The immune system is complex and vital to the health and well-being of all dogs. Therefore, building and maintaining a healthy immune system should be a top priority for any breeder or dog owner. While some aspects of a healthy immune system are inherited and therefore can be positively influenced by careful breeding, other aspects are influenced by the care you provide to your Cocker Spaniel starting as a puppy into adulthood and old age.
Good Nutrition is the Cornerstone
One of the basic ways you can help keep your dog's immune system strong and resistant to illness is by feeding a complete and balanced diet. "While the majority of dogs in the United States may not be malnourished, their immune systems may not be operating optimally, especially if fed a diet that is not nutritionally complete and balanced or if overfed supplements," says Thierry von der Weid, Ph.D., a Nestlé Purina immunologist in Vevey, Switzerland.
"It is clear that in today's world of well-nourished companion animals, the micronutrient composition of the diet can influence immune function," he says. For example, supplementation of certain nutrients, such as vitamin E, has been shown to boost the immune system, while excessive intake of other nutrients, including vitamin A, zinc and iron, may suppress the immune system.
Likewise, nutritional deficiencies can be associated with immuno-incompetence. For instance, zinc, selenium, iron, copper, vitamins A, C, E, B6, protein and folic acid deficiencies may adversely affect immune response. "As we work to further understand how nutrients interact with the immune system, it is helpful to discuss whether micronutrient composition of a diet can help to optimize immune function, von der Weid says.
In addition to vitamins and minerals, one of the critical nutrients that influences the immune system is protein. Most immune responses, such as the manufacture of antibodies, require protein synthesis from essential amino acids. Several key molecules that orchestrate various key steps in an immune response are also proteins.
While dogs maintained on inadequate protein reserves may appear healthy, they may be more susceptible to stress from bacteria and viral infections, and can have greater difficulty recovering from physical trauma and injury. Optimal dietary protein is important for normal immune function, von der Weid says. It is recommended that adult dogs receive diets containing protein representing at least 20 to 25 percent of metabolizable calories, or calories that are used by the body for metabolic functions.
However, more is not better. Overfeeding that leads to obesity can negatively impact the immune system. Obesity may adversely affect immune response to infection, and infection is reported to occur more frequently in obese individuals. Dietary fat provides more calories per gram than any macronutrient, von der Weid says. Obesity and consumption of high-fat diets are clearly linked to immuno-incompetence; however, a certain quantity of fat in the diet is essential.
Reducing Stress
A certain amount of stress is a necessary part of our dogs' lives. In Turid Rugaas' book "On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals," she explains the physiology of stress. Stress activates hormone production and defense mechanisms, she explains, and helps keep dogs alive. However, too much stress can create problems.
"A dog with a constantly high stress level may develop stomach, allergy and heart trouble," she says. Teaching your Cocker Spaniel to effectively deal with stress can help him be healthier in the long run. Educating your dog's nervous system and priming him for future stressful periods can begin as early as just a few days after birth.
Research studies on rats and mice where a portion of the litters were mildly stressed on a daily basis by being removed from their nests for three minutes showed that the stressed animals "were more resistant to certain forms of cancer and infectious diseases and could withstand starvation and exposure to cold for longer periods than their nonstressed littermates," says Carman Battaglia, Ph.D., a board member of the AKC Canine Health Foundation and a director of Companion Animal Recovery.
Cocker Spaniel breeders Susan Roman of Austell, Ga., and Debi Lampert-Rudman of Madison, N.J., use a modified version of a training program1 for young puppies taught by Battaglia based on the U.S. military's "Super Dog" program. The program includes five exercises involving gentle stimulation of puppies. The exercises are started at three days of age and continue until puppies are 16 days old. Battaglia reports that a number of benefits result from using the program, including improved cardiovascular performance, strong heartbeats and adrenal glands, more tolerance to stress, and greater resistance to disease.
Puppies raised using the Super Dog method are more confident, bold and aware, and can withstand more stress than littermates, Roman says. "These puppies are more physically fit and thrive with jobs to do, compared to previous litters that weren't raised using the Super Dog protocol," she says. Cockers she has bred and trained with this program are successfully participating in conformation, obedience, agility and field events.
