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OCTOBER 2007 “HAPPY HALLOWEEN” HAPPY HALLOWEEN GDCGHI MEMBERS CLUB OFFICALS BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: TREASURER: COR. SECRETARY: GDCA DELEGATE: PEGGY PONCIO BRAD HERDEJUGEN CHRIS BECK MARGO GAITHER MARILYN RIGGINS MARGO GAITHER 2006-2007 2006-2007 2006-2007 2004-2006 2005-2008 2006-2007 LYNN FRINK DEANNA COKER THERESA BECK RON CRADIT LARRY GAITHER MARILYN HERDEJUGEN --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margo Gaither 7640-B Broadview Houston, TX 77061 ****
MEMBERS – Please note the Newsletter is in PDF format when sent via Email, you must have a PDF Reader in order to view
your Newsletter online. Members wishing to continue receiving their Newsletter via USPS mail must contact the Newsletter Editor
– Sean Smith at: tarotammy@yahoo.com GDCGHI Meetings are held on the each month with the exception of July and August at: Time: Right after
Best of Breed Note: Members please submit your Brags, Photos, Wins, Litter Announcements, Dog Show
Related Information, Stories, etc. Please get them into the Newsletter Editor in writing. Remember we are sharing our
Newsletter with folks that are stopping by our Booth set ups at shows, Pet Fest events, folks emailing in wanting information
about our club, etc. and this is a way for the public to get to know you as a Member of the Club and in owning the Great
Dane, by reading our complimentary Newsletters we send out. We need your input into adding into the content of the Newsletter. . .send all infor.
to the Editor at: taropbr@hughes.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PET FEST 2007 INFORMATION UPDATE Old Town Spring is going to the dogs...cats...ferrets...horses...reptiles...birds... Good news - the PetFest 2007
website is now up and running! We still need to tweak it a bit (add applications, fix incorrect links, etc)
but at least it functioning. The new web address is http://www.petfestoldtownspring.com/. A link to our Club Website
is located on this page http://www.petfestoldtownspring.com/rescue_groups.htm For everyone’s
fun and safety, your pet (all species!) must be: WE ARE ASKING
FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WORK OUR CLUB BOOTH AT THE PET FEST 2007 EVENT, FOR VOLUNTEER SIGN UP PLEASE CONTACT PEGGY PONCIO OR
TAMMY SMITH. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EVENTS UP COMING · Oct. 6-7th , Greater Humble Area Kennel
Club – Humble, TX – will be hosting in conjunction with the dog show a B/OB Fun Match Friday Oct. 5th & CGC (Canine Good Citizen Testing) – Oct. 6th & CERF/EYE Clinic – Sat. Oct. 6th, Examiner: J F Swanson DVM MS Dipl ACVO · Oct. 13-14, Tyler Texas Kennel Club - Canton, TX
- Will be hosting a AKC Sanctioned All-Breed B Match, for those needing practice time for their show dogs or a chance to work
on your handling skills. & Also the will be hosting a Canine Good Citizen Test . . .pre-entries get preference · Oct. 27-28, Travis County Kennel Club – Austin,
TX – will be sponsoring an ALL BREED HEALTH CLINIC. Testing available: BAER & Patella ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NEWS TO MEMBERS – PLEASE READ Tammy Smith Sends out Thanks, Another
recent update regarding Tammy’s Dad & Mom . . .Folks have been wonderful in coming forward and donated to Mom &
Dad to aid him with his Lewy’s Disease disabilities. "Thank
You", cards have been sent to these hard working generous Folks from both Tammy & her Mother . . . we are still looking for the following items for her father that insurance will not cover. We are looking for donated
items only or if you know of a resale shop, etc. location that is carrying the following medical equipment at a very low cost,
please contact Tammy at: tarotammy@yahoo.com: 1. A list of needed items right now are for my disabled father: Walker with wheels and seat ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Giant Veterinary
Bills for Gentle Giants Dr. Lori Polacek knows a thing or two about medical matters. As a plastic surgeon,
she’s no stranger to the surgeon’s scalpel, or surprised by developments in quality health treatment, human or
canine. That’s why she chose the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan for her two Great Danes, Zeus and Hera, a few years ago. It’s just as well that
she did, for Zeus, who is nearly 5, suffered from serious attack of gastrointestinal bloat and had to be rushed to a veterinary
surgeon one day. Hera, who is almost 3, has had no less than 5 surgeries for two cruciate ligament ruptures in both hind legs.
