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Disorders in Shilohs that can come on suddenly:

	Bloat/Torsion
	Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Emergency First Aid

	Canine CPR
	Animal Poison Control Centers

Proactive Emergency Procedures

	Canine First Aid Kits
	How to Choose a Good Emergency Clinic ~coming soon~

Disorders that can be difficult to diagnose:

	Enzyme Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
	Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
	Cardiac links

Caveat: This information is not intended to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice or counsel. It is for educational purposes only.

Bloat/Torsion

20 Signs to watch for that indicate your dog may be in trouble from bloat or torsion:

(1)	Distended abdomen
(2)	Rigid (hard) abdomen
(3)	Painful when touched in the abdomen
(4)	Vomiting foamy or liquid material
(5)	Unproductive attempts at vomiting or retching
(6)	Arched back
(7)	Praying position (down in front, rear standing)
(8)	Laying down on belly - crouched position
(9)	Curling up in a ball
(10)	Laying or sitting in an unusual location
(11)	Seeking a hiding place
(12)	Looking at their side
(13)	Frequent swallowing (aerophagia)
(14)	Hypersalivation (drooling heavily)
(15)	Drinking excessively
(16)	Lack of appetite
(17)	Quiet, any abnormal behavior
(18)	Lethargy, weakness
(19)	Panting, breathing rapidly or heavily
(20)	Red gums, or white gums (not normal pink color)

Bloat/Torsion is an EMERGENCY SITUATION

You know your own dog the best and you know when things aren't quite right. If you notice any of these signs in your dog, take him to an emergency clinic as soon as possible.

Check out emergency clinics near you ahead of time. Make sure they are true emergency clinics with vets and equipment on hand (not called in) to diagnose and treat bloat. If it is bloat/torsion, every minute counts and lack of medical personnel, experience and equipment could mean the difference between saving and losing your dog.

Not all dogs show all the classic signs of bloat or GDV, some may be very subtle or be at a pre-bloat stage.

	Keep a copy of this list, an emergency clinic phone number, directions to the clinic, and your dog's medical history in a convenient place in case of an emergency.
	Bloat and GDV occur very quickly, and a dog can be in shock within minutes and die within hours.
	If your dog has bloated or torsioned ask your vet about gastroplexy (tacking the stomach) a preventative surgery to avoid a recurrence.

Bloat Links:

Bloat Emergency First Aid Kit (How to tube your bloating dog--this kit can be used if it will take you longer than 10 minutes to reach an emergency clinic).

	PLEASE NOTE: If you feel that tubing your dog may be a necessity due to the distance you live from the nearest emergency veterinarian clinic, we suggest that you set up an appointment with your regular veterinarian and ask him/her to walk you through the tubing procedure so that you are familiar, and comfortable, with performing this procedure.
	Tubing your dog is not without risk--if you are unfamiliar with this procedure you risk passing the tube into your dog's lungs, or rupturing an internal organ if you force the tube. PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE NOTATION IN THIS LINK THAT THE TUBE MUST NEVER BE FORCED.
	Also, please be aware that if your dog's stomach is already in a torsion position that tubing will not work (short of surgery, a hypodermic needle must be passed through the side of the abdomen to help relieve the pressure at this point).

Personal Bloat Stories (read personal accounts detailing the signs and symptoms owners noticed, how they reacted, treatment choices offered, surgery and recovery, and what they would and would not do again).

	http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/bloat.htm (Univ of Purdue Study)
	http://personal.uncc.edu/jvanoate/k9/bloatfaq.htm (A Message to Dog Owners from the Director of the Purdue Bloat Research Program)
	http://www.geocities.com/babycass7/bloat.htm (Beating Bloat an Analysis of Risk and Prevention)

Caveat: This information is not intended to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice or counsel. It is for educational purposes only.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Symptoms to Watch For :

	Shortness or labored breathing
	Rapid breathing
	Coughing, wheezing
	Exercise intolerance
	General weakness, collapse, fainting
	Sudden onset of pain and paralysis, usually in the back legs
	Abdominal swelling
	Lack of energy
	Decreased appetite and weight loss

Dilated Cardiomyopathy is an EMERGENCY SITUATION. If you notice these symptoms contact your veterinarian or get your dog to an emergency clinic as soon as possible.

