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by Hundmutter on 25 October 2012 - 20:10
Mackenzie - well from what we know so far (& don't forget I'm really only talking
about what we have some evidence of, not the whole picture for an 'overview',
even in only the UK) tail-female IS evident, as well as the stud dogs. How could
it be otherwise when the intensive breeding for pet 'coats & colours' based on
the old, implicated lines, is in the hands of a smallish circle of breeders ? Who
all swap dogs and bitches around, but don't bring in much outcross blood, because
they are working to a recipe for what 'product' sells. And therein lies the epilepsy
inheritance problem. This is not the ONLY source of epilepsy, any more than it is
the only source of bad hips or a thousand other problems. Its just one fairly well
defined area that we may have enough detail on to convince the KC to start doing
something about.
about what we have some evidence of, not the whole picture for an 'overview',
even in only the UK) tail-female IS evident, as well as the stud dogs. How could
it be otherwise when the intensive breeding for pet 'coats & colours' based on
the old, implicated lines, is in the hands of a smallish circle of breeders ? Who
all swap dogs and bitches around, but don't bring in much outcross blood, because
they are working to a recipe for what 'product' sells. And therein lies the epilepsy
inheritance problem. This is not the ONLY source of epilepsy, any more than it is
the only source of bad hips or a thousand other problems. Its just one fairly well
defined area that we may have enough detail on to convince the KC to start doing
something about.
by LilyDexter on 25 October 2012 - 21:10
My bitch of German breeding also had seizures, one proper fit, but the others just petit mals. She had the meds, which must have made her drowsy, they don't work for all dogs, but for her luckily they kept eveything at bay.
It is an awful illness & when you have 1yr old twin babies, I can understand the owners dilema on whether to rehome this poor dog. In the end they made the right, and most difficult decision for the dog as it's no life for an animal to be like this. My hear goes out to them.
It's not just English lines that have problems, German lines do too. My girl, as mentioned here before had HD, spinal arthritis, Anal Furunculosis and severe food allergis. She was on so many meds per day that it was difficult to remember them all. We went to the vets every 2 months at least, it was hard on us, as well as her, but she was content with life & seemed to be doing well. But we thought we were buying a pup that would grow to join us in our life's events & be fun to live with, but instead we were buying a patient. The medical costs broke me, even with insurance, and the worry of all these illnesses wore me down
Then a few weeks back she dropped dead in the vets waiting room when we went for a routine check up on her mouth allergy. She was only 6 yrs. It was the biggest shock ever & has laid me very low.
The problem is what do I do now? can I risk getting another GSD after this heartache? What has become of this noble breed, we have wrecked it & I don't know if we can truly salvage it.
I do hope these people one day find a fun, healthy dog to enrich their lives and help them over come the grief they have experinced
It is an awful illness & when you have 1yr old twin babies, I can understand the owners dilema on whether to rehome this poor dog. In the end they made the right, and most difficult decision for the dog as it's no life for an animal to be like this. My hear goes out to them.
It's not just English lines that have problems, German lines do too. My girl, as mentioned here before had HD, spinal arthritis, Anal Furunculosis and severe food allergis. She was on so many meds per day that it was difficult to remember them all. We went to the vets every 2 months at least, it was hard on us, as well as her, but she was content with life & seemed to be doing well. But we thought we were buying a pup that would grow to join us in our life's events & be fun to live with, but instead we were buying a patient. The medical costs broke me, even with insurance, and the worry of all these illnesses wore me down
Then a few weeks back she dropped dead in the vets waiting room when we went for a routine check up on her mouth allergy. She was only 6 yrs. It was the biggest shock ever & has laid me very low.
The problem is what do I do now? can I risk getting another GSD after this heartache? What has become of this noble breed, we have wrecked it & I don't know if we can truly salvage it.
I do hope these people one day find a fun, healthy dog to enrich their lives and help them over come the grief they have experinced
by Hundmutter on 25 October 2012 - 22:10
Lily you are quite right, there are German lines from German dogs which are implicated
also. No one section of breeders has a complete responsibilty for, or immunity from, not
only epilepsy but also other genetic, hereditary diseases or indeed some that are reckoned
for instance to be auto-immune.
However - as I'm sure you have already discovered for yourself - the Kennel Club thinks and
argues that there ain't nothing they can do about any of this, without what they regard as
solid evidence.
Epilepsy is particularly difficult to find such evidence on, partly because not all forms of it are
inherited; partly because of the inability therefore to 'pin' it on particular dogs as a / the source;
and partly because it is in itself still taboo to talk about fits, some people get very embarrassed.
The small advantage we DO have in campaigning for KC action that would at least improve
matters a bit, is that there are some identifiable groups of breeders who have been working
in concert for decades, who sell dogs based on their coat/colour rather than their adherance
to the GSD Standard. These have based much of their foundation stock on repeatedly
visiting some old UK bloodlines, in which epilepsy is known to have repeatedly occurred.
And its finally coming home to roost ! The internet helps. A wave of cases like those on pdb
is actually getting discussed ... and guess what the common denominators are ?
It may not have been the same route which caused your Willow to have problems (I don't recall
if you have said on here how Brady was bred), and no one is pretending dogs from current
British German showlines, or any other sub-division (!), are exempt. Just that in trying to tackle
the KC (again!) I am going to major on these particular groups of 'coats n colours' breeders
'cos that is where the traceable stuff is most obvious. If we get them to do something about it
at last, everybody should benefit because the things they could & should be doing ought then to
apply to ALL litters being bred in future. And lets face it, its certainly to the general benefit of
the GSD as a breed if these particular people get stopped or made to reform !
also. No one section of breeders has a complete responsibilty for, or immunity from, not
only epilepsy but also other genetic, hereditary diseases or indeed some that are reckoned
for instance to be auto-immune.