Hera’s AKC plan alone has already reimbursed Dr. Polacek with over $10,000. It all started in March 2006, with Hera. “We did not see Hera do anything to
her right hind leg, which was the first one to go,” Dr. Polacek explained. “She and Zeus love to run in our fenced
yard at home in Rhode Island and she came in limping one day. We took her for a first diagnosis at a local clinic. They thought
it was a bad sprain and told us to try ice and anti-inflammatory medications. But it wasn’t getting any better, she
was acting like an old dog, struggling to stand up or sit down. A second X-ray did not help pin down the issue, so in the
end we took Hera to Tufts.” At Tufts, one of the USA’s foremost veterinary schools, Hera’s problem
was discovered after a series of diagnostic testing – a ruptured cruciate ligament. She was hospitalized and underwent
two different surgeries. Her medical expenses for the right leg came to over $4,000. Then in July 2006, Zeus suffered from Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV). This potentially
fatal condition is where the stomach fills with gas and then flips around on itself, causing problems with the blood supply
to the stomach and to other areas. He needed emergency surgery and hospitalization, with constant monitoring with an EKG for
24 hours after surgery. The claim reimbursement for Zeus came to $1,648. Then, in November 2006, Hera ruptured her left leg. Because they happened at separate
times, her AKC Pet Healthcare Plan covered both ruptured ligament incidents, one of the many excellent features of the AKC
plan. The left leg required three surgeries, leading to over $5,000 in medical bills. Unfortunately, complications from antibiotics
set in, which resulted in another $1,880 reimbursement from the AKC plan. Dr. Polacek was very grateful to have the coverage. “Having the pet health insurance was so vital to us,” she said. “These
surgeries were not elective procedures, and we felt they were necessary. As an owner, you put your dog through them in order
to prevent chronic lameness or even arthritis. Even if you can afford one surgery, you may not be prepared for the resulting
complications, like a bad reaction to antibiotics. Yet one surgery means you are committed to coping with any unexpected effects.
So our AKC pet insurance was a huge help!” Worrying about your pet undergoing such surgery is normal, even for a plastic surgeon.
What added to the stress, for Dr. Polacek, her husband and two teenage sons, was that they were also moving to a new home
during some of Hera’s treatment. “It was a crazy time for us, trying to juggle the movers, at the same time as
taking Hera to the clinic,” she recalled. According to the Wall Street Journal (04/11/06), the number of cruciate ligament repairs
in dogs in the US is estimated to exceed 1.2 million a year. This is five times the number of ligament repairs in people even
though people outnumber dogs in the US by nearly five to one. So if you have not already joined Dr. Polacek and the many thousands of dog owners
who have invested in one of the AKC Pet Healthcare Plans* for unexpected accidents and illnesses, click here to find out more about the superior coverage options. With rates starting as low as 68 cents a day, you
too could be able to provide your dog with the very best healthcare options in the future. Coverage is provided for diagnostic
testing which can be very costly. AND, unlike many other plans on the market, the AKC plan covers two separate incidents of
cruciate ligament rupture. Wellness options are also available for routine and preventive care cost reimbursements, for things
like vaccinations, flea/tick controls, de-worming, annual dental cleaning and more. Today, Hera is recovering well and Zeus is over his serious stomach condition. Both
dogs are back to having fun with their family and, in coping with their traumatic medical issues, demonstrating how well they
live up to their breed’s renowned temperament: “spirited, courageous, always friendly and dependable, and
never timid or aggressive.” ‡ For more information on how you can protect against giant and not so giant veterinary
care costs with the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan*, visit: www.akcphp.com or call 1.866.725.2747. ‡ Quotation from The Complete Dog Book, Official Publication of the American Kennel Club,
20th Edition. *Full details available at www.akcphp.com. Available to U.S. residents in all 50 states. Underwritten by National Specialty Insurance
Company. Applications subject to underwriting Rate quoted based in the Essential Plan at the equivalent of 1/365. Monthly
or annual payment options available. Accident & Injury coverage from day one; Illness coverage from day 31. Rates and
coverage subject to change. Terms and conditions apply. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Texas Proposes No Exemptions in Rabies Rules Unless there is strong opposition,Texas Department of Health Services will make changes
in rabies control and prevention laws that have unintended consequences to animals, pet owners, animal lovers and veterinary
professionals alike. Austin, TX (PRWEB) September 14, 2007 -- Texas pet owners and animal lovers nationwide who support rabies medical
exemption for sick and senior pets are urged to respond to proposed changes to laws covered in TAC 169.21 - 169.34 pertaining
to the control and prevention of rabies. These were published for public comment in the Texas Register on August 31, 2007.
