PRES IDEN T S ME SSAGE

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1 VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018 PRES IDEN T S ME SSAGE Our October specialty show has come and gone. Each year our entries are increasing, I m happy to say. Our seniors made a strong appearance. We re one of the few terrier breeds offering major point wins at the Harvest Moon Classic. From what I m hearing there should be a strong puppy entry next year. Unfortunately, the Brass Door Restaurant lost our December 1 reservation and gave our holiday luncheon date to another organization. We were lucky enough to be offered Sunday, December 2. We were forced to accept the date as we felt it would be difficult to find another location this late in the year. I hope in spite of the date change that you can be at the December 2 meeting and holiday celebration. Marie will be sending the lunch menu and reservation information in the next few days. I hope to see you December 2. The board held a special meeting following the specialty show. I had two special announcements for the board and I d like to share them with you. Susan Robbins, a special friend of the club, sent a donation to the club in memory of her father. Susan has had Westies for many years. She has asked that the club use the donation as we chose. Our constitution states our goal is the betterment of the breed. As a thank you to Susan, the board has decided to earmark the donation as a fall 2019 specialty show dedication to Susan Komer Robbins in memory of her father, Stuart Komer for the betterment of the breed. Susan stated her Dad knew and appreciated how much she loves her Westies. He would be pleased. For the record, Susan also made a donation to Northern California Westie rescue. Secondly, I was given approval by the board to appoint Linda Gilcrest, Linda Snook and Winnie Noble to the nominating committee. The committee met shortly after the specialty dinner. The committee has chosen Linda to be the chairperson. The nominating committee will present their proposed slate of officers and board members prior to the December 2 meeting. Voting will take place at the January 20, 2019 meeting. Nominations will also be accepted at the December 1 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018

2 meeting prior to voting providing the nominee is present and approves of the nomination or a nomination can be made by mail with written approval from the nominee. My best wishes to you for a very happy Thanksgiving and all the best for the end of the year holidays. SAN FRANCISCO BAY WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER CLUB PRESIDENT GAIL KRIEGER VICE PRESIDENT KIM SMITH TREASURER JIM GILCREST 2018 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD MBR SHERRY BYRD BOARD MBR WINNIE NOBLE BOARD MBR, IPP BRUCE CAMPBELL SECRETARY LISA BLUTMAN, lisa.blutman@aol.com AWARDS DAVID SNOOK BY-LAWS LISA BLUTMAN, JIM GILCREST, GAIL KRIGER 2018 COMMITTEES FUNDRAISING KIM SMITH, LISA BLUTMAN, HELAINE CAMPBELL, GAIL KRIEGER HOLIDAY LUNCHEON MARIE THOMPSON EDUCATION AND PROGRAM DAVID SNOOK, NANCY BERGER MEMBERSHIP CINDY KANGAS OBEDIENCE, RALLY AND PERFORMANCE NANCY BERGER SPECIALTY SHOW AND SWEEPSTAKES LISA BLUTMAN STANDING MATCH AND SHOW GAIL KRIGER, LISA BLUTMAN, SHERRY BYRD, KIM SMITH SUNSHINE NANCY BERGER WEBMASTER LINDA GILCREST WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA LIAISON LISA BLUTMAN WESTIE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA LIAISON GAIL KRIGER WESTIE RESCUE AND PLACEMENT OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LIAISON DAVID & LINDA SNOOK Please consider volunteering your time by serving on one of the Club s committees. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and to help shape the future of our organization. If you are interested, please contact Gail Krieger, gailaurie@hotmail.com. 2 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018

3 Please consider volunteering your time by serving on one of the Club s committees. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and to help shape the future of our organization. If you are interested, please contact David Snook. Visit us online at for the latest news and updates! The HIGHLAND TARTAN is published a t l e a s t four times per year in March, June, September and December. We encourage any Club Member to submit articles or information which they feel would be of interest to the Club. Please send material of interest to the Editor by the first day of the month of publication. All materials are published at the discretion of the Editor. Opinions are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Editor or the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Bay West Highland White Terrier Club. Send materials for publication to Gail Krieger, gailaurie@hotmail.com When submitting information for an ad, please have it camera ready. Indicate the size (full or half page) and mark the areas to be used for written copy. ****** Copy should be typed to size on white paper. Your photos and copy will be returned, if requested. Advertisement costs for a Full Page: $20.00; Half Page: $10.00; Business Card size: $15.00; for 4 issues. Whelping Box: List litter announcements in the Tartan: Number of dog and bitch puppies, sire, dam, whelp date and owners. $5/ issue, members only. Please make check Payable to SFBWHWTC Payment must accompany advertisement. Send payment to: Jim Gilcrest, 1440 Happy Valley Rd, Soquel, CA THE HIGHLAND TARTAN Is the official newsletter of the SAN FRANCISCO BAY WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER CLUB Event Date Location Annual Meeting Danville Spec & Sweepstakes Cal Expo, Sacramento Spring Mtg & Program Cal St East Bay, Hayward Fall Fun Day & Picnic Cal St East Bay, Hayward Spec & Sweepstakes Alameda Frgd, Pleasanton Holiday Mtg & Luncheon Brass Door, San Ramon Annual Meeting Pet Food Express, Danville 3 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018