However - as I'm sure you have already discovered for yourself - the Kennel Club thinks and
argues that there ain't nothing they can do about any of this, without what they regard as
solid evidence.
Epilepsy is particularly difficult to find such evidence on, partly because not all forms of it are
inherited; partly because of the inability therefore to 'pin' it on particular dogs as a / the source;
and partly because it is in itself still taboo to talk about fits, some people get very embarrassed.
The small advantage we DO have in campaigning for KC action that would at least improve
matters a bit, is that there are some identifiable groups of breeders who have been working
in concert for decades, who sell dogs based on their coat/colour rather than their adherance
to the GSD Standard. These have based much of their foundation stock on repeatedly
visiting some old UK bloodlines, in which epilepsy is known to have repeatedly occurred.
And its finally coming home to roost ! The internet helps. A wave of cases like those on pdb
is actually getting discussed ... and guess what the common denominators are ?
It may not have been the same route which caused your Willow to have problems (I don't recall
if you have said on here how Brady was bred), and no one is pretending dogs from current
British German showlines, or any other sub-division (!), are exempt. Just that in trying to tackle
the KC (again!) I am going to major on these particular groups of 'coats n colours' breeders
'cos that is where the traceable stuff is most obvious. If we get them to do something about it
at last, everybody should benefit because the things they could & should be doing ought then to
apply to ALL litters being bred in future. And lets face it, its certainly to the general benefit of
the GSD as a breed if these particular people get stopped or made to reform !
by Abby Normal on 27 October 2012 - 11:10
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by BaileyBoy2010 on 28 October 2012 - 19:10
Lillydexter - my heart goes out to you too. Epilepsy is an awful disease to live with and I am so glad that your lovely companion remained stable on the medications.
I'm so sorry about your very recent loss of your beloved dog. What an awful unexpected shock it must have been for you. My heart goes put to you.
It is such a long grieving process when you lose a beloved family member. I truly hope the huge hole in your lives starts to heal very soon.
Losing your beloved dog is so heartbreaking and that loss will forever stay with you. These dogs are such a huge part of your everyday life that you just can't help but to miss them everyday. It's all those little reminders like their favourite place to lay or their favourite place to play. These things can't be erased. But. In time I hope we can heal our hearts in the knowledge that our beautiful companions are running free in pastures new and exciting They will never be forgotten but thankfully they will feel no more pain.
Many thanks for sharing your heartfelt story with me.
I'm so sorry about your very recent loss of your beloved dog. What an awful unexpected shock it must have been for you. My heart goes put to you.
It is such a long grieving process when you lose a beloved family member. I truly hope the huge hole in your lives starts to heal very soon.
Losing your beloved dog is so heartbreaking and that loss will forever stay with you. These dogs are such a huge part of your everyday life that you just can't help but to miss them everyday. It's all those little reminders like their favourite place to lay or their favourite place to play. These things can't be erased. But. In time I hope we can heal our hearts in the knowledge that our beautiful companions are running free in pastures new and exciting They will never be forgotten but thankfully they will feel no more pain.
Many thanks for sharing your heartfelt story with me.
by GSD John on 29 October 2012 - 09:10
Lily,
So sorry to hear about the sad news of your beloved Girl and all the problems she had, that you Both faced together.
It is so very difficult for anyone losing their Companion, but it is so hard when you have looked after and cared for a dog with health problems and coped with all that comes with it, and at a certain level, so that when you find they are no longer there, but that level still remains, you find yourself in limbo, a step at a time is the only advice we can give you, at this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Margaret
So sorry to hear about the sad news of your beloved Girl and all the problems she had, that you Both faced together.
It is so very difficult for anyone losing their Companion, but it is so hard when you have looked after and cared for a dog with health problems and coped with all that comes with it, and at a certain level, so that when you find they are no longer there, but that level still remains, you find yourself in limbo, a step at a time is the only advice we can give you, at this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Margaret
by Abby Normal on 01 November 2012 - 08:11
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by Abby Normal on 03 November 2012 - 12:11
Bump
by Minette on 04 November 2012 - 05:11
I am so sorry that some of you have had to deal with this disease.
If it is any small solace, I have been interested in bringing another GSD into my life after not having one for many years. I had no idea there was an issue with epilepsy in the breed. After reading all of these posts, I will definately add Epilepsy as a focal point in the research, along with hips and elbows, in the background of any GSD I find of interest to try to avoid producers.
Thank you so much for sharing your stories. Hopefully it will help to educate others like myself.
If it is any small solace, I have been interested in bringing another GSD into my life after not having one for many years. I had no idea there was an issue with epilepsy in the breed. After reading all of these posts, I will definately add Epilepsy as a focal point in the research, along with hips and elbows, in the background of any GSD I find of interest to try to avoid producers.
Thank you so much for sharing your stories. Hopefully it will help to educate others like myself.
by Hundmutter on 04 November 2012 - 08:11
No Minette, thank YOU. If what we have been doing with this thread is making
prospective buyers like yourself aware of the pitfalls and provided a little more
in the way of guidelines through this mess, then we already achieved something
right there !
Linda.
prospective buyers like yourself aware of the pitfalls and provided a little more
in the way of guidelines through this mess, then we already achieved something
right there !
Linda.
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