By Carol Beuchat PhD
The internet is a wonderful thing. Everything known in the universe can be researched from a laptop computer. However, anybody with a laptop can post whatever they want and call it "information". For some stuff, it really does matter if it's wrong.
Here's this post about hip dysplasia, by Dr Jeannie, Animal Naturopath, part of which I have posted below.
Yes, indeed, there are things to ponder here.
1) Dr Jeannie says that "With the incredible accumulation of data spanning over 50 years now, the consensus is Finally emerging that the causes of canine hip dysplasia are only mostly environmental and very little to do with genetics."
There is no source cited for this claim, and no wonder. In fact, after decades of searching for the genes that cause hip dysplasia, they have yet to be identified, but the consensus REMAINS that genetics does play a role in hip dysplasia. In fact the fraction of the variation in hip phenotype (i.e., hip score) that can be attributed to genetics has been quantified many times. I am not aware of ANY study, or any researcher, that claims genetics "has very little to do" with hip dysplasia. Yes, environmental factors also play a role. But heritability is not a measure of how much of a trait is genetic; rather, it's the fraction of the VARIATION in a trait is attributed to VARIATION in genetics. What we know is that there are many genes associated with hip dysplasia because it is a polygenic trait, and because the particular genes vary by breed, we are unlikely to ever identify "The" genes for hip dysplasia.
So, statement #1 is FALSE.
2) "It has been found and is common knowledge, that one can mate two parents with OFA rated excellent hips and have offspring that are dysplastic; or mate two dysplastic parents and get pups with normal to excellent hips. How is this possible?"
This is not a mystery. A puppy born with "good hip genes" can have bad hips because of environmental factors or because those genes are not expressed. A puppy born with "bad hip genes" can have good hips because of environmental factors or because those genes are not expressed. There are many, many traits that behave this way (think fat parents with skinny children and vice versa).
If the answer to the question "How is this possible?" is meant to be "Because it's not genetic", then statement #2 is also FALSE.
3) "Some scientists go as far as to say that hip dysplasia is predominantly a biomechanics process, with genes playing a very limited part."
Yes, biomechanics can certainly play a role and likely does. But "with genes playing a very limited part"? No, that is not what "some scientists" say. In fact, they say that
"Hip dysplasia is a concentration of factors from a pool of genetic weaknesses and environmental stresses that fall into a programmed pattern of progressive remodeling and degenerative joint disease." (Riser 1985).
Statement #3 is FALSE.
4) "Hip dysplasia is not a congenital defect; it is not present at birth. Multiple studies have demonstrated that all normal puppies are born with “perfect” hips; that is, they are “normal” for a newborn, with no signs of dysplasia. The structures of the hip joint are cartilage at birth and only become bone as the puppy grows. If a puppy is going to develop hip dysplasia, the process begins shortly after birth."
This statement is TRUE. In fact, it is copied - word for word, cut-and-paste - from my blog post on the topic, without citation or quotes to indicate that it is copied.
(pla·gia·rism - noun
synonyms:copying, infringement of copyright, piracy, theft, stealing; "wrongful appropriation" and "stealing and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions" and the representation of them as one's own original work.)
Statement #4 is TRUE, but plagiarized from me. Yes, Dr Jeannie, plagiarist.
5) "Exercise is good and bad! Exercise strengthens the muscles of the legs and pelvis, and this will increase the stability of the hip joint. But not all exercise is created equal.Puppies raised on slippery surfaces or with access to stairs when they are less than 3 months old have a higher risk of hip dysplasia,while those who are allowed off-lead exercise on soft, uneven ground (such as in a large yard or park) have a lower risk (Krontveit et al 2012). Dogs born in the summer have a lower risk of hip dysplasia, presumably because they have more opportunity for exercise outdoors (Ktontveit et al 2012) in the sunshine, fresh air and on dirt! On the other hand, dogs from 12-24 months old that regularly chase a ball or stick thrown by the owner have been found to have a higher risk of developing dysplastic hips (Sallander et al 2006).
The most critical period for proper growth and development of the hip in dogs is from birth to 8 weeks old, so the type of exercise the puppies are exposed to is most important during this time."
Oh my. All of this, of course is true, because it's an even bigger chunk of MY text, copied wholesale and without attribution, by Dr Jeannie for you to ponder. (Note that she even copied the sources I included in my post!).
6) This one is my favorite. First, read what I wrote.
"Nutrition is important
While puppies are growing rapidly, it is critically important to get their nutrition right.