4 Annual Meeting Visit us online at for the latest news and updates! The HIGHLAND TARTAN is published a t l e a s t four times per year in March, June, September and December. We encourage any Club Member to submit articles or information which they feel would be of interest to the Club. Please send material of interest to the Editor by the first day of the month of publication. All materials are published at the discretion of the Editor. Opinions are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Editor or the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Bay West Highland White Terrier Club. Send materials for publication to Gail Krieger, gailaurie@hotmail.com When submitting information for an ad, please have it camera ready. Indicate the size (full or half page) and mark the areas to be used for written copy. ****** Copy should be typed to size on white paper. Your photos and copy will be returned, if requested. Advertisement costs for a Full Page: $20.00; Half Page: $10.00; Business Card size: $15.00; for 4 issues. Whelping Box: List litter announcements in the Tartan: Number of dog and bitch puppies, sire, dam, whelp date and owners. $5/ issue, members only. Please make check Payable to SFBWHWTC Payment must accompany advertisement. Send payment to: Jim Gilcrest, 1440 Happy Valley Road, Soquel, CA In Memoriam We wish to take this opportunity to honor our wonderful four-footed friends who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. For future issues, we ask that you send your memorials to us at: Gail Krieger, gailaurie@hotmail.com Please send a photo, birth (an estimate is fine if you don't have the exact date) and passing date along with a short note to include in the memorial. 4 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018

5 MARK YOUR CALENDAR THE JANUARY 20, 2019 MEETING WILL BE HELD IN DANVILLE AT THE PET FOOD EXPRESS STORE. The meeting times and program will be announced at a later date. BY MERRY FITZGERALD, DVM Grain-Free Diets and Cardiomyopathy From Dog News Magazine, August 24, 2018 Do grain-free diets cause heart disease in dogs? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released an alert concerning reports of heart disease, specifically dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), occurring in dogs that are fed grain-free diets. These are diets that contain peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as the main ingredients. The reports are note-worthy because breeds that are not typically genetically prone to the disease are being diagnosed with DCM. The FDA is investigating the potential connection between grain-free diets for dogs and DM, but at this time, no link has been confirmed. Canine dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that interferes with the heart s ability to pump blood and results in enlargement of the heart. This can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs and abdomen followed by congestive heart failure. Affected dogs seem tired and weak, lose weight, and develop irregular heartbeats. Collapse and sudden death may occur. Certain large breeds are thought to be genetically predisposed to DCM, including Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Doberman pinchers, Newfoundlands, Irish wolfhounds, English setters, Portuguese water dogs, and boxers, With the exception of Cavalier King Charles spaniels and English cocker spaniels, the disease is less common in small and medium breeds. Golden retrievers have recently been added to the breed-specific list. Many Golden retriever owners have embraced grain-free diets for their dogs to resolve allergy-related conditions, such as ear infections and skin rashes. The underlying cause of DCM is not known. Researchers feel the condition may be related to a taurine deficiency. 5 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018

