Kaylaton Golden Retrievers

19/02/2024

4 years old today, Kayla’s first litter. ❤️

18/02/2024

Kayla had 3 super healthy big puppies last Sunday. They all have lovely homes.

29/01/2024

24/12/2023

Happy Christmas to the Kaylaton family, Daisy Kayla and Rosella 🎄🐾🐾🐾

15/07/2023

Bluebraes Match Dot Com of Kaylaton (Kayla) mum to these beautiful puppies. Some history of where Bluebraes came from.

18/06/2023

Kaylaton peony litter are 2 years old today, happy birthday. Bluebraes Match dot Com and Billy Elliot de Ria Vela pups.

06/04/2023

Finding 12 eggs

19/02/2023

Happy 3rd Birthday to Kayla’s first litter, all named after snowdrops!

31/12/2022

Happy New Year from Kaylaton Golden Retrievers. Thank you for taking this great pic

20/12/2022

https://puppybag.co.uk/ puppy bags arrived today!

15/11/2022

All doing very well, just weighed, Kayla always so attentive!

09/11/2022

A week today, Clever Kayla has had this super litter of 10. 7 bi***es and 3 dogs. All doing very well.

11/10/2022

Happy 5th Birthday Kayla, she loved the liver loaf, Daisy was allowed a little!

18/06/2022

Happy 1st Birthday, 2nd Kaylaton litter. Lyra far right with a mouth full of liver loaf! Picture of mum Kayla and Lyra right who has been on holiday here.

16/06/2022

4 Kaylatons, Lyra from the 2nd litter has been staying whilst her owner away. She has been so good.

27/10/2021

20/10/2021

Kaylaton golden retrievers. Kayla and Daisy, and meeting Daisy’s brother Finn in the Borders.

02/07/2021

Titre Tests for Dogs - An alternative to vaccinations?

Vaccinations are an important part of keeping your dog healthy. The question is: how often does your dog need to be vaccinated? Titre testing can be a helpful part of answering that question and reducing the number of vaccinations your dog needs.

Titre testing is a way to check whether your dog needs a booster vaccination
Vaccinations protect dogs from potentially fatal diseases. Not too long ago, dogs used to be given vaccination boosters every year to maintain the protection. However, in recent years, scientific studies have shown than the protection conveyed by vaccination often lasts much longer than a year, and booster vaccinations don't need to be given as frequently.

This is good news, as there have also been some concerns that over vaccination may actually be causing additional health issues. To help determine whether a dog needs a booster vaccination blood tests, called titre tests, have become widely available. A titre test checks a dog's immunity to different diseases to see if they are in need of a booster vaccination or are already protected.

Here are some frequently asked questions about vaccination and titre testing so you can learn how it may fit into your dog's vaccination routine.

How do vaccinations work?

A vaccination gives your dog's immune system a preview of a disease, allowing it to prepare for encountering it in future. When a dog's comes into contact with a disease, their immune system tries to protect them by developing antibodies to attack it. Different diseases need different antibodies to attack them and they take time for the immune system to manufacture. This means a disease can make a dog very sick before their immune system has time to respond.

When a dog is vaccinated it develops antibodies ready to attack a disease and these are stored ready for future use. This means the immune system can respond quickly if you dog is exposed to the disease, and attack it before it has time to make your dog sick. This is called immunity.

Why do dogs need booster vaccinations?

The protection developed after a dog receives a vaccination can decrease over time. How long it lasts depends on the disease, vaccination and the dog's own immune system. A booster vaccination acts as a reminder to the immune system, to ensure that it is still familiar with the disease and ready for action.

How often should a dog have booster vaccinations?

There is some debate over how often booster vaccinations are needed. In recent years, after scientific studies into the duration of immunity, there have been changes to the recommended frequency of boosters. Whilst all vaccinations used to be given annually, now booster vaccinations for some core diseases are only recommended every three years.

The suggested gap between boosters for each disease is based on testing lots of dogs to see when, on average, immunity start to decrease. The recommended frequency of the booster for each disease is then set to ensure dogs always have good protection against disease. However, it's possible that in many dogs immunity lasts even longer than three years.

What is a Titre Test?

A titre test involves taking a small blood sample from your dog to assess their immunity to a specific disease. This can determine whether there are sufficient antibodies available still or a booster vaccination may be needed. Titre tests are also sometimes called Serological Testing or Vaccine Serology Screens.

