Adopting a dog from Spain comes with some risks of which you should be aware.

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1 LHB Galgo Rescue Information for your Vet Adopting a dog from Spain comes with some risks of which you should be aware. Nearly all Spanish shelters test for Babesia, Ehrlichia, Leishmania and heartworm disease. Babesia and Erlichia are tickborne diseases, Leishmania is a disease transmitted by the sand fly, and heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes. Even though dogs are screened for these diseases, we encourage adopters to fully disclose the origin of their adopted animals to their veterinarians, particularly if the dog shows any sign of illness. As with American racing greyhounds, the environments in which these dogs are kept may contain ticks, and it is not practical nor feasible for the shelters to test for all possible tickborne diseases. All dogs are treated for external parasites prior to leaving Spain; however, LHB GALGO RESCUE strongly recommends that adopters inspect their pets very closely for any signs of external parasites. We feel that more needs to be added to this explanation so you, the adopter, are fully aware of these diseases and their possible implications to your pet s health. We are providing additional information for you to read and become more informed, particularly with regard to Leishmania. Please read LEISHMANIA AND OTHER INFO FOR YOUR VET on next page. Although dogs are tested and deemed negative before coming to the United States, there is a small possibility that a dog that has tested negative can still have the disease in a dormant state, and it may take up to 7 years for a positive test result to show up. We recommend that you retest your dog annually, or if you see any signs of illness, as early detection is important. Due to the nature of the infectious diseases these dogs may carry, LHB GALGO RESCUE discourages adopters from allowing their dog to be used as a blood donor. If you re adopted dog carries any of these diseases (even if they have tested negative), there is the potential for transmission to the blood recipient. As with all health matters regarding your adopted dog, only you and your veterinarian can ultimately determine the best course of action. All potential adopters are required to sign the waiver below and return to LHB GALGO RESCUE with the application via or mail. If you want to reconsider your adoption due to this information, please let us know immediately. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and WAIVER I have received and read all information provided by LHB GALGO RESCUE concerning the most common risks of adopting a dog from Spain and understand that LHB GALGO RESCUE is not responsible for any future health issues of the dog I am adopting. I hereby release LHB GALGO RESCUE from all liability regarding the health of the dog adopted through LHB GALGO RESCUE. Adopter Name Signature Date Print Name Mail to: LHB Galgo Rescue P.O.Box 881. Crystal lake, IL Or Scan and to: Info@LHBGalgoRescue.org 1

2 LHB Galgo Rescue Information for your Vet Information for You and Your Veterinary Surgeon Galgos from Spain are tested for diseases that occur in Mediterranean countries and that are not commonly known or endemic in the United States. Although the galgos brought to the US test negative for these diseases, it is important to know about them. The four main diseases are Leishmaniasis, Babesiosis, Heart worm and Ehrlichiosis. The aim of this report is not to make you worry about these diseases but only to make you and your veterinarian aware of these diseases. Leishmaniasis Causing agent Small protozoa called Leishmania infantum. Mainly transmitted by sandflies. Geographical distribution in Europe Leishmania infantum can be found in Spain, the Mediterranean coast, south coast and some central regions like Madrid. Transmission The Leishmania parasite is transmitted to the dog by the bite of the sandfly when feeding on the dogs blood. The most common time of the year for the sandfly to feed on the dog is from April until late September. Sandflies are weather dependent and are more predominant near water sources like rivers. The incubation period can take from 3 months to seven years. Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease; this means it can be transmitted to humans by the sandfly as a vector, so the dog can act as a reservoir for the parasite. This transmission can happen in areas where the sandfly is present; however the clinical signs would not be like the dog s clinical signs. Clinical signs Leishmaniasis can have many different clinical signs like dermal lesions (dermatitis), abnormal nails growth, decreased appetite and weight loss, exercise intolerance and lethargy, vomiting and blood found in the stools. However the most common ones are Epistaxis (nose bleeds), ocular abnormalities and renal (kidney) failure. On clinical examination enlarged lymph nodes and spleen can be observed. Renal failure due to immune complex glomerulonephritis eventually develops and is believed to be the main cause of death in dogs. Diagnosis Blood tests are used to detect Leishmania antibodies (ELISA test); more complex tests for identification can be done such as a PCR test. Treatment and prevention If the dog shows any of the clinical signs found above and it has been in an endemic area it should be taken to the veterinarian and let the veterinarian know in which country the dog has been to. The main drugs used for the treatment of leishmaniasis are Glucantime and allopurinol. Miltefosine (Milteforan ) is a relatively new anti leishmanial drug that can be used for the first month of treatment in combination with allopurinol instead of meglumine antimoniate. Amphotericin B is also used but it is highly nephrotoxic (toxic for the kidneys). These treatments are often designed to improve the dog s condition temporarily but sometimes the disease can reoccur. The treatment does not eliminate the parasite. Keeping infected dogs where the sandfly is present needs to be thought about as a treated dog is considered as a carrier and can transmit the parasite via the sandfly to other dogs and people. In endemic countries dogs are given topical insecticides in Deltamethrin impregnated collars or spot drops to reduce the number of sandfly bites. Babesiosis Causing agent A protozoa organism that parasites the erythrocytes. The most common species that causes canine babesiosis are the Babesia canis and the Babesia gibsoni. Geographical distribution Present worldwide including in some parts of the UK and in Europe particularly in Southern France.

