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by BaileyBoy2010 on 11 October 2012 - 10:10
We bought our gorgeous bundle of fluff in summer 2010. He was a very intelligent, energetic, alert and mischievious boy and a joy to have as our family member. Aged 15 months he began with cluster siezures. For the first one he looked up at the kitchen lights, his eyes rolled then he fell to the floor paddling and thrashing his legs against the kitchen cupboards. My partner fussed about his head trying to hold him and revive him, crying out his name pleading for a response. I just stood back thinking my puppy was dying. Then after what seemed like ages but was actually about 2 minutes the trashing lessened, his legs stiffened then his eyes started to focus more. After a few attempts he managed to stand albeit very wobbly and wondered around disorientated. Immediatetly we phoned the vet for advice and ended up taking him for a costly appointment at 2am after he'd had two more siezures.
This was the start of his epilepsy. He was monitored, clustered a few more times over the next few months. Then he was medicated and his fits were controlled for a few more months. Then they returned with increasing severity and frequency with no common triggers. His medication was increased and he still continued to fit.
For the sake of our childrens safety we had to make the heartbreaking decision to have our beautiful boy put to sleep aged 27 months. We had managed to live somehow with his illness for a year. As people living with an epileptic dog know full well that you always sleep with one ear open! Ready to, race downstairs, grab the diazepam and somehow insert into a very large dogs bottom in the dark as lights can startle them during their fits. Our dog was usually blocking the door as he thrashed around so you would have to gently force open the door without startling him during his fit. Any time we left the house we had to put him into his 'safe room' where he couldn't harm himself during a fit (for us this was our utility room). Then when we returned home we always dreaded openng the door incase we could hear the thudding noises of him fitting. It was always such a relief to open the utility door to find him alert and wagging his tail so happy to greet his family. But, there were occassions where there would be the sweaty smell of a recent seizure and a lethargic post ictal dog.
It then got to the stage where, during the day, I would be on my own with our twin 1 year olds and our dog's head would start to wobble and he would start to stare upwards. I would then have to quickly move the two babies into a safe place away from the dog at the same time as trying to stop the poor confused dog from following me or getting in my way. Before the inevitable teeth chattering then crash down thud to the floor of 35kg and the spasms and thrashing began all over again.
Our beloved boy was put to sleep august this year aged only 27 months, despite our numerous attempts to get his breeder to rehome him. Sadly he wasn't able to be rehomed anywhere else due to his illness and understandably peoples fear of taking on an epileptic dog.
We had to say goodbye to our lovely family member who was supposed to grow up with our children.
Since his death his lines were researched by the German Shepherd Breed Council and it was found 178 lines to Hendrawen's Quadrille of Eveley who was a known fitter and producer of epileptic dogs. His mother Belgran Incaspirit at Vonsilvas had an epileptic half sibling, his grandfather Bricketwood Spirit of Rajah at Debylyn produced at least one epileptic dog, His grandmother had an epileptic brother and therefore his great grandparents are epileptic producers. These are the dogs that we know of and bear in mind that ourselves, as pet owners, knew nothing of this disease. We had asked our breeder if there was epilepsy in his pedigree which she denied knowledge of. We chose to trust and believe what we were told.
I have added Meerdyke Machk's pedigree onto this database in the hope that other potential puppy buyers may check for themselves and at least make an informed decision. Stupidly we didn't contact the Breed Council prior to purchasing our pet, had we done so, and seen how many links to epilepsy there were, we certainly wouldn't have picked this little puppy.
This was the start of his epilepsy. He was monitored, clustered a few more times over the next few months. Then he was medicated and his fits were controlled for a few more months. Then they returned with increasing severity and frequency with no common triggers. His medication was increased and he still continued to fit.
For the sake of our childrens safety we had to make the heartbreaking decision to have our beautiful boy put to sleep aged 27 months. We had managed to live somehow with his illness for a year. As people living with an epileptic dog know full well that you always sleep with one ear open! Ready to, race downstairs, grab the diazepam and somehow insert into a very large dogs bottom in the dark as lights can startle them during their fits. Our dog was usually blocking the door as he thrashed around so you would have to gently force open the door without startling him during his fit. Any time we left the house we had to put him into his 'safe room' where he couldn't harm himself during a fit (for us this was our utility room). Then when we returned home we always dreaded openng the door incase we could hear the thudding noises of him fitting. It was always such a relief to open the utility door to find him alert and wagging his tail so happy to greet his family. But, there were occassions where there would be the sweaty smell of a recent seizure and a lethargic post ictal dog.
It then got to the stage where, during the day, I would be on my own with our twin 1 year olds and our dog's head would start to wobble and he would start to stare upwards. I would then have to quickly move the two babies into a safe place away from the dog at the same time as trying to stop the poor confused dog from following me or getting in my way. Before the inevitable teeth chattering then crash down thud to the floor of 35kg and the spasms and thrashing began all over again.