Links you may find helpful:

Understanding Dilated Cardiomyopathy, testing, treatment:

	http://www.michvet.com/library/cardiology_cardiomyopathy_dilated.asp (Clear & concise--clinical signs, Diagnosis, treatment)
	http://www.upei.ca/cidd/Diseases/cardiovascular%20diseases/cardiomyopathy.htm
	http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00034.htm
	http://www.southpaws.com/topics/canine-dcm.html

Caveat: This information is not intended to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice or counsel. It is for educational purposes only.

Emergency First Aid

Canine CPR Instructions

	Step by Step Canine Resuscitation & CPR Instructions (by Lori H. Feldman, D.V.M. & Henry J. Feldman, M.D.)
	Canine Resuscitation & CPR Instructions

Caveat: This information is not intended to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice or counsel. It is for educational purposes only.

Poison Control Centers

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center - 888.426.4435

(Please Note: A $55.00 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card).

You will be asked to supply the following:

	Your Name, Address, and Phone Number.
	Information concerning the exposure/poisoning - (amount of agent, time since exposure, etc.).
	The species, breed, sex, weight and number of animals involved.
	The agent/poison your animal has been exposed to (if known).
	The problems/symptoms your pet is experiencing.
	Your credit card number will also likely be required.

National Animal Poison Control Center (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)

1-800-548-2423 (Credit Card Call/ $30.00 per call)

1-900-680-0000 (All other calls-- Charge $2.75/minute)

You will be asked to have the following information available:

	Breed, Age, Sex, Weight
	Physiologic condition (i.e. neutered, pregnant, lactating, health disorders, etc.)
	Name of the product and manufacturer
	Active ingredient and concentration listed on the label
	Formulation of the product (i.e. solid, liquid, aerosol)
	Amount of product the dog was exposed to
	Time since exposure
	Any symptoms observed (drooling, vomiting, difficulty breathing, etc.)
	Time between exposure and onset of symptoms

Caveat: This information is not intended to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice or counsel. It is for educational purposes only.

First Aid Kits

Lists of Supplies Needed to assemble a Canine First Aid Kit

	Making a First Aid Kit for Your Dog (by Holly Nash, DVM, MS)
	Recommendations for a Canine First Aid Kit
	Bloat Emergency First Aid Kit

Caveat: This information is not intended to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice or counsel. It is for educational purposes only.

DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE DISORDERS:

Enzyme Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

Symptoms to Watch For (any of these symptoms can occur gradually over a long period of time or rapidly over a period of a week or two):

	Rapid weight loss caused by loss of body fat
	Muscle atrophy
	Hair coat has poor quality
	Diarrhea with the stools being light yellow or clay-colored, consistency of mashed potatoes or watery without any form at all
	Depending on the diet, there may be large quantities of undigested fat present in the stool
	Constant hunger—dog will eat as much food as it can ingest at one time
	Dog will often eat abnormal things such as plants, dirt, or its own feces (though pancreatic insufficiency is a rare cause of stool eating in dogs)
	Dog appears to be starving to death which is the reality

EPI LINKS:

Testing

http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/gilab/TLI.shtml (Testing Instructions for your vet)

EPI Overviews

	http://www.glenellynrx.com/encycEntry.cfm?ENTRY=96&COLLECTION=EncycIllness&MODE=full
	http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1580&articleid=331
	http://www.isabellevets.co.uk/health_advice/dog/info/pancreaticinsufficiencydog.htm

Helsinki Study

http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/julkaisut/ela/kliin/vk/wiberg/

Caveat: This information is not intended to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice or counsel. It is for educational purposes only.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Symptoms to Watch For:

	Non painful
	Knuckling paws
	Wearing down of the toe nails
	Stumbling
	Goose-stepping
	Hind -Limb weakness
	Increase Tendon Reflexes

DM LINKS

DM Overviews

	http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm
	http://www.cermar.co.uk/

Caveat: This information is not intended to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice or counsel. It is for educational purposes only.

Cardiac

	http://www.bregorreyglens.co.uk/as.html (Aortic Stenosis)
	http://www.bestbeau.ca/SAS.htm (SAS)
	http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/Cardio/cases/cases.htm (Case studies of Cardio issues)
	http://home.europa.com/~dshecklr/SAS.html (SAS)
	http://www.backcsc.com/heart.html (Heart murmurs--what to listen for)

Caveat: This information is not intended to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice or counsel. It is for educational purposes only.