Monday, March 5, 2018

Health testing in Mastiff-2017


I am often told by less informed puppy buyers that they don't care about pedigrees or "health testing".  They often voice that is not a concern since they have no plans to breed or show their dog.  They just want a "pet"; some even argue that they don't want to "pay" for a puppy from health tested lines.

Those of us who have made it our goal to breed better Mastiffs and  have invested years of involvement in this breed, often  try to inform buyers why health testing is important.    Now, health testing involves more than just having your Vet  give your dog a health exam.  It's a process of certifying and clearing a dog through medical test and exams.  Often referred as "OFAing"  a dog.  X-rays of hips, elbows, shoulders, and patellas are taken and sent in to be reviewed and graded for a rating. Blood or cheek swabs are submitted for DNA testing to clear dogs of certain diseases, or sent to approved labs for panel tests. The results of these tests are then listed online in the OFA site (offa.org) so that dog owners may be able research health results.

Until you have a beloved pet develop a chronic or acute life altering illness, you may not understand why it's so important not to breed dogs that are not affected with certain diseases. Watching your pet's health slowly decline due to a preventable disease can definitely make you a believer in health testing. Does it cost more for a puppy from health tested parents and lines?  Yes, it does. However, to cost of treating hip dysplasia in a puppy less than a year can be upwards of $4-6000 for surgeries.  Why have a puppy that goes blind from PRA when we have had the test to DNA clear parents for over 10 years? Why buy a puppy from a parent with thyroid or cardiac issues?

When you have a parent with a diseases (affected) or if both parents are carriers (carry 1 clear gene and 1 affected gene) you risk getting a puppy that may be affected with the disease. You may have saved money on your purchase price, but increase Vet medical cost will certainly mount in total cost over time. I tell people you can pay up front or pay later.  Never buy a puppy from lines that have not been health tested.

Due to the hard work of caring and ethical breeders, we have increased the overall quality of health in our breed.  OFA has a listing of the stat results of health testing for each breed, and the results are encouraging.

Here are just a few of the results for Mastiffs up through December 2017.

PRA-  99,3% are clear, 0.7% are abnormal.
CMR-1-75.8%  are clear,  22.2% are carries, and 2.0 % are abnormal.
Cardiac-99.1% are clear, and 0.4% are abnormal
Advanced Cardiac-98.6% are clear
Cystinuria- 97.2% are clear, 0.7% are abnormal.
Degenerative Myelopathy- 82.7% are clear, 16.5% are carriers, and 0.8% are abnormal.
Elbow Dysplasia-84.3% are clear, 15.4% are abnormal
Eyes (CERF)-97.6% clear, 2.4% are abnormal
Hip Dysplasia-76.3% are clear, and 20.7% are abnormal
Patellas-99.7% are clear.
Shoulders-95.9% are clear
Thyroid-87.0% are clear, and 2.7% are abnormal, and 10.2% are equivocal.
Von Willebrands- 100.0% are clear.

As a breeder, I  have seen a marked increase in the  improvement in the overall health of our breed, and I am greatly encouraged.  As we have improved the general health of our breed, we have also increased our  longevity. The dogs bred from health tested lines are now living longer and healthier lives.

Many breeders have also added temperament testing to their dogs--CGC, obedience titles, agility, therapy certifications all point to a dog that had a stable and correct temperament. Always look for these titles and proof of certifications in your puppy's lines.

Be an educated and informed buyer, research the common health issues in your puppy's breed. Ask your puppy's breeder if they health test, and ask for the parent's registered names of registry number so you can look up the health testing on the OFA site. Look to see if there has been consistent health testing in the preceding generations. If a pattern of affected dogs is noted--make sure your puppy is clear of those health issues before you buy and take it home.

Even when we health test and breed from multiple generations of health and temperament tested dogs,  issues can occur.  Ethical breeders will guarantee the health and temperament of their puppy. With that guarantee comes peace of mind for puppy owners.  These same breeders will also be there for their puppy owners to answer questions and be a information resource.  Your $500.00 Craigslist puppy will not come with those benefits.

Don't buy the first puppy you find online. Don't buy a puppy out of pity or emotional response because you feel it needs to "be rescued".  Be an informed and educated puppy buyer so that you can bring into your family a Dog that is healthy in body and mind. 

