Hi, my name is Nia. I'm from South Wales. I'm owned by 3 deerhounds, 2 bitches, 1 dog. Jacob, Emma and Jorja. We did show our dogs in the past, but haven't for years, since my father died. One of our girls, Emma, is a woolly (hopefully I'll be able to put up a picture of her in all her fluffy glory), Jacob is quite frankly a noisy sod, and Jorja is the one I'm asking for help/information about.

You see, the problem is Jorja has PSS. It was identified when she was a puppy (we bred these three ourselves), and unfortunately she cannot have an operation to 'fix'it. She therefore lives on a specialised diet of hepatic food, and various medications. Don't get me wrong, she's a lovely dog (though don't ask her brother to say that - she has him thoroughly whipped), and we were told she wouldn't live to be a year old, so her fourth birthday in March was lovely. The problem we have is that she shakes. And I mean shakes. Sometimes it's so bad she can barely stand. She'll get up and go for a nice long run, but a few hours later, she'll be standing next to you practically vibrating.

Our vet, Karen, is really good with her, but she doesn't know why she shakes. She's not in pain, w've tried her on Metacam, but that just made the shakes worse. Her right back leg is very stiff too. She's flexible enough to curl up on her favourite chair, but has trouble getting out of it.

So my question is this: can anyone else help out with this problem? As I've said, she's not in pain, but we do still worry, especially my 4 year old nephew, who gets terribly concerned.

Many thanks,

Nia

Hi Nia welcome to the site. I'm sure everyone would love to see pictures of your dogs, it can be a bit complicated at first uploading the photos, but if you need any help then please let me know.
Rob

Hi Nia and welcome - this is a lovely site

I cannot help with your problem as I am only a deerhound 'novice' but am sure that the more knowledgeable peeps on here will be able to help..

I am also part of the Welsh contingient coming from Pembrokeshire

Hi Nia and welcome to the forum. Has Jorja had a neurological exam? I wonder whether the shakes could be a neuro problem.

Hi. This is Jorja, going walkies with my nephew, and one of our cats, Woody. Sadly, Woody died not long ago, but he loved going walkies with the dogs

This is a picture of our two boys, Jacob and Jasper. Jasper now lives on the Isle Wight, but he was a real mummies boy


And last but not least, Emma. Our big fluffy teddy. Who in this picture has just had her fur trimmed off for summer.

whoops, didn't mean to do that. This is the Jorja pic

and this is jake and jasp

What lovely dogs, also love the cat and dog being taken for a walk by little man!

There is something about a woolly that I just love, why would it be a problem
showing a wooly coated dog, surely they are judged on their ability to hunt and catch deer
as opposed to how good their coat looks, which wouldn't stop them hunting!

Maybe someone will tell me something I didn't know now!

Great pictures Nia

structurally, woollies tend to be very sound and correct, however, the breed standard states that they should have a crisp, harsh coat. This enables them to cope with severe weather conditions. A woollies coat is quite soft. I'm not sure they would cope with the driving rain up in the Highlands of Scotland. This is why they are not seen in the show ring as they deviate from the breed standard.

Woollies usually have the most wonderful rear construction. So do Bearded Collies. You catch my drift? Woollies are generally reckoned to be throwbacks to some of the outcrossing that was done in the 19th century and that's why the coat is a disqualifying fault for the show ring. It's also much harder to manage than a proper harsh coat and doesn't keep its owner dry and warm in bad weather.

Emma is an absolutely gorgeous dog. She's everyones favourite, because she's so fluffy. The only thing is, her fur is really high maintenance. If you don't groom regularly, and by that, I mean my Dad used to do her daily, her fur snarls something terrible. It's really fine, and if it knots, it turns to something that looks like felt. The fur between her toes and on her feet is really bad for this. It's a nightmare in winter, with all the mud she gets clogged up in there.

Strangely, her tail (though extravagantly bushy and long furred), doesn't have this problem.

Yes Sally, looking at the picture of Emma, she is powerfully built or well
constructed, I see what you mean re the coats not being harsh enough for Scottish
weather.

Well I think she is beautiful, almost bearlike and who needs to be in a show ring anyway!

I could take her home!

Good Friday to everyone...yipee! I'm wondering...since the Deerhound is supposed to have a coarse harsh coat...perhaps a product just for such a coat would help..esp since it can be humid in the warmer weather where youare...and I doubt if you are as cool as we are here - in Edmonton, Alberta - Canada right now. Zippo's breeder suggested I use a mix od half water and half regular Listerine as a grooming spray..works well. Must admit - after almost 30 yrs of Afghans and Borzoi...maintaining a harsh coat is sooo much easier - although it seemed opposite of what I was so used - the others require a soft, silky coat....that is a lot more daily grooming and a lot more $$$$$ on products. Love this groom and go! I made the mistake of using just tiny bit of the 'Silk" I had used on my Sily Terrier and Borzoi & Afghans...smells so nice - BUT...made his coat too soft , besides I couldn't keep my face out of his cuddly hair. So...now it is simply spray with the mix..and brush..his hair is soo lovely, soo correct. We had marvelous comments from judges this past summer. I was so pleased.....although he did not get a puppy show because he failed to keep any feet on the ground...sadly...this is true. I didn't think a baby so cute could embarass me so severely...he certainly beat every other animal I have ever shown...goats and horses included, - even when the Silky stopped on the down and back and refused to come out from under the judges long skirt...cute, eh...well and Deerhounf moving around the ring with his mom's arm in his mouth is not so cute - it is embarassing, esp when he skips and wants to hug the judge. Oh, he did kiss the judge on the Fri in Edmonton at the EKC show in April....no kidding. There he stands, in all his glory...oh so lovely I'm thinking...the judge approached...takes my baby's head in his hand to look closely and Zippo lifts his head and plants a kiss on the judges face as he was stooping over the pup. Bit my tongue...manage not to laugh...others outside the ring did not try as hard apparently.
His breeder says..let him grow up...he will. Apparently his daddy was exactly the same til he was 2...then he hit the group ring andthe Best in Show ring was his...ah...patience. He is Mr. Social Butterfly. We wouldn't change a single thing about him.

Hi Nia
and welcome welcome,

I would like to congartulate your whole family in coping with your lovely deerhound with PSS, I remember your father fondly, one of the kindest men I have ever met please send my regards to your mum,

Nia, please e mail Hilary Jupp, I am enclosing the link, she is amazing, her knowledge incredible and she is very very kind,

www.irishwolfhounds.org/
http://www.irishwolfhounds.org/

Its lovely that you have stopped by here, hugs and pats to all
Betina