (Whltoombe’s Chambers) will be pleased to receive notes before Saturday of earn week aud to pass them on to " Breeder ” lor Inclusion In The Kennel on the following Tuesday, also advertising material (For Sales, etc.) for insertion at the foot of the column. “Bom,” Gore, writes as follows: —I have read with great interest your notes in the Otago Daily Times under the column ‘The Kennel’; especially anything relating to the Pomeranian breed. Being the proud owner of a Pom anything dealing with the breed is carefully noted and filed, but I am in a quandary as to the proper time to mate. My Pom is a bitch and about nine months old; could you tell mo when she should be mated? At what age should she be first mated? How often will she come in season, and for how Jong? I also understand that the first mating is the most important, second and third mating being liable io throw back to the first sire. I have sent “ Pom ” a letter containing the information for which he asks. “ Canine,” Tahakopa, also sends a long and interesting letter, in which he says:— “Just recently we lost a well-bred English setter to which our family was very much attached. As the cause of death was rather mysterious we would be very pleased to have the opinion of “ Breeder ” in that very interesting column conducted by him in the Otago Daily Times. On the Sunday previous to my dog’s death he was taken for his usual outing and appeared to be full of life. He was tied up for the night and when let off the chain on Monday morning it was noticed that he was not quite so lively as usual. ... By mid-day it was apparent that thp dog Was seriously ill and he was kennelled up and made as comfortable as possible. In the evening he was noticeably weak and although able to walk was beginning to stagger a little. Thursday morning found him still weaker. It was now very apparent that the dog was in a very bad way and by midday he was dead. It was at first thought that dis- . temper was the trouble, but the symptoms did not indicate that such was the ease. Nothwithstanding that there was no fever the dog was very thirsty and lapped up water freely. Just before the end a considerable quantity of. blood passed from the bowels, indicating that there had been an internal haemorrhage. We wonder if the symptoms mentioned would indicate that the dog was poisoned. Several dogs in this district have been poisoned of late. Vt e shall be very pleased to have your opinion on the case.” The haemorrhage suggests that your dog had swallowed somethin# in the nature of a bone. Certain poisons may set up this condition, but I do not consider it at all likely that the dog died of poisoning. The South Canterbury Kennel Clubs show to be held in Timaru on Thursday a i? c P rid ay this week has drawn an entry of 185 dogs. Truly a wonderful achieve* inent for this club’s first effort! There rr’u 1 etrou S competition in all classes. ihß_ limaru folk are putting on the toy section first. This is a step in the right direction. Sealyham fanciers will be pleased to hear that ch. Witch of llmer (imp.} will be on exhibition. Sue now occupies a kennel at Mr Savill’s Opihi establishment. A large party from the Otago Kennel Club will make the trip. Several trophies have been added since the schedule was printed and we wish our kennel friends nil the luck they deserve Mr George Biltdiff, of Christchurch, who is judging all breeds, will be kept busy throughout the first day. The pair of smooth fox terriers brought over from Sydney from the Gosberton Kennels of Mr T. Godfrey by Mr J. Mercer, of Dunedin, are bred in the Pftple. young dog, Gosberton -Blackleg, j s by Woodsmoor Nicholas (imp.), ex Homestead Myrtle (imp.), and the bitch, Gosberton Rosemary, is by Homestead Dash (imp.), ex Dawn. With the two latest in his kennels, together with the Woodsmoor Nicholas (imp.), ex Yootha Glossie hitch, this owner should bold a strong hand at our future shows. He will be an exhibitor at the South Canterbury show. Mrs George Allan’s min pom. bitch Goldbrook Gold Model, by ch Sunburnt Little (Shiek, ex Goldbrook Sunglow, is now showing heavy in whelp to her homebred winnihg dog Brilliant Star. This bitch is a great mother, and her owner is looking forward to some nice puppies from this litter.

Mr T. G. Overton, of Dunedin, ha? purchased from Mr 0. G. Ellis, of Masterton, a very nice bull terrier dog pup. Another from the same litter has cone to Mr J. B. Stuart, of Hamilton, ft is very pleaeinc to see fanciers taking up this fine breed.

It is with pleasure that fanciers will learn that the quarantine regulations m so far as imported dogs are concerned are being lifted. Under the new arrangements a dog may be quarantined in his own home for the stipulated 60 days. This means that an owner will have the entire charge of his dog direct from the ship. In ibc case of a bitch in whelp this means a distinct advantage. A large number of dogs are corning into New Zealand regularly, and the new arrangements will no doubt stimulate the fancy to a greater degree than in the past WORMS IN DOGS .—TAPEWORMS. By T. G. Joyce, B.Sc., F.1.G., F.G.S, Although dogs are liable to be invested with several varieties of tapeworm, fortunately in well-regulated kennels such infestations are rare. Each kind of tapeworm has its own life history, and at one particular stage—the encysted—it may gain access to the dog should conditions be favourable. These worms are of various lengths, flat like tape, as the name implies, aud white or creamy-white in colour. Each consists of a head and a number of hermaphrodite segments joined end to end. In most varieties the head is furnished with hooks and suckers, by means of which it clings to the wall of the intestine. They grow by new segments developing immediately behind the bond, and the older segments are pushed farther away. As the segments become older they gradually get larger and fill with eggs. When fully grown or “ ripe ” they become detached, and are passed out with the fmces. As ripe segments are lost new cues are formed, and so growth is maintained. The tapeworms have neither respiratory nor circulatory systems. They have even no specialised organs. They obtain their food from digested matter in the intestine. It is absorbed by the general surface of their bodies. The lifecycle of these worms is a somewhat remarkable one, as it is not completed in one individual or even in one species. Besides that of egg there are two distinct stages—that of cyst iu one individual and that of adult worm in another. The species of individual that harbours the cyst or “bladder worm,” as it is sometimes called, is termed the “intermediate” host, while that which shelters the adult worm is known as the “'definite,'’ "ultimate," or "final” host. Each particular variety of tapeworm has its own special intermediate and final hosts. Should it be unable to obtain these it cannot continue to exist, and therefore dies. The intermediate host swallows fertilised eggs or a ripe tapeworm segment. In the digestive tract embryos emerge, each possessing six hooka, and find their way through into the tissues or organs of the body. Hero they become cysts without hooks, and within which future tapeworm heads are formed.