3 LHB Galgo Rescue Information for your Vet Transmission When ticks feed on the dog s blood, the longer the tick feeds the higher the chances of passing the Babesia to the dog. Clinical signs The clinical findings and the severity of these can vary. The most common symptoms are pale tongue, gums and nose due to low number of red blood cells, fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, red or orange urine, enlarged lymph nodes. The most severe infections are called peracute infections and show typical symptoms of a hypotensive shock; pale membranes, tachycardia, weak pulse and depression this associated with organ dysfunction leads to coma and death. Acute infections signs are fever, anaemia, jaundice, inappetance, weakness and sometimes death. Diagnosis: By blood test. Directly seeing the parasite using a stain or by using the serological IFAT test that detects antibodies in the blood serum Treatment and prevention The dog should be taken to the veterinarian to get a correct diagnose and treatment. There are several drugs that can be used to treat the dog after been correctly diagnosed. These are imidocarb, phenamidine, and diminazineaceturate. If the dog has a severe anaemia blood transfusion should be considered. In order to prevent tick bites the dog and the dog kennels should be treated with an appropriate acaricide. A vaccine that protects the dog for 6 months has been recently developed and it is used in Europe. Heart worm disease or canine heartworm Causing agent Dirofilaria immitis is a filarial worm that as an adult lives in the cardiovascular system, in the right ventricle, right atrium, pulmonary artery and posterior vena cava. The final host are dogs, wild canids and sometimes cats and ferrets Geographical distribution Warm temperature countries and tropical zones. In Europe countries like Spain and France. There have been some cases in the UK of animals who have travelled abroad. Transmission Transmitted by mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, Anopheles and Culex. The female mosquito bites taking blood from an infected animal, after two weeks the mosquito carries the larvae in the mouth parts and bites another animal. The larvae develop in the host system and migrate to the heart vessels. Clinical signs Clinical signs start when there are a high number of worms obstructing the blood flow. This causes endocarditis and dead worms in the system can cause pulmonary embolism. Heavily infected dogs suffer from loss of condition and exercise intolerance. It is common to observe a chronic cough and breathlessness. Diagnosis The dog should be taken to the veterinarian where it will have a blood test or an x ray done. There are ELISA kits that will detect heartworm antibodies or more sophisticated techniques such as PCR. Treatment and prevention Once the dog is diagnosed before dealing with the parasite the dog may need to be treated for cardiac insufficiency. Then the dog will get two injections of either thiacetarsamide or melarsamide over the period of two days to kill the adult worms. The activity of the dog should be restricted for the following 2 6 weeks to avoid risk of pulmonary embolism as a result of the dead worms in the system. Six weeks after the initial treatment drugs to kill the remaining microfilaria will be given. The treatment period can go up to two weeks depending on the drug administered. The most common drugs used orally are dithiazanine iodide and levamisole. To prevent heartworm infection can be done in two ways. Preventing the mosquitoes biting the dog, this can be hard to do because of the pet habits or giving the dog oral preventative tablets. Ask your veterinarian for advice of the drug to use and the frequency of administration.

4 LHB Galgo Rescue Information for your Vet Ehrlichiosis Causing agent A bacterium from the Rickettsiaceae family called Ehrlichia canis. This bacterium infects dogs but other Ehrlichia species can infect humans and other animal species. Geographic distribution Worldwide distributed. Transmission By Rhipicephalus sanguineous tick or brown dog tick. The tick larvae and nymph feeds on an infected dog and when adults feed on a new dog transmitting the disease. Clinical signs The clinical signs vary depending on the stage of the infection. In the acute phase the clinical sings can vary, the signs can be depression, lethargy, anorexia and pyrexia and weight loss. Specific signs are enlarged lymph nodes and spleen, occasional epistaxis (nose bleed) and petecchia (blood spots in the skin). In the chronic severe form the symptoms will be the same as in the acute form but more severe. Systemic signs can be haemorrhage, shock and multi organ failure. Diagnosis By clinical presentation, pathological findings (E. canis invades mononuclear cells, there is an increase on platelet number, mild leucopenia and anaemia) and serology through a blood test using ELISA or IFAT test. Treatment and prevention Once the disease has been diagnosed there are several drugs that can be used such as doxycycline, tetracyclyine hydrochloride, oxytetracyclin and chloramphenicol. The dose and time of treatment depends on the drug used. There is no vaccine therefore the best way to prevent the disease is by using acaricides that will prevent the tick from feeding on the dog. Please remember that the galgos have been negatively tested for these diseases however if you travel to an endemic country or you think that your galgo has any of the clinical signs shown above take the galgo to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