Cathy C Arney
KioKee Mastiffs
Hickory, NC

NCkiokeemastiffs@charter.net







Friday, February 9, 2018

Update 2018--Gloria Davis of Lionhearted Mastiffs dissapperance

Update 2018--Gloria Davis of Lionhearted Mastiffs dissapperance



February 9th is a day that sets heavy in my heart. It's the date that eight years ago when myself and others  received the horrific email with the pictures of Gloria's dogs lying dead on the frozen snow covered ground. It also began the search for answers which lead to the eventual expanded search and investigation into Gloria as a missing person. Slowly over the following days as the facts became known, It became an investigation into a missing persons/homicide investigation for Gloria Davis.  I do this yearly update to keep Gloria's name and case out in the public for others to follow and be informed of the known facts in this case.

 Occasionally, I get inquires about Gloria's missing person/Homicide investigation.  Anderson County Sheriff's department in Anderson, SC still list Gloria's missing person case as an open homicide. I have been informed it will stay open until answers are found and known.  It remains their only unsolved case.  Somewhere, someone has the information needed to bring Gloria home. 

There was much confusion those first few weeks--lots of miscommunication and misinformation  was spread causing confusion in the investigation.   Time has calmed those troubled waters; what remains a glaring truth is that Gloria Davis remains missing and there has been no evidence of  her being alive since  December of 2009.  None of Gloria's friends or family have had any contact with her since December 2009. All of her personal belongings including her ID, SS card, driver's license, Checking account information, personal belongings, and her car were found in the house on the Anderson property. Anderson County Animal Control was notified, and there on the property her beloved Lionhearted dogs were found dead, starved and dying. Since her disappearance, there has been no activity on her SS card/number, banking account, credit cards, or any other personal information. Gloria Davis has basically fell off the face of the earth.  

In the past eight years, Gloria has had three wonderful grandsons born who will never get to know their grandmother.  Her sons, family, and friends still grieve and wait for answers.  Grief can have no closure until their questions are answered.  Time is said to heal all wounds; we pray for answers to heal our hearts.  I ask that any and all who read this update to please pray for peace and understanding for Gloria's sons and family; and guidance, strength, and insight for the officers in charge of her investigation. 


On a personal note;  I will never stop asking questions and looking for answers.  I still have difficulty looking back at the original post I made. Sometimes, I cry when asked about this case.  I grieve for the lost of my friend; I grieve that she will never know the love of her grandsons; I grieve that her family and friends do not have the closure needed.  The answers may not come in my lifetime, but I have hope and belief that all will be known one day. What I witnessed there on the Anderson property will always haunt me.  Both Gloria and her dogs deserve justice.

http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2010/02/lionhearted-mastiffs-english-mastiff.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2010/03/update-lionhearted-mastiffs-gloria.htmlhttp://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2011/02/lionhearted-mastiffs-and-gloria-davis.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2012/02/gloria-davis-lionhearted-mastiffs.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2013/02/gloria-davis-lionhearted-mastiffs.html
http:///kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2014_02_01_archive.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2015/02/lionhearted-mastiff-gloria-davis-2015.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2016/02/update-2016-gloria-davis-of-lionhearted.html





Gloria and JC winning Winner's Dog  from the BBE Class at Mastiff supported entry in Trenton, NJ May 2008.


  IF you feel you have information relating to the disappearance of Gloria Davis, please contact the investigating officer in Anderson, SC-- Detective Wayne Mills. Any piece of information may be the link so needed in this investigation.  This  Information is needed so that Gloria can be brought home to her family.  He can be reached at wmills@andersonsheriff.com.

It is my sincere hope that Gloria can be brought home to her  mother, sons  and grandsons.  Join me in praying that justice will be served.

Catie C. Arney
KioKee Mastiffs
NCKioKeeMastiffs@charter.net


Thursday, February 16, 2017

Lionhearted Mastiffs--Gloria Davis Update 2017

Update 2017--Gloria Davis of Lionhearted Mastiffs dissapperance


February 16th is a day that sets heavy in my heart. It's the date that seven years ago began the search for answers in the missing persons/homicide investigation for Gloria Davis.  I do this yearly update to keep Gloria's name and case out in the public for others to follow and be informed of the known facts in this case.

