I’ve seen enough of you guys in the field to realize that you don’t want to compete if there is absolutely no chance that you can win. This is one of the few hunting related sports that we do not just for the joy of being in the field with our dogs--but the possibility of really getting some bragging rights over our buddies!

You all know that your dog’s nose does not change significantly over time--that his nose is still going strong long after his eyes and limbs fail. You also need to know that if his teeth hurt he is not going to readily fetch even a tennis ball, let alone a live rooster pheasant. (I’ve seen some of you shoot, and know that you need a good dog as badly as I do!)

Accordingly, I believe that it is time to quit when your dog can’t run full out at a competitive speed for 10 minutes. I have rarely seen tournament hunts with winning times longer than that. So, if you want to win, your dog has to be able to give it his all for at least 10 minutes. The criterion for tournament hunting is a little different than wild bird hunting where a dog has to be able to go all day long. (Note here: This does not seem to apply to people competing in tournaments, just their dogs. Some of our older participants make up for a diminution of speed with better control of their dogs, better strategy, and better shooting.)

The dogs, however, have to cover all of the field -- not just make good time to where their partner has already found the bird!) The time at which our dogs slow down varies hugely from dog to dog. Most can run hard for the relatively short time required to do well in a tournament hunt for at least 10 years--provided you do a few simple things.

1) Keep them constantly in good condition. "Yo-yo" dieting is no better for them than it is for you. Every day I hear from clients, "I know he’s overweight, Doc, but he will lose it during hunting season."

2) At (or before) the first sign of arthritis, put them on a chondroprotective agent recommended by your veterinarian. These drugs help keep joints and cartilage in good shape longer and are given daily for life. Many people take these chemicals, as well. All contain glucosamine and some have chondroitin sulfate--and they are not all the same in effect, so choose wisely. I have been using Cosequin in a dysplastic (hip dysplasia) bitch for nearly 4 years now, and she can still hunt a full day with little discomfort. Her x-rays show bone-on-bone, yet she is leaping over fences that younger dogs crawl under.

3) When you are sure that they have some pain from arthritis, use an appropriate veterinary painkiller before the hunt. (This is good advice for you, too. It has been well documented that painkillers before the pain-inducing event help more than if you give them afterward.) I am fond of Rimadyl and Metacam, but there are several other drugs that are reputed to work as well. All are at this time exclusively available by prescription, and I do not recommend that you try one of your human painkillers for your pet--as this sometimes leads to disastrous results.

Even severe injuries do not always mean the end of your dog’s hunting career. Modern veterinary practices can repair injuries that not long ago were fatal or debilitating. There are very few injuries from which a dog can recover that will prevent him from performing at a very high level, at least for 15-20 minutes at a time. One of my own dogs was hit by a car and suffered a compound (bone sticking out of the skin) comminuted (broken into lots of little pieces) fracture of his leg. I could’ve pinned the leg myself and he would’ve been able to walk, but what’s good enough for a pet dog isn’t good enough for an athlete. An orthopedic specialist installed plates and screws to protect and reinforce the bone ($2000) and five months later the dog was well enough to win the Llewellyn Derby. Three years later, you can’t tell by watching him run which leg was injured.

Blastomycosis and hystoplasmosis are fungal diseases that were virtually always fatal a few years ago. The fungus is inhaled and attacks the nose, eyes and lungs. Today’s advanced anti-fungal drugs can effectively treat these infections, but prompt diagnosis is critical. Early treatment will prevent the fungus from damaging the sensitivity of the nose and the capacity of the lungs. Most dogs that recover will be good as new. Diarrhea, poor appetite and weight loss are among the symptoms, so pay attention and get him to the vet immediately.

OK, now for the really hard stuff. When is it time to let your best friend go? In 30 years of practice, I have found that it all comes down to quality--both for the pet and its owners. We all know what to do when there is too much pain- -but what about when our friend is losing mental function but has no pain? Some of these old timers soil in the house, or pace the floor constantly. They may not be in pain, but their quality of life is certainly poor and yours is declining rapidly as you worry. (Note: There are drugs and a new diet called b/d that can help with this change in mental acuity- -but even these do not help indefinitely.) In the end, it is a decision that we all have to make for ourselves, but I believe that it is OK to look at the quality of your life as well as that of your pet.

If and when you have to make that choice, seek out a veterinarian who will perform humane euthanasia. Nothing beats having a decent relationship with your pet’s doctor at this point, as a good vet will share your grief and be compassionate about the difficulty of your decision. Most of us will allow you to be with your pet right up to the end, and many of us use a strong sedative before the final injection. This puts your pet into a kind of "twilight sleep" which removes all fear and allows us to perform this last act of love with the dignity it deserves.
Until next time -- hunt well, shoot straight.

"Doc"

This column originally appeared in MENZ Tournament Hunter Magazine. Scott "Doc" Faulkner runs the Ankeny Animal and Avian Clinic in Ankeny, Iowa and is an avid hunter and widely respected vet. His columns appear regularly in Tournament Hunter. For information about the magazine, go to: http://www.menztournamenthunter.com/