Our beloved boy was put to sleep august this year aged only 27 months, despite our numerous attempts to get his breeder to rehome him. Sadly he wasn't able to be rehomed anywhere else due to his illness and understandably peoples fear of taking on an epileptic dog.
We had to say goodbye to our lovely family member who was supposed to grow up with our children.
Since his death his lines were researched by the German Shepherd Breed Council and it was found 178 lines to Hendrawen's Quadrille of Eveley who was a known fitter and producer of epileptic dogs. His mother Belgran Incaspirit at Vonsilvas had an epileptic half sibling, his grandfather Bricketwood Spirit of Rajah at Debylyn produced at least one epileptic dog, His grandmother had an epileptic brother and therefore his great grandparents are epileptic producers. These are the dogs that we know of and bear in mind that ourselves, as pet owners, knew nothing of this disease. We had asked our breeder if there was epilepsy in his pedigree which she denied knowledge of. We chose to trust and believe what we were told.
I have added Meerdyke Machk's pedigree onto this database in the hope that other potential puppy buyers may check for themselves and at least make an informed decision. Stupidly we didn't contact the Breed Council prior to purchasing our pet, had we done so, and seen how many links to epilepsy there were, we certainly wouldn't have picked this little puppy.
by marjorie on 11 October 2012 - 12:10
Please also add it to the German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry, a health database for German Shepherd.
Http://www.gsdbbr.org
The GSDBBR is open to all owners of Registered German Shepherd Dogs, worldwide, that have titled dogs or dogs within 5 generations of their dog's pedigree that are progeny/ littermates of these titled dogs. German Shepherd Dogs entered upon this database must comply with their country's breed standard, or be the progeny of a breeding of 2 German Shepherd Dogs, both of which comply with the breed standard.* This registry will house information pertaining to German Shepherd Dogs, both alive and deceased. You may only post information about a dog you own!
This Registry has been created in an attempt to gather comprehensive health information which will enable breeders to make more informed breeding choices and to avoid doubling up on health issues.
We thank all who will participate in this Registry for caring enough to want to take a proactive role in bettering the health of the breed. Together, we CAN make a difference!
by fawndallas on 11 October 2012 - 13:10
I am so sorry for your lose.
by Sunsilver on 11 October 2012 - 13:10
178 lines to the same dog???
HOLY INBREEDING, Batman!
Wasn't the epilepsy controllable with medication? My mom had an epileptic Springer, who went 8 years without a single seizure. And the seizure he suffered at the end of that time period was due to them letting him gain weight, so the medication was no longer strong enough.
HOLY INBREEDING, Batman!
Wasn't the epilepsy controllable with medication? My mom had an epileptic Springer, who went 8 years without a single seizure. And the seizure he suffered at the end of that time period was due to them letting him gain weight, so the medication was no longer strong enough.
by Siantha on 11 October 2012 - 15:10
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=646040
this is shocking. from your boys pedigree. inbreeding at its finest. i am so sorry for your loss. This is why breeders need to do research on their dogs pedigrees before they breed.
this is shocking. from your boys pedigree. inbreeding at its finest. i am so sorry for your loss. This is why breeders need to do research on their dogs pedigrees before they breed.
by Nans gsd on 11 October 2012 - 15:10
I am so sorry for your loss. I have witnessed these seizures before and they are horrific to watch and eventually will take it's toll on the dog. This is another very serious health problem in the GSD breed.
AND NO; the med's usually don't work and if they do eventually they will kill off the dogs liver and kidneys amongst mobility strength and mental clarity. Really a sad, sad disease. So sorry to hear this for your family. Nan
WOW I hope that your breeder takes this very seriously and spay/neuters her stock. YOu cannot tell me with it that heavy in his pedigree that the breeder was not aware of this epilepsy. Nan
AND NO; the med's usually don't work and if they do eventually they will kill off the dogs liver and kidneys amongst mobility strength and mental clarity. Really a sad, sad disease. So sorry to hear this for your family. Nan
WOW I hope that your breeder takes this very seriously and spay/neuters her stock. YOu cannot tell me with it that heavy in his pedigree that the breeder was not aware of this epilepsy. Nan
by Sunsilver on 11 October 2012 - 16:10
My mom's springer was a working line spaniel. He had epilepsy, hip dysplasia and needed surgery for a ruptured cruciate ligament when he was about 2 years old. So much for field spaniels being healthier!
Despite all this, he lived to the age of 13. The dysplasia was only an issue the last 2 years of his life.
Despite all this, he lived to the age of 13. The dysplasia was only an issue the last 2 years of his life.
by Two Moons on 11 October 2012 - 17:10
That's not a pedigree.
A year of suffering and attempting to rehome the dog.
Poor dog.