 Occasionally, I get inquires about Gloria's missing person/Homicide investigation.  Anderson County Sheriff's department in Anderson, SC still list Gloria's missing person case as an open homicide. I have been informed it will stay open until answers are found and known. Somewhere, someone has the information needed to bring Gloria home. 

There was much confusion those first few weeks--lots of miscommunication and misinformation  was spread causing confusion in the investigation.   Time has calmed those troubled waters; what remains a glaring truth is that Gloria Davis remains missing and there has been no evidence of  her being alive since  December of 2009.  None of Gloria's friends or family have had any contact with her since December 2009. All of her personal belongings including her ID, SS card, driver's license, Checking account information, personal belongings, and her car were found in the house on the Anderson property. Anderson County Animal Control was notified, and there on the property her beloved Lionhearted dogs were found dead, starved and dying. Since her disappearance, there has been no activity on her SS card/number, banking account, credit cards, or any other personal information. Gloria Davis has basically fell off the face of the earth.  

In the past seven years, Gloria has had three wonderful grandsons born who will never get to know their grandmother.  Her sons, family, and friends still grieve and wait for answers. Time is said to heal all wounds; we pray for answer to heal our hearts.  I ask that any and all who read this update to please pray for peace and understanding for Gloria's sons and family; and guidance, strength, and insight for the officers in charge of her investigation. 


On a personal note;  I will never stop asking questions and looking for answers.  I still have difficulty looking back at the original post I made. Sometimes, I cry when asked about this case. What I witnessed there on the Anderson property will  always haunt me.  Both Gloria and her dogs deserve justice.

http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2010/02/lionhearted-mastiffs-english-mastiff.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2010/03/update-lionhearted-mastiffs-gloria.htmlhttp://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2011/02/lionhearted-mastiffs-and-gloria-davis.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2012/02/gloria-davis-lionhearted-mastiffs.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2013/02/gloria-davis-lionhearted-mastiffs.html
http:///kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2014_02_01_archive.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2015/02/lionhearted-mastiff-gloria-davis-2015.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2016/02/update-2016-gloria-davis-of-lionhearted.html





Gloria and JC winning Winner's Dog  from the BBE Class at Mastiff supported entry in Trenton, NJ May 2008.


  IF you feel you have information relating to the disappearance of Gloria Davis, please contact the investigating officer in Anderson, SC-- Detective Wayne Mills. Any piece of information may be the link so needed in this investigation.  This  Information is needed so that Gloria can be brought home to her family.  He can be reached at wmills@andersonsheriff.com.

It is my sincere hope that Gloria can be brought home to her  mother, sons  and grandsons.  Join me in praying that justice will be served.

Catie C. Arney
KioKee Mastiffs
NCKioKeeMastiffs@charter.net


Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Update 2016--Gloria Davis of Lionhearted Mastiffs dissapperance



It has now been six years since I and others received e-mails that  set forth our search for answers.  Occasionally, I get inquires about Gloria's missing person/Homicide investigation.  Anderson County Sheriff's department in Anderson, SC still list Gloria's missing person case as an open homicide. 

There was much confusion those first few weeks--lots of miscommunication and misinformation  was spread causing confusion in the investigation.   Time has calmed those troubled waters; what remains a glaring truth is that Gloria Davis remains missing and there has been no evidence of  her being alive since  December of 2009.  None of Gloria's friends or family have had any contact with her since December 2009. All of her personal belongings including her ID, SS card, driver's license, Checking account information, personal belongings, and her car were found in the house on the Anderson property. Since her disappearance, there has been no activity on her SS card/number, banking account, credit cards, or any other personal information. Gloria Davis has basically fell off the face of the earth.  Somewhere, someone has the information needed to bring Gloria home. 

As I have done every year--I post a blog entry to remind the Mastiff Community that We still need answers. On a personal note;  I will never stop asking questions and looking for answers.  I still have difficulty looking back at the original post I made. What I witnessed there on the Anderson property will  always haunt me.  Both Gloria and her dogs deserve justice.

http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2010/02/lionhearted-mastiffs-english-mastiff.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2010/03/update-lionhearted-mastiffs-gloria.htmlhttp://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2011/02/lionhearted-mastiffs-and-gloria-davis.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2012/02/gloria-davis-lionhearted-mastiffs.html
http://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2013/02/gloria-davis-lionhearted-mastiffs.htmlhttp://kiokeemastiffscom.blogspot.com/2014_02_01_archive.html


Gloria and JC winning Winner's Dog  from the BBE Class at Mastiff supported entry in Trenton, NJ May 2008.