The comment period runs until September 30, 2007. Petition for reasonable reform In August, Bob Rogers, DVM of Houston, who is nationally recognized for his efforts to reform
outdated rabies laws and Pamela Picard, a Texas resident and advocate for rabies medical exemption, presented a petition to
the Texas Department of Health Services (TDHS) Council, which is responsible to review rabies laws every four years. The petition
which is still open for signatures urges a provision to allow veterinary discretion in revaccinating dogs and cats when they
are unhealthy or aged. A legion of animal lovers of every stripe as well as concerned veterinary professionals endorses rabies
medical exemption. "Any pet that has had at least two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime is at very minimal
risk of developing rabies, and it is unlikely that this patient will benefit from another vaccination," wrote Dr. Bob Rogers
in a letter sent ahead of the public meeting to Dr. Tom Sidwa, Texas State Public Health Veterinarian. "Veterinarians should
have discretion in assessing the risk of the pet being exposed to rabies vs. the risk of an adverse and potentially fatal
reaction. Despite scientific evidence and strong public support, TDHS proposes no allowance for domestic
animals that are being treated by a licensed veterinarian for acute or chronic illnesses or have a history of adverse reactions
from the rabies vaccine. No safety and efficacy standards Instead, TDHS proposes to gut language that advises veterinary professionals to follow the
safety and efficacy standards on the vaccine manufacturer's label which state "for use in healthy animals." Proponents of rabies medical exemption believe that deleting this language is ill advised.
Administering rabies vaccine when an animal is pregnant, stressed, undergoing surgery, in
an emergency or in treatment for illness can cause unpredictable reactions and death. Even a slight elevation in an animal's
body temperature can thwart the drug's efficacy. No medical benefit for animals Repeat rabies shots have no medical benefit The practice of re-vaccination at one or three-year
intervals is purely based on precedent. In a landmark report on vaccines published in 2002 by the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic
Agents (COBTA) stated that there is no scientific basis for annual revaccination. Re-administering rabies vaccine does not
enhance disease resistance and may expose animals to unnecessary risk. Unnecessary risk to animal health Veterinary researchers have associated rabies vaccine with Vaccine Associated Sarcoma (VAS,)
Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) and Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMT,) all life-threatening dysfunction. Prognosis
is guarded. Treatment is expensive. "After two VAS cats and $25,000, I think vaccines suck." says Kris Hanson, a pet owner who
provided testimony to enact rabies medical exemption in Connecticut. "How's that for this so called 'very rare VAS?' I had
four cats and two had VAS; that's 50 percent in my house alone." Other chronic health concerns such as allergies, asthma, arthritis, ear infections, thyroid
disease, heart disease, kidney failure and cancer are also believed to develop after too many vaccinations. Potential health concerns aside, licensing language in the proposed rabies rules may cause
the needless destruction of well-immunized dogs and cats. All dogs and cats at risk As written, any animal that is overdue for rabies re-vaccination by a week or month (according
to the interval of the drug the veterinarian recommends) would be deemed "unvaccinated" because it has not been revaccinated
before the interval lapses. An "unvaccinated" dog or cat - including a service or therapy dog - that is involved in a bite
incident or suspected of rabies exposure must be isolated at the owner's expense or it is destroyed. "When a Texas motorist driving on an expired license is involved in a traffic mishap, he gets
a ticket and pays a fine," Pamela Picard says. "When a dog or cat is suspected of rabies exposure, even if it's had 10 rabies
shots in its life, it gets hard time or it goes to heaven." Immunity does not expire To be perfectly clear: the duration of a license may expire; a dog or cat's immunity to rabies
does not expire in one or three years. Serological studies done by Dr. Ronald Schultz, Professor and Chair, Patho-biological Sciences,
the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine over the course or 30 years show that dogs have antibody titer counts
at levels that confer immunity to rabies seven years after one vaccination. No change in compliance TDHS defends its proposed revisions, stating that this is the best way to protect animals
and the public against rabies. Advocates for rabies medical exemption question this statement. In 2002, Texas Department of Health Services Zoonosis Division reported that only 50 percent
of dog owners and 25 percent of cat owners vaccinated against rabies. When 22 veterinary schools and top veterinary professional
associations endorsed it, the Texas legislature amended rabies rules in 2003 to extend the interval between rabies boosters.
"To the best of our knowledge, four years down the road, there are twice as many dogs and
cats in Texas, canine rabies has been eradicated and compulsory rabies vaccinations have not improved compliance." says Ms.
Picard. "Rabies laws penalize responsible, law-abiding citizens." Currently, rabies medical exemption is permitted in California, Connecticut, Florida, New
Jersey, New York and Maine. It does not exempt the owner of a dog or cat from buying city or county licenses. Instead, it
gives responsible dog and cat owners a reasonable way to obey the law as well as protect the health of family pets, show dogs
and cats, hunting dogs, shelter rescues and all domestic animals in their care. These were among the first of 34 states to amend rabies prevention and control laws to extend
the interval between rabies shots to three years; Texas was the last. Comments on the proposal must be submitted in writing to Tom Sidwa, DVM, Department of State
Health Services, Community Preparedness Section, Zoonosis Control Branch, P. O. Box 149347, Austin, Texas 78714-9347. You
do not have to be a Texas resident to comment. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/9/prweb553297.htm (Website) Post Comment: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAPPY HALLOWEEN GDCGHI
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