Pekingese Health Committee
Of The Pekingese Club of America
The Breath of Life
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By Terill S. Udenberg, DVM
Member of PCA Pekingese Health Committee
CKC Judge, Breeder-Exhibitor of
Standard Poodles
University Professor,
Researcher |
Rarely in my thirty-some years of Veterinary practice have I been moved by
something that made so much sense! It was the Pekingese breed seminar at
Westminster Kennel Club where the discussion about "breathing" and "oxygen
deprivation" was bravely initiated by the two speakers.
For quite some time I had been concerned by the lack of understanding among some
breeders of the importance of narrow nostrils and the associated inability to
breath. Allow me to relate a veterinary incident with a recognized Pekingese
breeder:
At a show at which I was exhibiting, I was asked if I would examine a dog that
was having breathing difficulties. I immediately thought of an allergic response
or an inflammatory condition that I would be able to assist with. We made our
way through the maze of dog show vehicles to their lovely motor home. As my eyes
were adjusting to less light, my gazing surveyed a number of Pekingese, some in
crates and some just lounging on furniture - but I was immediately drawn to a
young dog with labored excursion of breathing as he tried to display his
excitement that his owner had returned. The struggle was getting more intense as
he was carried to me - into a better light.
He was a young dog, one of the best examples of the breed that I had seen in
awhile. His respirations were as though someone had their hand over his nose. He
struggled to draw inward, with his mouth open and tail wagging. His tongue was
injected (more color than normal, and had that lavender tone - of anoxia). The
owners asked if something could be done. With a quick nod of affirmation, I
could see that his nostrils were collapsed and his nose was unusually small. His
eyes were wild with that desperation of suffocation (like drowning) as he caught
my gaze into his eyes. I could immediately feel the tears welling up in my eyes,
then down my cheeks. This breeder apologized for upsetting me.
I was then asked if I could take him with me. I had to say no. I explained that
he could die at any moment and that she would need to be responsible for his
transportation to my clinic several hundred miles away. I was anxious for him to
get relief as soon as possible. Though plans were made that day, sadly, he did
not make it.
Many times since, my mind has drifted to the many other issues surrounding this
sad story. How many dogs are in the hands of people that have no idea that these
dogs are in trouble and cannot breath? Families that decide to take these dogs
outside on a sunny day to play ball in the back yard, then end up in the
emergence clinic with heat prostration and heat stroke, which can also cause
their death, often because of narrowing nostrils.
Are the breeders even aware? Or do they even realize the importance of this
crisis? The person whose story I related was at the Westminster Dog Show this
year, and I was happy to report that I had just come back from the breed seminar
in which anoxia, and suffocation because of narrowing nostrils, is being
beginning to be addressed in the Pekingese community. The response from this
breeder was, "We will just see about that"! I totally did not comprehend such a
response when this issue had touched them and their dogs in such a direct way
not so very long ago.
This issue is not just in Pekingese. We see and surgically correct nostrils in
Shih Tzu, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, many Pugs, Chow Chows, Chinese Shar-Pei,
Brussels Griffons to name just a few. The surgery consists of deep incisions up
each nostril to remove a wedge of tissue which often must extend into the facial
area. The closure must be accurate to gain the opening effect or else the whole
surgery is a failure. The location is very hemorrhagic and healing is irritable
for the patient who must wear a cone over his head to prevent him from rubbing
out the sutures. I applaud the Pekingese breeders for being the first to dare
look this crisis directly in the face - (in the nose). Even though many breed
standards have addressed or commented about "open nostrils ", there is little or
no attention paid. As a judge, I have witnessed colleagues putting up beautiful
examples of breeds that can barely breathe.
Again, is this an example of not knowing, or not caring? If it is not caring,
you need to put teeth into your breed standard. If it is not knowing or
understanding, we have a lot of instructional work to do in the future. It is a
greater issue than deafness in some breeds, and more debilitating than
blindness. Deal with in it at least in the same category - a disqualification.
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Photos: Left, Dr. Udenberg handling his own Standard Poodle. On right, Dr.
Udenberg volunteering during the Katrina crisis in Louisiana, administering IV
fluids to a victim of the disaster.
Dr. Terill Udenberg
Veterinarian, CKC Judge
Tees Standard Poodles
2700 30 Ave
Vernon, B.C. V1T 2B6
250-545-9626
Dr. Terill Udenberg of "Tees" Standard Poodles is a veterinarian/Breeder/CKC judge with a keen interest in genetics and their associated diseases. He has a small animal practice in Vernon and volunteers his time internationally with the Canadian Animal Assistance team where he did triage work during the Katrina Disaster in Louisiana. He has an active breeding program and association with the "Blue Skies" Poodles of California. He has been successful in breeding multi Best in Show winners and Best in Specialty winners in Canada and the USA, as well as Awards of Merit winners at the Poodle Club of America. He judges both in Canada and the USA, and grooms and handles his own Poodles. Dr. Udenberg first showed Dobermans. He appreciates "form and function" when judging due his veterinary training.