6 What is Taurine? Taurine is one of the 22 amino acids present in the body. Amino acids are described as the basic building blocks of proteins. They are essential for proper functioning of the body systems. Taurine is distributed throughout the body with especially high concentrations present in the muscles of the heart walls, the retina in the eye, and the brain. The need for taurine in these tissues is essential even though its exact function has not been determined. Essential amino acids are a group of amino acids that cannot be synthesized in the liver. They must be acquired by eating food that contains them. In dogs, taurine is not an essential amino acid. Dogs can make taurine from cysteine and methionine, as long as they consume a diet that supplies sufficient amounts of these amino acids. Taurine, however, is an essential amino acid for cats. Back in the 1970 s, thousands of cats that were being fed a diet of dog food were mysteriously going blind and dying from cardiomyopathy. The cause was traced to a deficiency of taurine. Since then, taurine is added to cat foods but is not usually added to dog food. Recent studies have shown many dogs that are being fed grain-fee diets containing large amounts of legumes, such as lentils, chick peas and peas, are prone to develop heart disease. There is no documentation that legumes specifically interfere with a dog S ability to create taurine, but there does seem to be a connection. The lack of taurine in the diet can cause serious eye and heart diseases to develop. Taurine is found in muscle meat. Chicken is the most common protein in dog food and contains the highest levels of taurine when compared to lamb, beef, venison and rabbit. Taurine deficiency is seen in dogs fed high fiber and very low protein diets. It has also been report in dogs eating vegan, raw, or home-prepared diets. The reason for taurine deficiency in dogs is not completely understood. It could be the result of reduced production of taurine due to dietary deficiency, reduced bioavailability of taurine or its building blocks, increased loss of taurine in the feces, or altered metabolism of taurine in the body. Can I give my dog a taurine supplement? Taurine can be supplemented in some cases, the changes to the eyes and heart can be reversed if caught early. Studies suggest that taurine supplementation may be helpful for dogs with heart failure even when no taurine deficiency exists. It is less likely that DCM in the Doberman pincher and Boxer is related to taurine deficiency, so the value of giving a taurine supplement is questionable. Supplementation with taurine must be done carefully. A blood level check is advised if our dogs has been on homemade, vegetarian, raw, or grain-free diet. Blood testing requires bringing your dog in to your veterinarian for a blood sample to be drawn and sent to the 6 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018

7 laboratory at U of California Davis. Supplement dosages generally are 250 milligrams for a small dog, 500 milligrams for a medium dog, and 750 milligrams for a large dog, given twice daily. Taurine is best given on an empty stomach. High levels of taurine are present in raw meat, particularly heart, but much is lost when the meat is cooked. Taurine can also be added to your dog s diet by feeding lightly cooked pink salmon, jack mackerel (I wondered if there was a market for this nasty canned fish) or sardines on a daily basis. When adding the canned fish, it is advisable to rinse the fish thoroughly to reduce the salt intake. In addition to giving a taurine supplement, you will also want to include a B-complex vitamin supplement. It is needed for the conversion of taurine into an absorbable form. Is Grain-Free dog food better for my dog? Grain-free dog food is a recent addition to the many choices of dog food available today. As the gluten-free and paleo diets became more popular for people, the pet food marketplace took note. Grain=free diets may have some advantages for certain dogs. Overall, it is the proportion and quality of the ingredients that matters. Good quality dog foods have protein as the first ingredient. These foods have chicken, beef, whitefish, salmon, turkey, tuna, and/or eggs as the whole protein source. The dog food should not be packed with additives, such as meat by products or too much potato, both of which can be present in grain-free foods. Many people believe that the grains in dog foods are simply fillers with little nutritional value used to keep production costs low. In a good quality dog food, that is not the case. Some of the grains listed will be barley, buckwheat, corn, oats, quinoa and rice. Quinoa and barley are considered by nutritionists to be super foods because of the high amounts of protein, iron and fiber they contain. Whole grain corn provides protein, vitamin E and linoleic acid in a perfectly digestible form. A common misconception is that grain-free diets are low in carbohydrates. We know this is healthy for us and assume it is the same for our dogs. To replace grains, many grain-free foods use ingredients such as potatoes, apple, sweet potatoes, and peas. Some grain-free dog foods actually contain carbohydrate levels similar to or even higher than dog foods containing grains. Dog owners often choose grain-free diets in the hope it will alleviate food allergies. However, nutritionists find that the corn, wheat, and soy in dog diets rarely cause allergic reactions. Beef was the most common allergen, followed by dairy and chicken. 7 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018

8 Another option worth noting is the single whole-grain formula dog food. These recipes contain a single grain rather than a conglomerate of wheat, corn, or other grains. For this formula, the grain is cooked for a long time at a lower temperature. This process makes it easier for dogs to digest. Often the single grain is brown rice, which is a healthy alternative to corn, wheat, or soy. The important thing to keep in mind when choosing a food for your dog is to pick one that best suits your dog s nutritional needs. The quality of the ingredients and the proportion of the protein, fiber and fat are the factors that will ensure your dog looks and feels his best. ################# SAN FRANCISCO BAY WEST HIGHLAND WHIT TERRIER CLUB FALL 2019 SPECIALTY, PUPPY SWEEPSTAKES AND VETERAN SWEEPSTAKES The Veterans Jim and Bonnee Nancy and Fluery Pam and Mac 8 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018

9 Entries from the Classes Sherry and Yancy Gail and Bowie Sherry and Darby Best of Breed Pam and Mac, Nancy & Bijou 9 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018

10 SFBWHWTC Members and a Friend and Supporter Pam, Winnie and Mac Lisa and Bowie Nancy Razor and Toby Thank you Marie for the great photos 10 SFBWHWTC HIGHLAND TARTAN VOLUME 47, NUMBER 3 FALL 2018