Lampert-Rudman has had similar experiences. "Confident pups exude a healthy glow, and they take on new challenges and use their bodies and minds more, which helps to improve their health. The extra love and attention pups are given from the minute they are whelped is key. They're kissed, nuzzled and held right from the start." Her last litter of pups was especially remarkable. "I've received reports from the owners about how healthy, smart and sweet the pups are," she says.
Battaglia cautions that a "certain amount of stress for one dog may be too intense for another and that too much stress can retard development. The results show that early stimulation exercises can have positive results but must be used with caution. In other words, too much stress can cause pathological adversities rather than physical or psychological superiority."
Calming a Stressed Dog
Rugaas has identified nearly 30 signals that dogs use to calm each other, their people and themselves. These "calming signals" include yawning, turning the head, licking the nose, sitting, play bowing and walking slowly. Not only do dogs use these signals with each other, but also an owner can use the signals to help calm a dog. "My life changed completely from the day I saw how it worked, and even more the day I discovered how I could use their language myself and make them understand me," she says.
Rugaas suggests that owners observe the calming signals displayed most frequently by their dogs and use them in return. For instance, you can try yawning or another calming signal when your dog is acting stressed or anxious or is in a situation, such as a veterinary visit or thunderstorm, that is known to cause stress.
By simply turning away from you dog or yawning, you may be able to help your dog cope with a situation that in the past has created fear or anxiety. As a benefit, by relieving your Cocker Spaniel's stress, you are helping to keep him from a hormonal chain reaction that can over time weaken the immune system.
In addition to easing the stress of life on your dogs and helping them to be successful in a variety of situations, another benefit of these methods is that you bond more closely with your Cocker. "You are in tune with what's going on with your dog and are more likely to pick up quickly on any potential problems," Roman says. This may help you to identify any potential weaknesses with the dog's immune system far enough in advance that they are resolved in the easiest way possible.
Activity and Exercise
Just like humans, dogs need a certain amount of exercise to remain strong and healthy. "Try to find your dog's balance of exercise and activity," Rugaas recommends. "Both too much and too little might be bad."
"A dog without a job or time to play is like people who simply go to work and are miserable, then they go home and are miserable," she says. "A dog with something to do will be happy and healthier in the long run."
One of the pups from Lampert-Rudman's last litter was tops in her puppy kindergarten class and she was told the pup could skip basic obedience and agility and go into the second level because her learning rate was so good. She was only 61/2 months old at the time. The dog clearly was enjoying the class and didn't feel excessive stress from the demands of the training, she says.
"My dogs are happier when they're doing stuff, not just on a couch," Roman says. This is true for one of her dogs in particular, an 81/2-year-old female that loves to hunt. "She's so happy she goes right back into the bushes, no matter what." Roman also has noticed that she doesn't seem to have any problem with infection from scratches or other injuries that can be common in hunting dogs.
In addition to the stimulation provided by exercise, burning calories may also help to keep a Cocker Spaniel at an ideal weight. Obesity may adversely affect immune response to infection, plus infection is reported to occur more frequently in obese individuals.2 Obese dogs have been shown to have a decreased resistance to salmonella infection and canine distemper virus and a shortened average survival time following distemper virus infection.
Healthy Immune Function
In summary, raising dogs with healthy immune function requires proper nutrition, practicing care methods that help to acclimate them to handling stress in a positive manner, and adequate exercise. Roman's philosophy for raising healthy, happy dogs is simple: "Give them lots of love, something to do, good food and spend lots of time with them."
1 Battaglia C. High Achievers. www.breedingbetterdogs.com.
1 Gottschlich MM, Mayes T, Khoury JC, Warden GC. Significance of obesity on nutritional, immunologic, hormonal, and clinical outcome parameters in burns. J Am Diet Assoc. 1993; 93(11):1261-8.
Common Calming Signals Dogs Use to Relieve Stress
Observing your dog's calming signals can help you gauge whether particular situations are stressful. Watch your dog and see which calming signals from the list below he or she uses most frequently. Then you can use those calming signals yourself to help ease a tense situation for your dog.
- Turning the head
- Turning away
- Licking the nose
- Walking slowly, using slow movements
- Play bowing
- Sitting down or down position
- Yawning
- Sniffing
- Wagging tail
The 2009 ASC Annual Flushing Spaniel Show