Serendipity Sighthounds

03/18/2025

**🐾 Understanding Panosteitis ("Pano") in Growing Puppies 🐾**

Hey fellow hound lovers! 🐶 If you have a young, large-breed pup, you might have heard of Panosteitis, often called "Pano" or "growing pains." It's a condition that can affect puppies during their rapid growth phase, typically between 5 and 18 months of age. Lily had it growing up and it appears Navi may as well. Switching to adult food to help slow growth a bit is one of the first things that is recommended, which we did with Lily. To help prevent and slow growth in our big boy Kong, he was switched to adult food early on, hopefully preventing this but only time will tell.

Here's what you need to know to keep your furry friend comfortable and healthy:

**Symptoms to Watch For:**
- Sudden limping that may shift from one leg to another.
- Pain when you touch or squeeze the long bones of the legs.
- Reluctance to move, play, or exercise.
- Loss of appetite or mild fever in some cases.

**Treatment and Care:**
- **Pain Management:** Your vet may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to ease discomfort.
- **Rest:** Limit strenuous activities during flare-ups to prevent further stress on the bones.
- **Diet:** Ensure your pup is on a balanced, large-breed puppy diet to support healthy growth.
- **Vet Visits:** Regular check-ups and X-rays can help confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions.

The good news? Pano is self-limiting, meaning it usually resolves on its own as your pup matures. With proper care and a little extra TLC, your puppy will be back to their playful self in no time! 🐕💕

Preventing Panosteitis (Pano) in puppies involves a combination of thoughtful care and proactive measures. While Pano can't always be avoided due to its potential genetic and developmental factors, here are some steps you can take to reduce the risk:

1. **Balanced Diet**: Feed your puppy a high-quality, large-breed puppy food that supports slow and steady growth. Avoid over-supplementing with calcium or other nutrients unless directed by your vet.

2. **Weight Management**: Keep your puppy at a healthy weight to minimize stress on their growing bones. Overweight puppies are more prone to orthopedic issues.

3. **Controlled Exercise**: Avoid excessive high-impact activities like jumping or running on hard surfaces. Instead, focus on gentle, age-appropriate exercise.

4. **Regular Vet Check-ups**: Routine visits to your veterinarian can help monitor your puppy's growth and catch any early signs of Pano or other developmental issues.

5. **Genetic Awareness**: If you're getting a puppy from a breeder, ask about the health history of the parents, as some breeds and lines may have a higher predisposition to Pano.

These measures can help create a strong foundation for your puppy's growth and overall health. Let me know if you'd like more details on any of these points. 🐾

Have you experienced Pano with your pup? Share your story or tips below to help others in our community! 🐾💬

03/16/2025

Part of learning to be a successful show dog is learning to be comfortable in the various show environments. Today Kong 🦍started the day walking the show grounds with June Bug 🐞 and Ava and was calm and cool. After chillin’ for a bit in the Hound Hoopty, we took him back out on his own and walked around.

He did great and received lots of praise and treats. Still not sure of strangers but we will get there. 🥳

03/15/2025

I’m going to keep saying this until I stop hearing horror stories about puppies being left to cry it out in their new homes

‘All of the rest of the family (2 dogs and 4 humans) are in the sitting room but the puppy has chosen to go in the kitchen (two rooms away) all on her own to sleep on the Big Dog Bed. It shows how secure she feels to not need to be with us all. She feels safe as we’ve never excluded her- never put her in a crate in another room etc or left her alone to get upset at night. She sleeps with me on the bed at night, she has as much cuddles and company (from humans and Sylvi) as she wants all day and the end result is that she feels secure, she feels safe and confident as she’s formed a secure attachment.

There’s no need to ‘start as you mean to go on’ with puppies and leave them to cry or exclude them. Just let them be fully part of your family and give them choices and the time to develop emotionally without stress. Really, all they want is to be fully integrated into your family and to feel safe. When they feel secure they can then cope with their own company, gradually and at their own pace. (Puppy is 8 weeks old in this photo and has been with me in foster and hand reared since she was 6 days old)’

This was 4 years ago today and this puppy has grown up to be the most fiercely independent dog I’ve ever had- we have zero separation issues and she’s not at all ‘clingy’ . She is brave as she had a safe and secure attachment at an early age. Please don’t ever worry that meeting your puppies needs will make them have separation issues as it’s entirely the opposite outcome ❤️

Laura McAuliffe Dog Communication 2025

03/15/2025

It’s a AKC Rally weekend!!

June Bug 🐞 and Busy Bee 🐝 will be competing for their first Qs in Novice.

Ava will be working on her first Q in Rally Intermediate. She has a Q in Advanced but I decided she needed to step back and do Intermediate first.

Kong gets to stay home with Auntie Dory and the rest of the pack. He will be competing in Rally soon enough. Minimum age for competition is 6 months and he will be ready!! 🥳

03/13/2025

Proud of our boy Kong! 🦍

I am sure you will be so shocked to know Kong is a huge mama’s boy. He loves everyone but I am definitely his person.

