Benvillarosa All That Jazz PTS after horrific seizures - Page 2

OH:  I am so sorry.  I have experienced these seizures before in a different breed or I should say in many different breeds and I truly understand your devastation and sorrow.  As you probably now know the Kennel Clubs in the States and the American Kennel Club will do nothing to export guilty parties of their breeding practices or lack there of.  I am so glad that you took a blood sample and cheek swab and sent them out.  Hopefully we will all see this disease to its ending during our lifetimes.  Bless you for your attention to this horrific disease.  Am so sorry about your dog, it is truly devastating to watch these seizures happen to your beloved animal;  RIP Jazz.  Better days ahead to you both,  Nan

I am very sorry for your loss and thankful that you posted what you did. There have been a few posts of late where, imo, members of this forum have stuck up for others who refused to post dogs that may be carrying genetic diseases. Again this is only my opinion. I personally do not understand this as I have had more than my own share of genetic illnesses affect dogs that I had to have put down (a few in a row). It takes it's toll on the soul and I'm considering  after my current dog passes from cancer of getting a dutchie instead of another shepherd. I love this breed but unfortunately not the people who own them.

Barb

I am certainly not making any excuses here for anyone that breeds for faulted colors BUT,
It is the greedy breeders and certain lines that are at issue here, not the color, and certainly not the breed.
I agree all this info should be put under the microscope, examined AND have great big red flags attatched "To the Breeders" that have this knowledge and keep breeding with no regard for the suffering the dogs they produce will endure.
Again, it is not the color or the breed.I have attacked breeders here, that repeatedly use known Dysplastic dogs, of acceptable colors, in their breeding programs.
If anyone has visited the liver and blue shepherd forum, you will find numerous people with just as great a love for the breed as those breeding standard colors, that do major health testing on their dogs.

I am so very sorry for your loss.  In looking at their pedigrees, it seems they were heavily inbred/linebred in the 4th and 5th generations, if one looks the same dogs are listed several times, wonder if this had anything to do with this? My heart goes out to you>

KitKat, there is no "blue or liver GSD" FORUM, at least not on PDB;
there is an old GS Forum post (2009) with that subject / title.
(It is an informative read).
KitKat and CMills - I would respectfully refer you both to the the current
post:  Meredyke Machk's Short Life.

I actually thought after I posted, that I should have commented on the "chocolate" thread (moderator,if you could move this over there, I would appreciate it).
I was not referring to any thread here on the DB, but to a forum that is in yahoo groups, Liver and Blue German Shepherds.
There are several that breed these colors there, and most health test, certify hips and love their dogs.
It is the opposite side of the coin.

The close line breeding shows multiple lines to Tarquin of Dawnway, a greatgrandson of Quadrille of Eveley, a dog known to actually have fits, though the cause was never proven, so I am not surprised that epilepsy has cropped up in these dogs.  Since Lornaville are a very long established show kennel, I would not associate them with non standard coat and colours though, nor do I think they breed to make money.  As they seem dedicated to preserving the Olde English type of GSD,  I can only assume this unwise linebreeding is because this type is so bottlenecked now, there is nowhere else for them to go.  A great pity, they have been around long enough to know what they have.

Margaret N-J

I am so very sorry to hear about your poor dog Jazz. Siezures are horrific to watch especially in such big dogs, when they are thrashing and gnashing so violently.  My poor boy was called Bailey and we had him put to sleep end of august I have put his story on here (Meerdyke Machks short life). He suffered with siezures from 15 months of age and was put to sleep a year later.  Our poor boy was a beloved pet who lived in our home with my children and as you know, it is very dangerous when they are fitting because the poor dogs just dont know what they are doing for that time.  Please try not to feel guilty as ultimatetly you did the kindest thing for your Jazz.  He won't remember that post ictal phase of being in the kennel alone, he will only remember all the fun times.  It really helps if you try to focus on all the fun you had with him too.

Chris Hazel has been very helpful for us, she was the one who knew of the epilepsy in our dogs lines.  Promoting awareness of this horrible disease to breeders and puppy buyers is the only way foreward as it seems that the KC has little interest, but you never know, maybe as more people come forward and disclose their personal experiences it may just make a difference.

Try to have a little comfort in the knowledge that your Jazz is now free from this horrible illness.
 

Ok. My thoughts here, I'm so frustrated. Seizures and that is what I choose to call them in general terms (because many people have no official clarification of Ipo Epilepsy) is prevalent in the breed regardless of colour type working or show. I know this fact, and could name dogs but because of the legal implications, they are not my dogs and it would not be right for me to do so. Is Q uadrille a major factor yes I believe so, but look back from Quadrille and you head right back to some German dogs. so we know it affects all dogs and I think it is fair assumption  to say internationally. The only way to stop this continuing trend is to find a way of producing a test to identify Epilepsey before mating. There is research being done by the Animal Health Trust but they need samples from dogs with the condition and from those who have produced dogs with the condition. My frustration is that people will not identify the responsible breed lines or submit the dna or blood tests. Quite simply the situation will continue to get worse unless people are open, transparent and reactive. I am not carrying out a witch hunt against any breeder or lines, quite simply looking at the bigger picture and hopefully by posting about our misfortune it will encourage others to respond in a manner that can help erradicate this terrible condition from our noble breed.  John Leadbeater

  John,
   Collecting swabs etc, is very important to Research and also from the healthy litter mates and siblings so they can compare DNA Strands to see the differences.
     Sheila Rankin and D.Cullum and Pam (Wildmoor) have been very good trying for a number of years to encourage people to participate in this important Research.
  It is difficult to encourage this testing to be done as  many will say they will do it, but unfortunately it seems that other things get in the way.
 
  Sharing your story about Jazz, and your Pedigree and what you are trying to do will hopefully make others think more about what they could/should be doing to stop this monster called Epilepsy, that not only brings pain and suffering to the dog but death, how many dogs have to suffer and die before something is done to prevent it from occurring again and again,far too many dogs have already been lost from Epilepsy.

  Margaret