BTCA GI Survey

Biewer Terrier Gastrointestinal Health Survey

Biewer Terrier Club of America (BTCA) Health Committee and the BTCA Board are conducting a survey on the type of Gastrointestinal disorders that may or may not exist in our breed to assist with future research and discussions. Please, answer the following questions about your Biewer Terriers to assist us in the future of the health of our breed.

If you own a dog(s) with a persistent GI health issue, we ask that you fill out a separate survey(s) dedicated specifically to that dog(s). Indicate 1 for the question of the number of dogs on the individual surveys, not the total you own. This helps with the accuracy of the results.

Thank you for your valuable time to assist us in understanding the health needs and possible future studies needed for the Biewer Terrier. All individual responses are confidential and anonymous. Overall, data of the type and amount of issues are summarized only for data purposes.

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* 1. How many Biewer Terriers are you completing this survey for? * Please answer one collective survey for the dogs that do not have chronic GI issues. Please answer a separate survey for each dog with a chronic GI issue. Thank you.*

11 or more

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* 2. Do you keep your dogs typically in your home or a separate kennel?

Kennel separate from my home.

Typically in my home.

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* 3. If you keep your Biewer Terrier at home how often does your Biewer Terrier defecate daily?

1 to 2 times a day.

3 to 4 times a day.

5 or more a day.

Not applicable as my dogs are typically in a kennel separate from my home.

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* 4. If you keep your Biewer Terrier(s) in a kennel most of the day how often does your Biewer Terrier(s) defecate daily?

1 to 2 times a day.

3 to 4 times a day.

5 times more a day.

Not applicable as do not keep my dogs in a kennel as mostly in the home.

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* 5. What is the primary diet you feed your Biewer Terrier(s)?

Kibble

Raw/PMR

Raw/BARF

Mixture of kibble and raw

Prescription diet

Canned Food

Canned food (prescription and regular canned food) and Kibble

Cooked or self made diet by the owner

Air/Freeze dried Raw

Other (please specify)

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* 6. What type of water is typically available to your Biewer Terrier(s)?

Tap water from city, not filtered at home

Tap water from city with home filter

Distilled water

Purified/Bottled water

Well water

Well water with filter

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* 7. What type of bowl or container for your water to you utilize?

Ceramic bowl

Stainless steel bowl

Plastic water bowl

Plastic water bottle

Glass water bowl

Glass water bottle

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Is your Biewer Terrier a picky eater or avoids certain foods? If yes, at what age did this behavior start?

Yes, under age 1

Yes, age 1-2

Yes, age 2+

If yes, specify what food the dog(s) avoid?

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* 9. How often does your Biewer Terrier have GI upset (not eating, constipation, runny stools, gas, etc)

Typically does not have GI upset.

Multiple times a week

Once a week

A few times a month

Every few months

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* 10. What type of symptoms does your Biewer Terrier(s) have when it does have GI upset? Check all that that apply

Loose stool or diarrhea

Vomiting

Loss of appetite

Body tremors

Constipation

Gas

Constant rumbling and gurgling noises made from the abdomen

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Have you ever sought professional veterinary help associated with your GI concerns? If so, what was the official diagnosis? Click all that apply.

No, we have not sought veterinary help for GI issues.

Colitis. Definition: Acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining of the colon. Possible causes: It is most often caused by whipworms, tumors or polyps in the GI tract, a change in diet, allergies (food or diseases. It is more frequently seen among under five years of age and other symptoms include frequent, painful stools or diarrhea.

Constipation. Definition: A reduced ability to pass feces. Possible causes: Constipation in dogs can have varied causes including lack of exercise, dehydration, and eating indigestible materials or low fiber foods

Diarrhea. Definition: Loose or watery stools that may be painful to pass. Possible causes: Table scraps, rich snacks, or spoiled food.