There is a reward for  information which leads to the apprehension and /or conviction of any person or persons responsible for the disappearance of Gloria Davis.  IF you feel you have information relating to the disappearance of Gloria Davis, please contact the investigating officer in Anderson, SC-- Detective Wayne Mills. Any piece of information may be the link so needed in this investigation.  This  Information is needed so that Gloria can be brought home to her family.  He can be reached at wmills@andersonsheriff.com.

It is my sincere hope that Gloria can be brought home to her  mother, sons  and grandsons.  Join me in praying that justice will be served.

Catie C. Arney
KioKee Mastiffs
KioKeemastiffs@embarqmail.com


Thursday, December 17, 2015

The 10 most important things to know about Canine hip dysplasia

Thursday, October 29, 2015

How Much Exercise is too Much??

Almost weekly, I get e-mails from owners asking how much exercise is "too much" for their new puppy. My standard answer has always been never take then further than you can pick them up and carry them home. Very few folks realize, that the skeletal development in dogs continues in stages after birth.  Below is an X-ray of a 2 week old puppy--not the undeveloped bone between the femur (upper leg bone) and the tibia (lower leg bone)--the two largest bones in a dog's body.  Compare this x-ray with the x-ray of the 6 month old puppy at the end of this entry--note the difference in bone development.

X-ray of a 2 week old puppy

 In large breed dogs these rapidly growing bones remain extremely soft and can break easily.  Do not allow the pup to jump off elevated areas (i.e. porches, decks, and pick-up truck beds) or walk up more than 3 steps. I have seen a 10 week old large breed puppy break both front legs jumping off a 2-3 foot high deck. They could also damage their shoulder joints.

 Likewise, puppies should not be allowed to play or spend significant time on slippery surfaces (i.e. wooden, tile or linoleum floors) in order to prevent joint injuries.  Slipping  and sliding may look cute, but it can cause trauma to his hips which may lead to poor hips or elbows as an adult.  Hard landings on a slippery floor can bruise and damage these soft developing joints and bones.

Although your puppy may look big, do not allow children to pull on the legs, sit , jump , or lie on your puppy.   Dragging a puppy by it's legs could cause a fracture or damage the elbow joints.  Don't play "horsey"--Mastiffs are not to be ridden.  Long term permanent injury could result to you growing puppy.  Always supervise your children (both the very young and the older) and teach them proper interactions with your puppy.


 Do not allow the Mastiff puppy to become overweight as this places stress on the growth plates of its bones. Likewise, do not keep your puppy crated for long, extended periods of time. Lack of exercise is just as bad as too much exercise. Your puppy will need to exercise to develop proper muscle tone and bone structure to carry its adult weight and be a strong healthy, active dog.

Due to the rapid growth of these pups, under no condition should extensive road (running) type exercises be done until after the age of 18 months  and the long bone growth plates have closed.  Joints and  growing bones are too prone to injury.  A good rule of thumb for setting physical activity   limits is for every month increase activity by 5 minutes.  So, an 8 week old puppy need 10 minutes of physical activity per day, and a 6 month old puppy need 30 minutes of physical activity. 

Because Mastiffs and other giant breed dogs are large, fast growing dogs and their joint development is slow; the dog’s level of exercise must be monitored closely until the age of 18 months to prevent injuries. You must monitor activity level to avoid over-exertion while insuring that the dog receives sufficient exercise. This can normally be accomplished by such means as  short walks or play sessions with toys. Be careful to stop when the dog shows signs of fatigue; don’t take young puppies on long walks unless you can carry them home! 

Particular care must be taken to insure that a puppy is not injured or over-tired by play with a mature dog. Never leave a puppy under the age of 6 months alone with adult dogs. Always supervise any interaction to prevent injury to the puppy. Many a unilateral bad hip or elbow can be traced back to a trauma or injury at a pup's early age


X-ray of a 6 month old puppy





Remember, the time, expense, and care you provide these first few months determines a great deal of the overall size, health, soundness, and longevity of your puppy. Proper loving care will produce a most devoted companion.