5 Dog Adoption Application Welcome to Love, Hope, Believe Galgo Rescue adoption program. We request the following information so that we can assist you in the selection of a new dog. This form and a consultation with a LHB Galgo Rescue representative are designed to help you find the dog most compatible with your lifestyle. Please this form to Info@LHBGalgoRescue.org To be considered as an adopter, you must: Be 21 years of age or older Have identification showing your present address Have the knowledge and consent of your landlord Be able and willing to spend the time and money necessary to provide medical treatment and proper care of the dog Completion of this application does not guarantee adoption of a LHB Galgo Rescue dog. Please print legibly and complete both sides. Thank you! Name of applicant Date Street address City State Zip Phone Alternate phone Age How long have you lived at this address? Are you adopting for yourself or for someone else? Describe in detail the dog you re looking for: Will this be your first dog? Yes No What kind of pets have you had in the past? Which of these do you still have? (Include age, sex and breed.) Have they been spayed or neutered? Yes No don t know Are they current on vaccinations? Yes No don t know What happened to the pets you no longer have? Have you ever turned your dog in to a shelter? Yes No If yes, please explain:

6 Have you ever had a pet euthanized? Yes No If yes, please explain: If you have pets, will they adjust to a new dog in the house? Yes No don t know Was your last dog obedience-trained? Yes No doesn t apply Why do you want this dog? (Check all that apply.) Companion Companion for other pet House pet Watch dog Guard dog Hunting Personal protection other (explain) How many adults are in your family? How many children? Children s ages? Does any member of your household have an allergy to dogs? Yes No Is someone home during the day? Yes No If yes, who? How many hours each day will the dog be without human companionship? Please explain: Where do you live? House Apartment Condo Mobile home other Do you own or rent your home? Own Rent If you rent, may we contact the owner to obtain permission for this dog to live in your home? Yes No Owner s name and phone number: What is your current occupation? Who is your current employer? Does your job require extensive travel? Do you have a completely fenced yard? Yes No Is there a gate? Yes No What kind of fence? Height of the fence: If no fenced yard, please explain: Do you have a dog door? Yes No Are there times when the dog will be tied up? Yes No If yes, when? Are there stairs that lead to your home? Yes No If yes, how many?

7 Will the dog spend any time in the garage? Yes No If yes, please explain: Do you have a pool? Yes No If yes, is there a fence around the pool? Yes No What kind of fence? Height of the fence: Will you keep the dog up-to-date on vaccinations? Yes No If no, please explain: Who is your veterinarian? Phone City/state Are you able and willing to exercise the dog on a regular basis? Yes No If yes, method of exercise: Where will the dog be kept during the day? At night? If you drive a pickup truck, would you allow the dog to ride in the back? Yes No If yes, please explain: If you go away for a few days, or on a vacation, who will take care of the dog? What arrangements will you make for the care of your pets in case of an emergency? If you move, will you take the dog with you? Yes No If no, please explain: Have you ever applied to Love, Hope, Believe Galgo Rescue before to adopt an animal? Yes No If yes, when? Have you ever brought animals to LHB Galgo Rescue? Yes No If yes, please explain: How did you find out about LHB Galgo Rescue? Are you willing to have a representative of LHB Galgo Rescue come to see where the dog will be living? Yes No If no, explain: Are you willing to take responsibility for this dog for the next 10 to 15 years? Yes No If no, explain:

8 What provisions will you make for the dog should you become unable to care for him/her? How much are you willing to spend on medical bills for your dog? Up to $100 Up to $500 Up to $1,000 Up to $5,000 Whatever it takes What would you do if the vet bills went over this amount? Please provide two personal references: Name Relationship Street address City State Zip Phone Name Relationship Street address City State Zip Phone Notes (for LHB Galgo Rescue use)

Collie Rescue of Tampa Bay, Inc.

Collie Rescue of Tampa Bay, Inc. P.O.Box 14305, Clearwater, FL 33766-4305 Adoption Application Thank you so much for your interest in adopting a dog from the Collie Rescue of Tampa Bay, Inc. We request