This week was my first business trip since he was born. He has never known a day or night where I was not there. He often whines if he can’t see me. I was a bit concerned how he would handle my being gone and he did GREAT!! 😊

Here’s what I think led to his success:

1) We have a general schedule every day, so he knows what will happen when.
2) His best friend June Bug 🐞 is a huge influence on building his self confidence. Playing with her has encouraged him to wander away from my side further and further. He has learned it’s no big deal if his humans are not in sight.
3) George always makes it a priority to give all the dogs extra attention beyond the normal snuggles routine when I am gone.
4) We have left him alone at home when we have gone out for longer and longer times together with June Bug 🐞 AND by himself to build up confidence that we are coming back.

Let's learn from each other!

What do you do to help your pup be confident when you are gone?

03/13/2025

That’s our girls!! 🥳🥳🥳🥰🥰🥰

The IWCA congratulates all of the top performance Irish Wolfhounds from 2024.

03/10/2025

GOALS 2025!!

Although we are 3 months into the year, we do have goals for each of our dogs and these are guided by their individual personalities and drives.

We don’t make any of our hounds do anything they don’t want to. This doesn’t mean we don’t help them work through any issues they may have as we work towards a goal. A few don’t love conformation but have worked through that with gentle guidance for example.

With 8 hounds, we have to take their strengths and our budget into consideration. For example - most of our running events, LGRA, ASFA & NOTRA, have a kennel entry fee which means we pay about $55 to enter our 5 hounds per day, which is awesome!! Compare that to $25 to $30 for a Fast Cat entry. 2 trials per day and a 2 day trial equals $100 to $120 per dog. So, only Ava will be persuing this title.

Each dog’s goals are summarized under their photos.

03/08/2025

Fionn’s Journey With Liver Shunt

He is doing very well. He got his stitches out and is allowed to be a bit more active, much to his big sister Maeve’s dismay.

NO MORE DOUGHNUT!!

He is free to run an play to his little hearts content. It sounds like he and his big sister Maeve are inseparable best friends. 🥰

He will have regular blood work to monitor his progress but so far, everything looks great. Next test is about 2 weeks away.

He couldn’t have a better family loving and taking care of him. 🥰

03/04/2025

RETAINED TESTICLES 🤦‍♀️

As I posted before, Kong has a retained testicle. We are not sure where the other one is whether it’s hanging out just outside where we needed to be or somewhere in the abdomen if it’s somewhere nearby, there’s a chance of it dropping to where it should be as he matures so we could see something happen in the next 2 to 4 months max, but I don’t have high hopes for that happening. I did however want to know is there a way to tell where it might be and this is what AI came up with:

Definitively distinguishing between an inguinal and abdominal retained testicle in dogs without surgery or imaging can be very difficult, and often impossible. Here's a breakdown of why and what methods are used:
Challenges of Palpation:
* Inguinal:
* Sometimes, an inguinal testicle can be palpated (felt) in the groin area. However, this is not always the case, especially in larger or deeper-chested dogs.
* Abdominal:
* Abdominal testicles are located within the abdominal cavity, making them very difficult or impossible to feel through external palpation.
Why Imaging is Often Necessary:
* Accurate Localization:
* Ultrasound is the most common imaging technique used to locate retained testicles. It provides a non-invasive way to visualize the abdominal cavity and identify the testicle's location.
* In some cases, radiographs (X-rays) may be used, although they are generally less effective than ultrasound for soft tissue structures like testicles.
* Surgical Planning:
* Knowing the precise location of the retained testicle is crucial for surgical planning, as it allows the veterinarian to choose the most appropriate surgical approach.
What a Vet May do:
* Palpation:
* A veterinarian will always begin with a thorough physical examination, including careful palpation of the sc***um and groin area. However, as noted, this is not always conclusive.
* Hormonal Testing:
* In some cases, hormonal testing may be used to confirm the presence of testicular tissue, but it does not pinpoint the location.
* Exploratory Surgery:
* In some cases where imaging is not available or inconclusive, exploratory surgery may be required.
In summary:
* While careful palpation can sometimes detect an inguinal testicle, it is unreliable for abdominal testicles.
* Imaging, particularly ultrasound, is the most accurate way to differentiate between inguinal and abdominal retained testicles.
It is very important to consult with a veterinarian if you suspect your dog has a retained testicle.

**Info gathered by Gemini AI app. Feel free let me know if you feel it’s incorrect.**

03/02/2025

Our Mythic puppy owners may have noticed that their pups stay "In the Zone" possibly more often than other Wolfhounds and dogs in general. Although it may be annoying at times, as they step on your heels and stare at you while you are in the bathroom, it is a very good thing! We have encouraged this behavior from birth. People are to be relied on for everything and trusted to protect at all times.

When your hound realize that all good things come from the ZONE of Human, it increases their recall and desire to be near you. Pleasing you while they are in the ZONE means treats and affection, leading to increased success in training almost everything.

Encourage this spectacular habit!

03/02/2025

Spring is in the air! 💐

We are back to classes because learning never stops at Serendipity!

Ava and Lily did handling class with Anna Quigley at Totally Pawsome. Lily was a bit freaked out at first because she hasn’t left the property since last September. She quickly remembered it was no big deal once she recognized the routine and contextual clues. Very proud of how quickly she settled. 😊

June Bug 🐞 will be starting agility once e we find the right class.

Ava and Percy will be starting a nosework class in the near future with Kristi Bridgeman and My 2 Scents.

Ava, June Bug 🐞 and Busy Bee 🐝 are all practicing their paws off with obedience and rally skills for an upcoming competition in a few weeks. 🥳