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Dates & News:

ZimDog News, can be accessed from: www.vanerp.net.

The Kennel Club of Harare has started on a second course of 6 weeks for beginners. Quite a few are participating. The Working Breed Club of Mashonaland held their AGM and only 3 members were prepared to stand; two others were co-opted from the floor, a general lack of enthusiasm, which could be the result of the situation in Zimbabwe.

Shows: The Open Show in Bulawayo went of with a bang and a total of 30 dogs were entered. The Judge was AnnTownsley and she did a stirling job. There were some beautiful animals, see for total result in the show section. Very pleasing was the fact that two African handlers were handling quite a few dogs and were very good at it. There is no news yet about the GSD Harare club having a breed show this year. Most clubs struggle in Zimbabwe with no persons willing to work in a committee or any other work. The match meeting in Bulawayo has still not been held, but instead they had an Endurance test judged by Kirsten Tshuma and another is planned for March.

VIN DOUX - RAT CATCHER 'PAR EXCELLENCE'

By Lynne Milne [Written Circa January, 1993]

“The Pack at Lynne, with Saxon second last at right and Vin Doux in the middle”

Who says you have to have Terriers to have a good rat catcher?  I have a registered, pedigree German Shepherd Ratter (er . Dog), with the full title of Sunbury Vin Doux, BWT, HD0.0 and she is devoted to the eradication of rats from the kitchen.  It all began some time ago. 

A year or more ago there was a rat who had taken up residence in my kitchen and, being a total coward myself, to this kind of problem, I decided that this could best be dealt with by Robert, one of my staff.  Vin Doux, only a few months old at that time, was intensely curious about all the excitement and totally absorbed with the wonderful (?) scent emerging from behind the cutlery drawer.  As each drawer was pulled out, Vin Doux became more and more excited.  Robert pulled out the final drawer; the rat leaped into the air (I leaped onto the kitchen counter); the rat made a dash through the vegetable rack and disappeared under a cupboard.  Next Robert poked a stick under the cupboard; out scuttled the rat; I jumped back onto the counter; Vin Doux chased after the rodent; chaos all around; and the rat disappeared under the stove! Robert repeated the stick treatment and this time Vin Doux was ready.  With a swift and accurate lunge she had it!  But what next?  She'd never done this before so she had no idea.  Robert solved her dilemma by making a grab at her and scaring poor Vin Doux into dropping the rat.  So it was that Robert was the one to dispatch the dastardly beast, and she was left feeling unfulfilled.  From that time on, Vin Doux has regularly sniffed hopefully around the kitchen in all the places the rat hid.  Patience, they say, will be rewarded, and so it was with Vin Doux.

This morning I awoke very early, not really knowing why, but I got up and was sitting composing a letter, when I heard a noise from the kitchen.  It was a slight clanking from the warming drawer of my stove (which I realized was a repeat of the noise which had woken me).  I decided it must be a rat, and immediately closed all the doors (so it wouldn't come into the lounge, or further into the house or, horror of horrors, even as far as my bedroom whilst I was sleeping).  Being far too early to summon staff, I called Vin Doux who immediately obliged in sniffing everywhere in the kitchen and indicated great excitement at the stove warming drawer!  Armed with a tracking stake and feet protected by gumboots, I bravely approached the stove.  With all the courage I could muster, (and my trusted rat-catcher close by), I pulled out the warming drawer - empty, and so was my vessel of courage!

I waited until Anna, a dear old retainer, came to my door - she's not afraid of rats, she said, she eats them!  With the three of us in the kitchen, and all the doors closed, we began a repeat performance of last time.  Anna poked the stick;  Vin Doux waited for the rat to come out of its refuge; and I called encouragement from the kitchen counter.

  The plan came together and with a quick shake, Vin Doux ended the drama.  I praised her profusely for saving me from this terrible monster, but that wasn't enough for her.  She is a most loving personality and decided to award me the high honour of the gift of her prize.  I tried to explain to her - I love her to distraction, but not so much that I could accept a gift like that!!! Now, as I write this story, Vin Doux lies at my feet, endlessly chewing at the remains of her indestructible rubber Kong.  As a puppy she learned to sit up in a begging position, and this she does frequently, so now she is doing this every little while, gently putting her paws on my arm.  When I give in and go with her, she takes me to the kitchen and hopefully sniffs and checks all around.  Perhaps some time in the future, dear Vin Doux, but I hope not too soon!

Poisonous Plants

If your dog (or other pets) does ingest one of these plants, be sure to call the National Animal Poison Control Center. In Zimbabwe it might be wiser to contact your Veterinarian. I have a long list and it might be good for you to make sure you do not have these in your garden or make sure your dog cannot eat these.

Esophageal dilatation, a generalized or regional increase in the caliber of the esophagus may follow food retention from:

1. Constrictive tissue bands originating from persistent right aortic arch or from the ligamentum arteriosum associated with the aorta, pulmonary artery, and base of the heart.

2. Congenital paralysis of peristalsis in the thoracic esophagus, or similar paralysis in older dogs, considered to be a neuromuscular dysfunction from exogenous or metabolic toxins.

3. Achalasia, where the terminal esophagus fails to dilate as food approaches the cardia, resulting from degeneration in the neural plexus or from cardiospasm. Secondary dilatation of the cervical esophagus usually follows thoracic esophageal dilatation unless its cause is removed.

Clinical findings: The cardinal signs are dysphagia, regurgitation, and progressive loss of condition. Initially, regurgitation occurs immediately after swallowing: as the condition progresses and the esophagus becomes enlarged, regurgitation is delayed. The puppy with congenital dilatation characteristically suckles normally but regurgitates solid food. In advanced cases pulmonary disease may follow aspiration of fluid from the esophagus, particularly if the animal is confined and often recumbent. Pressure applied to the abdomen may cause ballooning at the thoracic inlet. Radiography may reveal extreme dilatation and elongation of the entire esophagus, dilatation of that portion anterior to the base of the heart, or dilatation of the thoracic esophagus with coneshaped obstruction at the cardia.

Treatment: Either surgical in certain cases. Feeding should be in small portions at 2-hour intervals and from an elevated dish, requiring it to eat while standing on its hind legs, which allows gravity to help food pass into the stomach. Supportive therapy with vitamin B complex should be routine.

Submitted by Ilse van Erp form the Merck Veterinary Manual sixth Edition