Pancreatitis. Definition: Inflammation or infection of the pancreas. Possible causes: The cause of pancreatitis is usually unknown though eating foods high in fat, infections, disease or trauma are thought to be related.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. Definition: This is the body’s inability to properly digest food due to a lack of digestive enzymes in the body. Common symptoms: It is characterized by weight loss, increased appetite and large amounts of soft feces.

Small Intestine Malabsorption. Definition: Inflammation of the small intestine that impairs nutrient absorption. Common symptoms: Persistent diarrhea, weight loss and loss of appetite.

Allergy to food that contributed to GI upset.

Bloat. Abdominal distention.

Parasite infection that caused GI symptoms of diarrhea. Common symptoms: Mucus or blood in the stool such as Giardia, Coccidiosis or worms.

Dog acid reflux. Definition: It happens when intestinal or gastric fluids come up from the stomach and flow into the esophagus. Common symptoms: These fluids can cause inflammation, irritation, and even damage to the esophageal lining.

Dental health linked to GI upset such as bad breath, pain associated with teeth, gum disease and retained teeth.

Liver shunts. Definition: Abnormal connection persists or forms between the portal vein or one of its branches, and another vein, allowing blood to bypass, or shunt, around the liver. Possible causes: May be caused by a birth defect called a congenital portosystemic shunt. In some cases, multiple small shunts form because of severe liver disease such as cirrhosis.

Hepatitis. Definition: Inflammation of the liver. Possible causes: As a specific disease, infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) is a viral infection caused by a member of the adenovirus family.

Liver MVD (MicroVascular Dysplasia or PVH (PortoVascular Hypoplasia. Definition: Congenital or inherited genetic disorder in which the major blood vessels of the liver does not form propertly. Common symptoms: excess thirst or urination, vomiting, diarrhea, eating abnormal items, bloody vomiting or stools, blood in urine and drooling, and/or swollen fluid accumulation in the abdomen.

Acute Gastroenteritis. Definition: The inflammation or infection of the GI tracts, primarily the stomach and intestines. Possible causes: This condition is typically short-term and caused by ingestion of spoiled or rancid food, eating human food that is high in fat, swallowing foreign objects, eating toxic plants, internal parasites, stress, or food allergies.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Definition: Intestinal muscles do not function normally. Common symptoms: Diarrhea and constipation. This is not common in dogs and is more a diagnosis of exclusion, which means no cause can be found through testing.

HGE( Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis) also known as AHDS (Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome) (AHDS) Definition: an acute (sudden) disorder of with symptoms of vomiting and bloody diarrhea, most often without warning in otherwise healthy dogs, common in toy breeds. Symptoms can be large amounts of bloody diarrhea, very often bright red, is common sign, but may also include painful abdomen, decreased appetite, lethargy (fatigue), or fever. Cause of Hemorrhage is unknown (idiopathic). Suggests causes or contributing factors may be related to dietary (ingesting non-food items or different foods), immune-mediated disease, toxins, or pancreatitis. Stress and anxiety may have a role.

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) Definition: A group of diseases causing the loss of proteins from the bloodstream into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This results in low protein levels in the blood. Causes: Include, in part, primary GI disease, heart disease, and diseases of the lymphatic system. When hypoproteinemia is severe, fluid may leak from the circulatory system in to the abdomen, chest, or out of the tiny blood vessels in the limbs, causing swelling of legs. There may be a genetic predisposition in some of these breeds. Diarrhea, which may come and go, is one common sign of PLE.

Other, specify diagnosis and symptoms.

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* 12. If your Biewer Terrier(s) had chronic GI symptoms what home treatment or veterinarian recommendations did you implement? Select all the ones that apply

Not applicable, as do not have chronic GI symptoms.

Prescription drugs. If yes, please specify what drugs in the Other box.

Prescription dog food. If yes, please specify what drugs in the Other box.

