Paul Castle is on a cross-country quest, and millions of people are watching. He is an influencer with a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. It severely restricts his field of vision. Severely. It’s basically like seeing the world through a very narrow straw.
But his world got much bigger about four years ago when he met Mr. Maple came. “He’s totally changed my life,” Paul says, with the big, beautiful blond Lab on his lap.
Paul was matched with Mr. Maple through Guide Dogs for the Blind. Mr. Maple came from a litter of eight Labradors, five golden, and three black.
They’re highly trained -- if they “flunk out,” they strictly become pets, but they can also progress in skill to be facility dogs, K9 pets, and the most highly trained -- guide dogs, like Mr. Maple. Then, they are placed with people who need them across the country.
Mr. Maple has met a couple brothers so far, and Paul has been struck by how quickly they seem to recognize each other. Whatever common bond, breed, or smell they share, it seems to only take a couple sniffs before they recognize one another.
But now, some new research from University of Washington’s Dog Aging Project (DAP) shows that they may form some distinct, unhealthy differences, depending on where they live.
DAP collected data from 47,444 dogs across the country, divided into four regions as designated by the US Census: Northeast, South, Midwest, and West.
They compiled demographic, behavioral, and environmental information, and found there were some health concerns with little to no variation across the country. There were also health outcomes that were conspicuously high in according to region.
Cancer, neurological issues, and gastrointestinal disease are consistent across the United States.
In the Northeast, the incidence of infectious disease is unusually high, at 49 percent. “Basically, like 50% of your dog population will test positive for Lyme disease at some point in their life,” says DAP researcher Dr. Janice O’Brien. Using preventative tick treatments is especially important there.
It’s something different in the South. “Skin allergies and then therefore more issues with skin infections and the sorts of things that can be associated with allergies,” says Dr. O’Brien. 45% reported having those problems.
Good news for the Midwest: that region did not have uniquely high occurrences of any conditions.
Here in the West, the health concern reported in 46% of dogs: dental disease.
DAP hopes further study will uncover why those regional health outcomes exist. They have some good guesses.
For example, ticks are so common in the Northeast, they would explain the infectious diseases.
But they’re puzzled by more dental disease in the West. Could it be unique environmental exposures or do veterinarians in the West diagnose it more? These are some of the questions they hope to explore.
For now, Washingtonians can take comfort in the fact that there is a simple and easy -- if not entirely pleasant -- way to help protect your pup. Brushing your pup’s teeth with a dog-safe toothpaste. “It doesn’t have to be every day, but more frequently is better,” Dr. O’Brien says. “But don’t punish yourself if it doesn’t happen every day.”
Paul’s already in the habit with Mr. Maple, who’s grown to love the routine. The secret, Paul says, is in the flavor of toothpaste. “More chicken liver for you,” Paul says, and Mr. Maple replies with a big butt wag.
He has more brothers to meet, and his breath will be ready.
For those who are interested in adopting the Australian Cattle Dog puppies shown in our broadcast piece, you can find information at https://www.thehumanesociety.org/
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