As opportunity occurs a cyst may be swallowed by a dog as final iiost. The tapeworm head then grows out and fastens itself to the wall of the intestine, as already mentioned, and grows to maturity, producing segments and eggs. Dogs are. the final hosts of several kinds of tapeworms. The possibility of their becoming infested depends entirely on what chance there is of their acquiring cysts from the intermediate hosts. ‘ The following are the tapeworms most generally found in dogs:— Tainia Scrrata.—'This worm may attain a length of about six feet, and has serrated edges. The intermediate host is the rabbit, the cysts being situated on the mesentery. Tienja Marginata.—-This may be found up to about six feet in length, and has wavy edges. The intermediate hosts are cattle and sheep, where the cysts arc on the mesentery. Taenia Cucmnerina or T. Camna.— The length of this tapeworm is not more than a foot or 10 inches. The segments have a shape resembling that of cucumber seeds, being about an eight, of an inch wide at the broadest part.

The intermediate hosts are the dog-flea, the dog-louse, and the flea of man. Taenia Csenurus. —This grows to about three feet long. The intermediate host is the sheep, where the cyst is located in the brain, and causes the complaint known as sturdy or gid. Taenia Serialis.—ln length this worm may reach about two feet. The intermediate hosts,, are the rabbit and hare, the cysts being found in the connective tissue of the body. Taenia Echinococcus.-—This is the smallest of the tapeworms, being not more than an inch in length, and consisting of only three or four segments. The intermediate hosts are cattle, pigs, and man. The cysts are found in the liver and other organs. The way to guard against the presence of tapeworms in dogs is self-evident. Be careful that they do not have access to meat and parts of animals infested with tapeworm cysts, and do not allow the dogs themselves to become infested with lice and fleas. The symptoms of the presence of tapeworms may not be very noticeable if only a few be present. When, however, they are in greater numbers, dogs appear out of condition in coat and body. Their appetite is uncertain and they are generally uneasy. They will frequently drag their hindquarters along the ground to allay irritation or ii) endeavours to free themselves from these pests, parts of which may often be seen hanging from the animals. The presence of only one or two tapeworms, though certainly undesirable, is not dangerous to dogs. Nevertheless they should be removed. If many be present it is absolutely necessary to take measures to get rid of them, otherwise disastrous results may follow, possibly convulsions and even death. From the method of growth of these parasites it is essential that the heads be passed out with the segments, otherwise it is impossible to effect a cure. Before administering anthelmintics, as medicines which destroy or expel worms are called, the stomach and intestines should be as free from food and digested material as possible. This is so that the drugs may be able to exert their full effect on the parasites, and may be accomplished either by fasting the clog for a reasonable time, or by giving him a dose of a laxative medicine. Medicinal liquid paraffin or Olive oil are useful, but castor oil is the one usually given. After an anthelmintic has been administered, in order that the removal of the dead or affected worms may be complete with certainty, another dose of castor oil should be given. The following antheminties have been found the most satisfactory for the treatment of clogs for tapeworms; Areca Nut is the seed of Areea Catechu, the betel-nut tree. It does not kill the tapeworms, but causes them to loose their bold on the wall of the intestine, so that they are expelled by the purgative given afterwards. The active principle of areca nuts, which should be sound and freshly ground for administration, is a volatile alkaloid, arecoline. The dose is two grains per pound weight of the dog, but never more than two drams. In too large a close it is a narcotic poison. In any case the drug should not be allowed to remain too long in the stomach and intestine, and exercise after administration is - advisable. Extract of male fern (Extractum Filicis), an oleorsin, obtained from the freshly collected and dried rhizome and leaf bases of the male fern (Kilix Mas or Aspidiinn), the roots and dead portions being rejected. The active principles' are filicic acid and aspidin. Male fern is a direct poison to tapeworms, and they are removed by the purgative administered afterwards. The extract is a standardised preparation, and the close is 15 to 30 minims, according to fire size of the dog. Too large a quantity causes digestive disturbances which may be serious. The correct dose, however, is safe and effective. Several days should elapse before repeating the dose, should same be necessary.

Oil of turpentine (Oleum Threbinthince) is the oil distilled from turpentine, obtained from pine trees, and rectified. It is a colourless liquid, with a characteristic odour and slightly bitter taste. It does not kill the worms, but by its irritant action they become dislodged, and are removed by the purgative. The usual closes are stated to be 1 rom 5 to 20 minims, and the anthelmintic closes from 10 to 40 minims, but on account of the irritation produced in the alimentary canal and kidneys, which may be serious, oil of turpentine must be administered with caution. Hence it is usually combined in much smaller doses with other drugs, possessing anthelmintic action. Other substances- or preparations from them that are sometimes found useful for eradication of tapeworms are: Cusso, Cousso, or Kousso, the dried flowers and tops of Brayera 4nthelmintica. Pomegranate root bark from Pnnica Granaturn; Knmala, a red powder from the fruit of Mallotns Phillippinensis. Drugs, to be effective as anthelmintics, are necessarily powerful, and it is considered safer and equally effective to administer smaller closes combined in a mixture than larger doses of individual drugs. The close should always he regulated according to size of the clog.—Our Dogs,