What diseases can be tested for?

Titre testing can be carried out for Infectious Hepatitis (ICH), Parvovirus (CPV) and Distemper (CDV). There is not currently a reliable test available for Leptospirosis.

Why might you want to titre test?

Many people, including veterinarians, are concerned about possible side effects related to vaccinations. These side effects can be short or long term and vary in seriousness. Whilst most people agree it's important to protect dogs from the diseases targeted by vaccinations, they don't want to give vaccinations that are ultimately unnecessary because their dog is already protected.

With a titre test, you can answer the question 'is a booster vaccination of any benefit to my dog?' or are they already protected. That way there is a balance between protecting your pet from diseases and the potential risks of over vaccination.

Titre testing is particularly helpful for any dog that has reacted to a vaccination previously and for dogs you don't know the vaccination history for.

What do titre test results show?

The titre test results will give a score for each disease checked. The grading scale depends on which test is used, but generally there will be a band for no detectable antibodies (in which case vaccination is needed) and a positive result if sufficient antibodies are detected. Some results divide a positive result up further and show moderate or high immunity.

20/01/2021

25/12/2020

Kayla’s litter of pups now 10 months old. Happy Christmas to you all. Thank you Jo for putting this together.

28/11/2020

Just a reminder to keep your goldens safe as we approach the Festive season with things around that may not normally be their

1. Chocolate

Contains a chemical called theobromine, a stimulant, which is poisonous to dogs. Symptoms of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, hyperactivity and seizures which can be seen 4-24 hours after ingestion and in extreme cases can be fatal.

2. Onions, Garlic, Chives

Contain thiosulphate, which is poisonous to cats and dogs whether eaten raw, cooked or even on left over pizza. Signs of poisoning are seen 2-4 days after ingestion and include lethargy, breathlessness, vomiting and diarrhoea.

3. Alcohol

Alcohol is much more toxic to dogs than humans. Ingestion of food or drink containing even small amounts of alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, co-ordination issues, depression, tremors, coma and death.

4. Raisins, Currants and Grapes

These fruits are toxic whether ingested alone or when incorporated in cakes & puddings. Symptoms can take several days to appear and include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy and excessive drinking.

5. Macadamia Nuts

Can cause weakness, depression, tremors, vomiting and a high temperature in dogs. Signs develop within 12 hours of ingestion, can last 12-48 hours but should be treated immediately.

Beware of Bones

Bones are a common treat for dogs. However, they can cause problems as bone splinters can get lodged in their digestive tract and eating too many can cause severe constipation. If you must give bones, then uncooked are preferable and close supervision is essential.

Also Artificial sweeteners especially Xylitol house plants like Poinsettia, English Ivy and Mistletoe are mildly toxic, Tinsel can cause a linear foreign body, pine needles can cause digestive upsets and could potentially could puncture the gut

22/11/2020

Its getting to that time of year where the brightly coloured, festive looking dog treats appear on the shelves.

We again issue the warning we give every year and beg you to avoid them for the safety of your dogs..........

With Christmas fast approaching and lots of new puppy owners we thought we would share this again, we know most of you know they are bad but often people who don’t own dogs will buy your dog/puppy a present for Christmas and these look fun.... they are NOT!

If you get any bin them DO NOT give them to your dogs or puppy’s

PLEASE LEAVE THEM IN THE SHOPS

The vast majority of these rawhide products and treats come from China.

Their journey starts with the hides being soaked in a toxic sodium sulphide to remove the hair and fat. More chemicals are used in order to split the hide into layers which is then washed with hydrogen peroxide to give the white "pure" look and remove the rancid smell.

Now comes the pretty festive colours and the glue to form cute shapes.

They regularly cause intestinal blockages and choking. The chews go slippery when wet and are near impossible to get hold of to save a choking dog.

Please be safe with your dogs!

13/07/2020

5 month old puppy reunion on a beach in Margate yesterday. We had 4 out of 10 puppies and mum, perfect day.

01/07/2020

I love this Harris tweed Designs. Thank you Mhairi.

20/06/2020

A delicious prize Opie’s Emporium all natural pet products for Daisy winning the virtual puppy class. Thank you so much.

18/06/2020

Lovely rosette has just arrived for Daisy, winning the virtual puppy class. FB page Golden Retreiver puppies Available in the UK from Health Tested Parents.