A year of suffering and attempting to rehome the dog.
Poor dog.
by GSD John on 11 October 2012 - 17:10
Rachael,
So sorry that Bailey had to suffer with this and for yourself and your Family, it is so distressing to witness and as you have mentioned very difficult to insert rectally the diazepam when your dogs is having a seizure.It is hard to see your beloved dog writhe uncontrollably with seizures, you feel so helpless and the agony of watching your loving, beautiful dog and often young dog die with Epilepsy is beyond compare. It appears sadly that many breeders do not quite understand what their puppy owners go through when faced with this problem, and their words on their pretty websites seem empty and meaningless, when an owner contacts them to say their dog has seizures, hard to believe for some, that we have these dogs because we love them, not just as a breed but as individuals, a member of your Family. Sadly seeing these familiar lines and knowing what Bailey went through, and losing our Megan (Belgran Follow Your Dream) drives home the fact that breeders are continuing with these lines regardless of the consequences. Sometimes the Meds.can work quite well and for those fortunate dogs they can live a happy life, but for those unfortunate dogs where the Epilepsy cannot be controlled, or those where the Epilepsy is controlled but the Meds. themselves can kill them, finding that balance is extremely difficult and can be costly. Bailey should be with you and your Family, I am so sorry xxx
Margaret
So sorry that Bailey had to suffer with this and for yourself and your Family, it is so distressing to witness and as you have mentioned very difficult to insert rectally the diazepam when your dogs is having a seizure.It is hard to see your beloved dog writhe uncontrollably with seizures, you feel so helpless and the agony of watching your loving, beautiful dog and often young dog die with Epilepsy is beyond compare. It appears sadly that many breeders do not quite understand what their puppy owners go through when faced with this problem, and their words on their pretty websites seem empty and meaningless, when an owner contacts them to say their dog has seizures, hard to believe for some, that we have these dogs because we love them, not just as a breed but as individuals, a member of your Family. Sadly seeing these familiar lines and knowing what Bailey went through, and losing our Megan (Belgran Follow Your Dream) drives home the fact that breeders are continuing with these lines regardless of the consequences. Sometimes the Meds.can work quite well and for those fortunate dogs they can live a happy life, but for those unfortunate dogs where the Epilepsy cannot be controlled, or those where the Epilepsy is controlled but the Meds. themselves can kill them, finding that balance is extremely difficult and can be costly. Bailey should be with you and your Family, I am so sorry xxx
Margaret
by Hundmutter on 11 October 2012 - 17:10
Unfortunately when ppl talk about 'inbreeding', the wider public at least (but sometimes breeders
and exhibitors too, who should know better) tend to concentrate on their dogs' pedigree 'on the
paper' - i.e. 3 to 5 generations actually just behind the dog - and as long as granddaughter hasn't
been mated to grandfather, or half-brother to half-sister, or something at similar level, they think
they are in the clear for hereditary diseases.
This case shows the intense value of researching further back. Far too many dogs, certainly in
Britain ( - and this has had a knock-on influence around the rest of the world) especially of 'pet' i.e.
non-Show stock, and with particular relevance to those breeders who have played with the dilute
colours (previously) unwanted in the 'Show scene', have pedigrees which in the earlier generations
multiplied up on the same group of dogs. This means the more recent generations are much
more closely related than is immediately obvious.
Ok genetics get diluted and chances lower of suffering from them with most diseases, the nearer we
get to the present day; but where some genes have been introduced so many multiple times, even
a while ago, they have a nasty habit of being expressed again now - and such is the case with epilepsy.
If the breeder of the OPs GSD is who I think it probably is - they do know, they knew a few years ago.
And the grandfather Spirit of Rajah has been implicated in many more cases.
and exhibitors too, who should know better) tend to concentrate on their dogs' pedigree 'on the
paper' - i.e. 3 to 5 generations actually just behind the dog - and as long as granddaughter hasn't
been mated to grandfather, or half-brother to half-sister, or something at similar level, they think
they are in the clear for hereditary diseases.
This case shows the intense value of researching further back. Far too many dogs, certainly in
Britain ( - and this has had a knock-on influence around the rest of the world) especially of 'pet' i.e.
non-Show stock, and with particular relevance to those breeders who have played with the dilute
colours (previously) unwanted in the 'Show scene', have pedigrees which in the earlier generations
multiplied up on the same group of dogs. This means the more recent generations are much
more closely related than is immediately obvious.
Ok genetics get diluted and chances lower of suffering from them with most diseases, the nearer we
get to the present day; but where some genes have been introduced so many multiple times, even
a while ago, they have a nasty habit of being expressed again now - and such is the case with epilepsy.
If the breeder of the OPs GSD is who I think it probably is - they do know, they knew a few years ago.
And the grandfather Spirit of Rajah has been implicated in many more cases.
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