Growing puppies need to eat enough to support growth but they should not be fat, because any extra weight can increase the risk of developing hip dysplasia (Hedhammar et al 1975, Kasstrom 1975). An additional problem is that puppies getting too much food could also consume too much of specific nutrients. Puppies provided a quality commercial puppy food that is fed in the proper amount will have a nutritionally balanced diet and should not receive any supplements. Dietary supplements, especially of calcium, are not only unnecessary but could cause serious problems. There is no evidence that supplemental protein or vitamins will reduce the risk of hip dysplasia (Kealy et al 1991, Nap et al 1991, Richardson & Zentek 1998)."
Now, read what Dr Jeannie wrote:
"Nutrition is Important
While puppies are growing rapidly, it is critically important to get their nutrition correct. What better nutrition can there be then what is found in a species specific diet – Dogs being carnivores, will thrive on a raw meat, bone and organ diet.
Some little known facts for you to think about:
by Dr. Tom Hungerford.
By 1965, a mere 30 years later… Hip Dysplasia was identified in 55 breeds world-wide. And the skeletal problems didn’t stop there.
Think about this, how do you think it is that CHD (Canine hip Dysplasia) and later more structural issues could suddenly appear in just 30 years and spread rapidly through all breeds?
Did Hip and Elbow Dysplasia exist before 1935? If so, was it common?
If it were not in existence, where did it come from, what happened?
What does all of this mean if we are assuming that these diseases are inherited and can therefore be eliminated by genetic means? We’ve been trying to breed this out for 50 years and have not yet been really successful!
So if CHD truly is genetic in nature, then the genes which cause it, have had to have always been present in the dog population but were only “switched on” somehow in 30 short years. What happened after the 1930’s?
Commercial Dog food emerged!
Up until the early 1940’s, people fed their pets on food scraps and raw meaty bones.Since the early 40’s, disease in our pets has shifted drastically! The widespread, across the board switch to processed commercial foods has resulted in a catastrophic increase in not only skeletal diseases but liver disease, pancreatic disease and cancer!"
At last, we see now why Dr Jeannie, plagiarist, thinks hip dysplasia can't be genetic- or if it is, those genes have been "turned on" by "processed commercial dog food". It's because "dogs being carnivores", they should be on a raw diet.
Yes, nutrition is important. But nothing else in Dr Jeannie, plagiarist's statement is supported by even the tiniest shred of documented fact. Dogs and wolves are the same species, but their nutritional needs are very different. In fact, the digestive enzymes of dogs reflect their adaptation during domestication to a diet that is omnivorous and higher in starch, and very different than that of wolves. No, the "ideal" diet for a dog is not raw, meaty bones, and their digestive enzymes are the proof. You don't have to take my word for it; you can download the most recent paper, published just last month, below. The notion that dogs and wolves should have the same diet is soundly refuted by science, and those that continue to claim this are purporting belief, not fact. Beliefs are what fairy tales are made of.
Oddly, Dr Jeannie does not provide a citation or source for her "information" apparently attributed to Dr Hungerford. However, a quick search on the internet turns up references to him dating in the 1930's, long before we knew much about either hip dysplasia or physiological adaptations of domesticated dogs to diet. This seemed odd to me, given the reference in the post to 1965.
But mystery solved. This is a bit of confusion caused by yet another of (plagiarist) Dr Jeannie's sloppy cut-and-paste jobs, this time from the Endless Mtn Labrador website, which I post here for your comparison:
"Hip Dysplasia was the first juvenile Bone Disease recognized in dogs, in 1935 by Dr. Tom Hungerford. By 1965, a mere 30 years later…
Hip Dysplasia was identified in 55 breeds world-wide. And the skeletal problems didn’t stop there. Other problems emerged with the shoulders, elbows, hock, and stifle.
So here’s some questions no one is asking:
-How is it that HD (Hip Dysplasia) and later structural issues could suddenly appear and spread rapidly through all breeds?
-Did Hip and Elbow Dysplasia exist before 1935? If so, was it common?
-If they were not in existence, where did they come from?
-Why can’t we eliminate these problems despite mass radiology and mass culling?
-What does all of this mean if we are assuming that these diseases are inherited and can therefore be eliminated by genetic means? We’ve been trying to breed this out for 50 years and have not been successful! (except for various reputable kennels who have decades of genetic clearances!)
So if HD and ED are genetic in nature, it must be that the genes which cause them have always been present in the dog population. So what OTHER factors are causing these skeletal diseases?? What happened after the 1930’s?
Commercial Dog food emerged!"
Oops. You can see now that poor Dr Hungerford didn't say any of those things that appear to be attributed to him in plagiaristDr Jennie's post. And Dr Jeannie didn't say any of the things that should in fact have been attributed to the Endless Mtn Labrador website - and since nobody but me is providing attributions of any sort, who knows where any of this stuff actually came from.
