Epilepsy question - Page 2

This is third time that I have posted on this topic, from three different posts, with the information that I have given in my previous post. The thing that surprises me most is that despite the large following of the subject of epilepsy only one person has asked for the name of the VA dog. To me, this indicates that readers and breeders have no interest in who transmits this terrible disease as long as they don’t have it in their dogs.

Some time ago there was a post on here about epilepsy from a mating with two German bred dogs. I contacted the SV and asked them if there was any reports on epilepsy from these dogs breeding families. The response was that “they had no knowledge of epilepsy in the bloodlines”. They went on to say that they never heard of epilepsy these days and, therefore, there were no records of epilepsy in German bloodlines. Personally, I find this information difficult to believe because Germany has had the disease in their dogs.

The dogs that I have named are well known in the UK for their connection with epilepsy. This disease, as far as these dogs are concerned, did not just begin and end with them alone. The disease was behind them and for how many generations we do not know. Also, we do not know with any accuracy for how many generations it continued. This situation will be the same for any dog worldwide who is known to produce the disease.

Epilepsy, like many other major disease problems has been swept under the carpet in a veil of secrecy and this is a situation which will continue in the future. As soon as these dogs are identified they very quickly vanish with no record left behind as to who is responsible. Although we know that prevention is better than cure but we are left with the only way possible to deal with epilepsy and that is to deal with it if our dogs become infected.

Mackenzie

Mackenzie - don't take the lack of question about "which VA dog ?" as necessarily
a lack of interest;  more a reluctance to 'shit-stir' on the part of board members !

I'd be keen to know, but don't think I have sufficient cause to ask  (my one dog  being non-breeding,  and now being of an age where the chance of inherited
epilepsy are pretty low);  so I for one would  prefer to leave it to someone else 
with more reason to ask.

Hundmutter, I was not pointing the finger at you specifically and if you wish someone else to ask the questions that is OK.  To bring something like this into the open is not "shit stirring" because it is information that people need to know.   If it is not brought out then how are breeders going to know.   Also, the information can be found here on the database provided you have the experience and knowledge of the dogs in the breed to actually dig out the details.   Seek and ye shall find.

Mackenzie

 

OK, I will ask - which VA dog? I am interested, because I confess I was surprised to see those lines in there. I am pleased that you posted the information, because it does illustrate to the OP that German stock is not automatically 'free' of this problem, which seems to be a generally held misapprehension. Generally I think Linda is right and there have been some very personal attacks in the past when debating such health issues, and if it happens to be in showlines then one must be a closet 'alsatianist' LOL. But since the advent of the moderators being active on the board, this is a thing of the past fortunately. Germany have always played health issues very close to the chest and will contain them or deny that they exist as much as possible IMO, as they have in the past. This was why I made the comment 'you will hear even less about them'. I do not know what the answer is to the veil of secrecy. The only obvious solution is the discovery of a genetic test, and I don't know how close that is. If it can be found it will be BIG. How will breeders react to it if it happens - we shall see.

Thanks Abby.

Please keep in mind that not ALL epilepsy is genetic!!! MANY environmental things can cause it also! One thing is trauma. Another would be lack of oxygen during birth. Another is exposure to poisons like farmer's chemicals etc. It just not as cut and dried as many other things that we try to keep track of. The big thing that I would look for is finding if it continued down the line. This in and of it's self is VERY hard because so many try to keep their problems a secret.  Just wanted to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Debby

What djc says is true, so many possible environmental and congenital causes of epilepsy (note, congenital is not synonymous with genetic)
When it comes to genetic epilepsy, this is also widely varied.  There are many different possible genetic causes for epilepsy.  It's such a huge pool of possibilities that it would be very, very difficult to discover a gene that causes epilepsy. 

Here are some links about genetic epilepsy in dogs

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120323205337.htm

http://clubs.akc.org/NBC/epilepsy.html

http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/genetics.html

 

 

 

 I find it very hard to believe that people that have used this Data Base for a long period of time and in many case`s giving their advice on matters of breeding , bloodlines etc of which others I pressume take notice would be asking the name of the VA dog who carries lines far back in his pedigree of Quadrille etc. Research of the VA`s is easy without asking for names. Ther naming of dogs on the Data Base and witch hunt that sometimes follows is uncalled for. I would suggest any breeders using this dog would have decided after looking at the dogs breeding that he was either right or wrong for their kennel.
John Ward

The University of MO has been engaged in research trying to identify the mode of inheritance of canine epilepsy. They are looking for samples from all breeds including GSD's. This has been announced here several times, in the GSDCA magazine and website, and on other breed boards but there has been little response from GSD owners. So far they only have samples from around 30 GSD's; they need more.

http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/

Not all seizure activity in dogs is the result of epilepsy. It may not be of much value to identify imagined carriers when the mode of inheritance and causes are unknown plus it looks as if multiple genes may be involved.