We shall shortly be putting more information on health matters here but in the mean time, if you have had an Irish Water Spaniel who has sadly died, we would be extremely grateful if you would complete the confidential questionnaire below. The Sporting Irish Water Spaniel Club in conjunction with the Irish Water Spaniel Association are collaborating to build up an ongoing picture of the longevity of the Irish Water Spaniel and to identify and monitor the occurrence of any serious health issues. The details of your dog(s) do not have to be related to recent dogs you have owned but if you have previously completed the questionnaire and have no information on new dogs please do not complete as your details will already be collated.

                                            Download 2010 WSAVA vaccination guidelines   

                                         Download the WSAVA 2010 pictorial guidelines fact sheets

                                                                        Visit the WSAVA web site

DRUG WARNING

      For more than ten years there have been regular reports, albeit anecdotal, of serious adverse reactions by Irish Water Spaniels to the commonly prescribed POTENTIATED SULPHONAMIDE group of antibiotics. This type of antibiotic proved to be both effective and economic in disease management following the Second World War. SULPHAMETHOXAZOLE and TRIMETHOPRIM are used in combination for their synergistic activity and known by the generic term CO-TRIMOXAZOLE or CO-TRIM.

C0-trimoxazole was commonly prescribed by General Practitioners until the autumn of 1994 when it was withdrawn for human use, except in exceptional circumstances. This drug does, however, continue to be a popular choice in veterinary medicine.

The published side effects for Co-trimoxazole are:

Source: British National Formulary, September 2005

It is therefore advisable for all owners of the breed to alert their Veterinary Practices and Boarding Kennels to the risks involved. The breed would appear to have lost several animals, world wide, through the side effects of Potentiated Sulphonamides, and many more dogs have been rendered seriously ill until treatment was withdrawn or altered. The following brand names, in addition to the generic CO-TRIMOXAZOLE, should be avoided or treated with caution when prescribing for Irish Water Spaniels:

TRIBRISSEN                                  TRIMACARE

DELVOPRIM                                  CHANOPRIM

DUPHATRIM                                  TRIMEDOXINE

NORODINE                                     BORGAL SULPHADIOXINE TRIMETHROPIM

ZAQUILAN SULPHADIMETHOXINE
BAQUILOPRIM                               TRINACOL 

SULFATRIM 80/400     (NETHERLANDS)

DERAMAXX                 (USA)

DERACOXIB                (USA)

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