To cap it all off, plagiarist Dr Jeannie's website contains a long page of disclaimers and this truly remarkable statement:
"Articles written by Dr. Jeannie (Jeanette) Thomason may NOT be reprinted without express written permission and then printed in their entirety only and with following attribution box intact and hyperlinked: Dr. Jeannie Thomason is a certified animal naturopath and a proficient blogger and writer on natural pet health. She worked in traditional veterinary medicine for many years and continues to do extensive research into natural health care for dogs, cats and parrots..All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Author. This article is for educational purposes only. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader."
Dr Jeannie, not only have you have most definitely violated my copyright, but you managed to even plagiarize badly. ("proficient" blogger???) You can remove your embarassing post from your "Whole Dog Website", but I have reproduced enough of it here that anybody who wishes will be able to evaluate the "quality" of your work. Or, for those that want the complete experience, here's a pdf.
This statement is TRUE. In fact, it is copied - word for word, cut-and-paste - from my blog post on the topic, without citation or quotes to indicate that it is copied.
(pla·gia·rism - noun
synonyms:copying, infringement of copyright, piracy, theft, stealing; "wrongful appropriation" and "stealing and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions" and the representation of them as one's own original work.)
Statement #4 is TRUE, but plagiarized from me. Yes, Dr Jeannie, plagiarist.
5) "Exercise is good and bad! Exercise strengthens the muscles of the legs and pelvis, and this will increase the stability of the hip joint. But not all exercise is created equal.Puppies raised on slippery surfaces or with access to stairs when they are less than 3 months old have a higher risk of hip dysplasia,while those who are allowed off-lead exercise on soft, uneven ground (such as in a large yard or park) have a lower risk (Krontveit et al 2012). Dogs born in the summer have a lower risk of hip dysplasia, presumably because they have more opportunity for exercise outdoors (Ktontveit et al 2012) in the sunshine, fresh air and on dirt! On the other hand, dogs from 12-24 months old that regularly chase a ball or stick thrown by the owner have been found to have a higher risk of developing dysplastic hips (Sallander et al 2006).
The most critical period for proper growth and development of the hip in dogs is from birth to 8 weeks old, so the type of exercise the puppies are exposed to is most important during this time."
Oh my. All of this, of course is true, because it's an even bigger chunk of MY text, copied wholesale and without attribution, by Dr Jeannie for you to ponder. (Note that she even copied the sources I included in my post!).
6) This one is my favorite. First, read what I wrote.
"Nutrition is important
While puppies are growing rapidly, it is critically important to get their nutrition right.
Growing puppies need to eat enough to support growth but they should not be fat, because any extra weight can increase the risk of developing hip dysplasia (Hedhammar et al 1975, Kasstrom 1975). An additional problem is that puppies getting too much food could also consume too much of specific nutrients. Puppies provided a quality commercial puppy food that is fed in the proper amount will have a nutritionally balanced diet and should not receive any supplements. Dietary supplements, especially of calcium, are not only unnecessary but could cause serious problems. There is no evidence that supplemental protein or vitamins will reduce the risk of hip dysplasia (Kealy et al 1991, Nap et al 1991, Richardson & Zentek 1998)."
Now, read what Dr Jeannie wrote:
"Nutrition is Important
While puppies are growing rapidly, it is critically important to get their nutrition correct. What better nutrition can there be then what is found in a species specific diet – Dogs being carnivores, will thrive on a raw meat, bone and organ diet.
Some little known facts for you to think about:
by Dr. Tom Hungerford.
By 1965, a mere 30 years later… Hip Dysplasia was identified in 55 breeds world-wide. And the skeletal problems didn’t stop there.
Think about this, how do you think it is that CHD (Canine hip Dysplasia) and later more structural issues could suddenly appear in just 30 years and spread rapidly through all breeds?
Did Hip and Elbow Dysplasia exist before 1935? If so, was it common?
If it were not in existence, where did it come from, what happened?
What does all of this mean if we are assuming that these diseases are inherited and can therefore be eliminated by genetic means? We’ve been trying to breed this out for 50 years and have not yet been really successful!
So if CHD truly is genetic in nature, then the genes which cause it, have had to have always been present in the dog population but were only “switched on” somehow in 30 short years. What happened after the 1930’s?
Commercial Dog food emerged!
Up until the early 1940’s, people fed their pets on food scraps and raw meaty bones.Since the early 40’s, disease in our pets has shifted drastically! The widespread, across the board switch to processed commercial foods has resulted in a catastrophic increase in not only skeletal diseases but liver disease, pancreatic disease and cancer!"
