Steroids? - Page 1

This is an excerpt from the Lanting Article submitted by solo. I didn't know that steroids were used on dogs. How often is this done, and where? "At least in the German Shepherd world, many of us have been blaming the fact that so many of our bitches were “coming up empty” on the known use of anabolic steroids given to many of the top show dogs in an attempt to boost their chances of being placed in the very highest positions at the annual national specialty, or even the preliminary competitions where success is considered in making judging decisions at the final big show. There is no doubt that this goes on, and we know that many of the top human athletes in weightlifting, football, boxing, track, etc. are sterile or temporarily have a low sperm count."

The question is that arethese steroids really that effective especially theones available "Over-the-counter"? A few years back one of my bitches had become very weak due to an operation and the vet had started giving her steroids but did not work much. The recovery and muscle development remained very slow and retarded.

It think that the steroids refered to in the article are the "big guns", like the athletes use. You know, the ones that they deny using at all? Those steroids. Sorry, but being pretty uninformed about them, I can't give you a name.

About two years ago, I turned down the offer from a German handler to boost up my male for a show with a shot of some steroid. I know for a fact that it is widely used, as a lot of my friends have also got such offers made to them in past. I think that it is too much of a shortcut - if you are serious in the game, condition your dog the right way.

Quite a few trainers and handlers at both working and confermation shows use steroids, painkillers and other drugs on their dogs. They are used to cover everything from lameness to temperment faults. I find it very sad that the welfare of the dog comes after concern for money. Since there are no rules governing the use of drugs on dogs in compatition, the practice will continue. All organizations that govern horse show have very strong regulations on what drugs can and can't be used before and during shows. Basicly all drugs that will in any way change a horse's performance is banned. This is done for the welfare of the horse and fairness for participants. Maybe dog organizations need to start thinking about similar regulations.

I realize this is an old post. The great majority of Vets and Doctors as well, have no idea about the use, benefits, or real dangers of ABS)Anabolic Steroids). The big controversy about is it cheating will go on and on. This is not limited to the use of ABS in humans. There are many different roids, with many different properties. Some are safe and have a low toxicity others are very toxic and must me used with caution. Some have high Anabolic(muscle building)properties and others have high Androgenic(Masculinizing)properties. Some roids like any of the oil based testerones or their cousins like Equipoise and Deca will retain some water weight. Water based roids like Winstrol V and Primobolan retain almost no water. Some roids are better (stacked) in other words used in combination. Some are synergistic together and are better together than alone. The King of roids IMO is Anavar which was taken off the market in the 60's, then brought back to treat aids. Deca Durabolin has been used in control and actual healing of joint pain. Roids can be used to stimulate a dog's apetitie and well being. As recovery tools post sugery, the proper roids are very beneficial. Equipoise is and always has been a favorite of Cock Fighters. Yes even the fighting Roosters are on the juice:) Steroids are not the evil enemy that they are often portrayed and can enhance the physical beauty and potential of animals. Humans, Equines, and yes Roosters. I dont want to sound like the guy on the street corner in a trench coat and dark glasses, but I am an expert in the use of ABS in humans and canines.

Yes, using steriods for medical reasons can be nessasary. But even with that there are and can be far reaching detrimental affects from their use. Kidney and liver failure as well as diabetes are regularly seen in dogs that have been perscibed steriods. Steriod use in horses before shows is illegal. Use of any substance that can change a horse's preformance in competions is illegal. With penalies that include suspension for both owner and trainer upto the pulling of the horses registration papers. The AQHA and USEF websites have the details which go into how much of what drug can show up in a horse's urine or blood.

The truth is, the dogs that were shown to have the liver and kidney failure would have had to have had a preexisting liver and kidney problem when the steroids were prescribed. What steroid or steroids were prescribed and for what condition? Were these Anabolic Steroids or something like Prednisone? Most steroids that would be given to a dog are depo and would not even affect the liver. Go to any Health Food Store for some Milk Thistle for liver problems. Steroids are to be given in cycles, usually a 6week cycle is preferable. Most Vets and Physicians dont have a clue on the use of ABS. In 1970 I was a world class athlete. In competition I had a compound fracture of both my Tibia and Fibula Shin bones. I was flown back to the USA and tests revealed Blood Clots in my lungs. I had told one of the Specialists working on me that I had Dianabol an ABS in my system. This so called specialist informed me it was the ABS that caused the clots lol. I later learned that with any severe break in the lower anatomy, blood clots in the lungs most always occur. I also learned that Dianabol is an anticoagulant, much like the Hempren they were injecting into my IV. through the mass media, anabol/androgenic steroids are usually frowned upon. Steroids are not only accused of causing many severe side effects, but also there are ethical and moral doubts involved. The mass media's sensational news coverage has contributed greatly to this negative information. During the anti-steroid campaign, the press deliberately used those cases of illness that occurred during steroid intake and were documented in the scientific literature to warn and scare everyone taking these drugs. Due to a possible negative publicity it was not mentioned, however, that in most of the cases the patients already had severe diseases and health problems prior to steroid therapy. Steroids are basically prescription drugs that influence various physiological processes and consequently, have potential side effects. When diagnosing these side effects one must tell the toxic from the hormone-induced side effects. This important difference is usually omitted by the official authorities, in part, due to pure ignorance but also on purpose, since only in this way the spread of lies and false information is possible. ABS are not magic elixers that transform. ABS are recovery tools that help a hard working Animal(humans included) recover at a faster rate and allow the athlete to train harder. If one takes roids and sits on the couch all day they will not do one thing.

In the dog world I think the most common anabolic steriod used by the veterinary profession is Winstrol V. It can be very helpful to an animal that has been debilitated by a serious illness. Anabolic steriods are synthetic derivatives of testosterone and are not the same as the glucocorticoids (prednisolone, prednisone, azium, depomedrol, etc) that are used to treat atophy or autoimmune diseases. Not all steriods are the same and both can have profound but different side effects on both man and beast.

Let's see if I can clarify my idea. Two bitches that I know of were given some chemical(s) that completly changed their temperaments before their bite work at one US Seiger Show. Their temperaments were very different than usuall, much bolder, much more dominant body postueres and less caring of things around them. I don't know if it was testosterone or something else. Was this morally right or not? I have seen dogs competing that were limping hard before large doses of painkillers. Was competing dogs in this condition morally right or not? That is my concern. I'll bet those two bitches were later bred, yet the changes caused by the drugs may have been covering up temperament flaws. Also, was that fair to the other competitors whoes dogs were working with their natural temperaments? The lame dogs were probably bred also. Was the lameness a genetic fault that could be passed to the next generation?