Eliminate protein sources that are fowl or feather based animals

Eliminate grain to diet

Add grain to diet

Pumpkin or other fibers OTC to the food

OTC diarrhea medicine

Allergy testing

Probiotics

To utilize other types of bowls without ceramic or plastic surfaces

Boiled rice and meat

Other (please specify)

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* 13. If your Biewer Terrier(s) have or had chronic (more than 2 months or so) GI symptoms have you been able to reasonably manage those symptoms with the following protocols? Click all that apply. Again if you have a Biewer Terrier(s) with chronic GI issues and the majority of your Biewer Terriers do not have chronic GI symptoms, please answer this survey with the overall health of your Biewer Terriers and a separate survey for the Biewer Terrier(s) with serious or chronic GI issues, so we can assess more accurately the possible percentage of Biewer Terriers with possible GI issues.

Not applicable as do not have chronic GI symptoms in most of my Biewer Terrier(s).

Chronic GI symptoms are manageable with my home treatment (nutrition and/or herbal)/routine or OTC treatment.

Chronic GI symptoms continue and my home treatment (nutrition and/or herbal) or OTC treatment has not worked and I will be seeking veterinary advice.

Chronic GI symptoms are manageable with my vet recommend protocols that include diet and OTC interventions.

Chronic GI symptoms are manageable with my veterinarian's recommended protocols that include prescription medication.

Has seen a DVM specialist for chronic GI symptoms. My dog has received treatment or surgery was/is under the care of a DVM specialist.

Chronic GI symptoms are not managed well with current veterinary recommendations whether prescription medication and diet changes, OTC, and I will be seeking further advice for management.

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* 14. If your Biewer Terrier(s) were diagnosed with a gastrointestinal issue with a veterinarian, what testing was done to confirm diagnosis? Check all that apply.

Does not apply, no GI issues, or self treatment.

Office visit

Stool specimen

Urine test or culture

Blood tests

Imaging tests, such as x-ray ultasound, MRI, CT scan

Procedures of endoscopy, biopsy or surgery

Referral to specialist

Other (please specify)

BTCA GI Survey

Biewer Terrier Gastrointestinal Health Survey

Question Title

* 1. How many Biewer Terriers are you completing this survey for? *** Please answer one collective survey for the dogs that do not have chronic GI issues. Please answer a separate survey for each dog with a chronic GI issue. Thank you.***

Question Title

* 2. Do you keep your dogs typically in your home or a separate kennel?

Question Title

* 3. If you keep your Biewer Terrier at home how often does your Biewer Terrier defecate daily?

Question Title

* 4. If you keep your Biewer Terrier(s) in a kennel most of the day how often does your Biewer Terrier(s) defecate daily?

Question Title

* 5. What is the primary diet you feed your Biewer Terrier(s)?

Question Title

* 6. What type of water is typically available to your Biewer Terrier(s)?

Question Title

* 7. What type of bowl or container for your water to you utilize?

Question Title

* 8. Is your Biewer Terrier a picky eater or avoids certain foods? If yes, at what age did this behavior start?

Question Title

* 9. How often does your Biewer Terrier have GI upset (not eating, constipation, runny stools, gas, etc)

Question Title

* 10. What type of symptoms does your Biewer Terrier(s) have when it does have GI upset? Check all that that apply

Question Title

* 11. Have you ever sought professional veterinary help associated with your GI concerns? If so, what was the official diagnosis? Click all that apply.

Question Title

* 12. If your Biewer Terrier(s) had chronic GI symptoms what home treatment or veterinarian recommendations did you implement? Select all the ones that apply

Question Title

Question Title

* 14. If your Biewer Terrier(s) were diagnosed with a gastrointestinal issue with a veterinarian, what testing was done to confirm diagnosis? Check all that apply.

* 1. How many Biewer Terriers are you completing this survey for? * Please answer one collective survey for the dogs that do not have chronic GI issues. Please answer a separate survey for each dog with a chronic GI issue. Thank you.*