Catie Arney
KioKee Mastiffs
Hickory, NC

KioKeemastiffs@embarqmail.com

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Mastiff Growth Plate Closure


I get inquires about how much exercise is "OK" for a Mastiff puppy or an adult.  My response usually is based on the age of the dog. The above diagram is one of the best I have found that helps explain  why most dogs do not need to be doing extensive running on hard surfaces until after the age of 16-18 months.  If you review the diagram it show the growth plate closures on the long bones in the legs and in the shoulders are the last to close.

Due to the rapid growth of these pups, under no condition should extensive road work (running) type exercises be done until after the age of 18 months. Joints and growing bones are too prone to injury. Same applies to any jump training;  all training should be at a lower height until your Mastiff in > 18 months--esp. important for rally and obedience work and training. 

Although Mastiffs and other giant breeds grow rapidly--final bone grow is slow and these bone remain soft and prone to green-stick Fractures until fully mature. Ask any Vet--it's not uncommon to see St. Bernard, Great Dane,  and  Mastiffs puppies   10-16 weeks of age present with fractured front legs from simply jumping off an elevated surface of  two (2) feet. They could also damage their shoulder joints. Likewise, puppies should not be allowed to play or spend significant time on slippery surfaces (i.e. wooden, tile or linoleum floors) in order to prevent joint injuries.  Slipping sliding may look cute, but it can cause trauma to his hips which may lead to poor hips or elbows as an adult.

Do not allow the Mastiff puppy to become overweight as this places stress on the growth plates of its bones.  Puggy puppies may look cute, but excessive weight is not good for a growing pup.  Likewise, do not keep your puppy crated for long, extended periods of time. Lack of exercise is just as bad as too much exercise. Your puppy will need to exercise to develop proper muscle tone and bone structure to carry its adult weight and be a strong healthy, active dog.

Although your puppy may look big, do not allow children to pull on the legs, jump on, or lie on your puppy. Long term permanent injury could result. Always supervise your children (both the very young and the older) and teach them proper interactions with your puppy. Teasing, hitting at, and causing harm can cause your puppy to have a permanent antisocial temperament. A puppy should receive love and positive reinforcement from all members of its family.

Because Mastiffs are large, fast growing dogs and their joint development is slow; the dog’s level of exercise must be monitored closely until the age of 18 months to prevent injuries. You must monitor activity level to avoid over-exertion while insuring that the dog receives sufficient exercise. This can normally be accomplished by such means as   short walks or play sessions with toys. Be careful to stop when the dog shows signs of fatigue; don’t take young puppies on long walks unless you can carry them home! 

 Mastiffs are Stoic--they will endure a great amount of discomfort/pain before showing symptoms.  So just because you dog is happy and appears to enjoy running doesn't mean it's not causing him harm.  I have begun to screen my dogs hips and elbows with OFA pre-lim x-rays before allowing them to train for jumping or before they do  daily running exercises.

FYI--my first Mastiff was an 16 month old rescue who would run 2-4 miles per day with my husband--he loved to run.  After a few months, he pulled up lame one day.  When I took him to the vet, x-rays showed he had SEVERE hip dysplasia.  I was horrified that we had allowed this dog to run with such severe CHD.   Of course, his running days were over.  He would stand at the window each day and cry as he watched my husband jog off on his run:  although it would cause him pain , he still wanted to run. These dogs will endure just about anything in order to be with their families.

 Particular care must be taken to insure that a puppy is not injured or over-tired by play with a mature dog. Never leave a puppy under the age of 6 months alone with adult dogs. Always supervise any Interaction to prevent injury to the puppy.  Once again, trauma or injuries at a young age can lead to hip and elbow injuries.

Remember, the time, expense, and care you provide these first few months determines a great deal of the overall size, health, soundness, and longevity of your puppy. Proper loving care will produce a most devoted companion. As Mastiff breeders and owners, we want the Mastiff to be as we call them “gentle giants” and loyal guardians with loving temperaments and proud demeanor who can physically meet the needs of a companion dog.



Cathy (Catie) Arney
Kiokeemastiffs@embarqmail.com