At last, we see now why Dr Jeannie, plagiarist, thinks hip dysplasia can't be genetic- or if it is, those genes have been "turned on" by "processed commercial dog food". It's because "dogs being carnivores", they should be on a raw diet.
Yes, nutrition is important. But nothing else in Dr Jeannie, plagiarist's statement is supported by even the tiniest shred of documented fact. Dogs and wolves are the same species, but their nutritional needs are very different. In fact, the digestive enzymes of dogs reflect their adaptation during domestication to a diet that is omnivorous and higher in starch, and very different than that of wolves. No, the "ideal" diet for a dog is not raw, meaty bones, and their digestive enzymes are the proof. You don't have to take my word for it; you can download the most recent paper, published just last month, below. The notion that dogs and wolves should have the same diet is soundly refuted by science, and those that continue to claim this are purporting belief, not fact. Beliefs are what fairy tales are made of.
Oddly, Dr Jeannie does not provide a citation or source for her "information" apparently attributed to Dr Hungerford. However, a quick search on the internet turns up references to him dating in the 1930's, long before we knew much about either hip dysplasia or physiological adaptations of domesticated dogs to diet. This seemed odd to me, given the reference in the post to 1965.
But mystery solved. This is a bit of confusion caused by yet another of (plagiarist) Dr Jeannie's sloppy cut-and-paste jobs, this time from the Endless Mtn Labrador website, which I post here for your comparison:
"Hip Dysplasia was the first juvenile Bone Disease recognized in dogs, in 1935 by Dr. Tom Hungerford. By 1965, a mere 30 years later…
Hip Dysplasia was identified in 55 breeds world-wide. And the skeletal problems didn’t stop there. Other problems emerged with the shoulders, elbows, hock, and stifle.
So here’s some questions no one is asking:
-How is it that HD (Hip Dysplasia) and later structural issues could suddenly appear and spread rapidly through all breeds?
-Did Hip and Elbow Dysplasia exist before 1935? If so, was it common?
-If they were not in existence, where did they come from?
-Why can’t we eliminate these problems despite mass radiology and mass culling?
-What does all of this mean if we are assuming that these diseases are inherited and can therefore be eliminated by genetic means? We’ve been trying to breed this out for 50 years and have not been successful! (except for various reputable kennels who have decades of genetic clearances!)
So if HD and ED are genetic in nature, it must be that the genes which cause them have always been present in the dog population. So what OTHER factors are causing these skeletal diseases?? What happened after the 1930’s?
Commercial Dog food emerged!"
Oops. You can see now that poor Dr Hungerford didn't say any of those things that appear to be attributed to him in plagiaristDr Jennie's post. And Dr Jeannie didn't say any of the things that should in fact have been attributed to the Endless Mtn Labrador website - and since nobody but me is providing attributions of any sort, who knows where any of this stuff actually came from.
To cap it all off, plagiarist Dr Jeannie's website contains a long page of disclaimers and this truly remarkable statement:
"Articles written by Dr. Jeannie (Jeanette) Thomason may NOT be reprinted without express written permission and then printed in their entirety only and with following attribution box intact and hyperlinked: Dr. Jeannie Thomason is a certified animal naturopath and a proficient blogger and writer on natural pet health. She worked in traditional veterinary medicine for many years and continues to do extensive research into natural health care for dogs, cats and parrots..All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Author. This article is for educational purposes only. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader."
Dr Jeannie, not only have you have most definitely violated my copyright, but you managed to even plagiarize badly. ("proficient" blogger???) You can remove your embarassing post from your "Whole Dog Website", but I have reproduced enough of it here that anybody who wishes will be able to evaluate the "quality" of your work. Or, for those that want the complete experience, here's a pdf.
| _-_whole_dog_-_canine_hip_dysplasia_-_things_to_ponder_-_the_whole_dog.pdf |
The internet is a remarkable thing, but it can be hard to tell the quality from the rubbish. Do your homework.
PS I am unable to find any accredited institution that offers a "doctorate" in "veterinary naturopathy", as Dr Jeannie (Thomason) claims to have, and she (oddly) does not divulge where she got this degree. It is not a recognized veterinary specialty.
REFERENCES
Arendt, M, KM Cairns, JWO Ballard, P Savolainen, E Axelsson. 2016. Diet adaptation in dog reflects spread of prehistoric agriculture. Heredity 13 July 2016, doi:10.1038/hdy.2016.48
Arendt, M, KM Cairns, JWO Ballard, P Savolainen, E Axelsson. 2016. Diet adaptation in dog reflects spread of prehistoric agriculture. Heredity 13 July 2016, doi:10.1038/hdy.2016.48
