other genetic problems - Page 1

I believe it is hypocrical to put so much emphasis on hip and elbow problems but not look at the other serious genetic health issues in the breed. For example, how many breeders knowingly breed dogs and bitches that are known to have allergies and/or produce offspring with allergies. This is a big problem with GSD's, it is genetic and no one seems to take it seriously. If we are truly breeding to improve the breed than we need to work harder at making health as important a factor as conformation and workability.

DITTO -- Allergies are a biggie -- so are heart problems, epilepsy, Cancer's, toxic gut syngrone, bloat, thyroid problems, pannus and other eye disorders, and mal-absorbtion problems (pancreas). Even panno is considered heriditary by many people. There are all MAJOR CONCERNS -- but only to SOME breeders. This is just part of the long list of why I wouldn't by a dog with American lines. The German dogs are not free of problems, themselves, but I consider them, as a group, much more healthy than most dogs here. yes, there are some American-bred dogs living past 12-13, but there are many more than are dropping dead between 3 and 5 also !!

I agree that for the most part the german lines are healthier than american lines but I am concerned that as Americans breed german lines we are putting money aheadd of what is best for the breed. Many breeder's websites state that they follow the german breeding rules but yet they breed untittled dogs, they knowingly breed dogs with health issues and take numerous short cuts in their breeding programs and the poor buyers think they are getting better genes because they are german lines and the breeder says all the right things. I will also add that while there are many breeders out there breeding bad german line dogs I also see many in the US that work hard to stay with the german breeding program and we are seeing some excellent American bred German line dogs. We need to work to better police ourselves, encourage the good while working to expose the frauds.

WELL SAID -- AND THERE ARE NICE GERMAN DOGS IN THE U.S., I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ALL ARE. SOME ARE BEING CROSSED WITH AMERICAN LINES - AND SOMETIMES THAT MIXES WELL, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. WHEN I GOT MY 'GERMAN' DOG -- I GOT IT FROM A HIGHLY RESPECTED BREEDER IN GERMANY -- I PAID A LOT LESS THAN I WOULD HAVE FROM MANY "german-line" breeders in the States, and I have no questions that I got a better dog by going through the whole "importing" thing. There are many american breeders of american-lines-- all show dogs, who think they are fooling people when people call them and complain the pups ears never went up - and they say - oh my !! What a surprise - I never heard of this problem before -- and I have been breedin for 20 years -- TRUTH BE KNOWN -- they have many many pups who's ears never went up properly, and they are just holding their breath that two of these people never meet in the supermarket parking lot and exchange information and find out they they got their hanging ears from the same place -- same for others who are well know (among breeders only) for their specific and long-lansting health or TEMPERAMENT problems !! But man, can they move !!!! After all - that's all they care about !!! TTFN

So far both my GSD's have had inhalation allergies. The first was sired by an import out of an American line bitch. He also suffered from autoimmune disease and died from lymphosarcoma, a form of cancer believed by many vets to have a genetic component. His breeder assured me he was the first he bred to have these health issues, he lied. My current GSD is 100% imported showlines and he too has inhalation allergies. Both Am lines and imports produce health issues. There is a website called Heaven's Gate where owners list causes of death and health history of their GSD's. There are as many imports dying young as there are Am lines. Log on the website and read it for yourself. Do a Google search using Heaven's Gate, it should come right up. Purebred dogs in general are not very healthy.

And every day, I thank my blessings that I have been able to see a natural end to my dogs and not one of sickness. Not even euthanisiation to eliminate the pain. There are however some breeds that are so hardy Blitzen it boggles the mind. I am thinking about the German Shorthair Pointer, which happens to be my brother's dog. Looked this breed up in the internet and there was practically nothing on genetic illnesses. And what a fun breed too. Yes, the GSD breeders should look into health issues relating to genetics. Being just lucky does not save me from the heartbreak of others.

Sorry to hear you are having such a deluge of autoimmune problems in the USA. What might be of interest or hopefully of some help to you is that many Germans consider Fanto Hirschel to be one of the best bloodlines to use for health improvement. Perhaps you may have access to some of his ancestors, if so try using as close up as possible or if you already have his line why not consider line-breeding to him before he is more diluted in your pedigree. It might help you sustain healthy dogs for longer. Sorry I could'nt offer more more help than this but without knowing the bloodlines you are having problems with I am unable to offer any more valuable advise than this. Good Luck.

There is no simple answer to such a complex health problem - breeding to particular lines may help, my personal opinion regarding immunity related health problems focuses more on the chemicals and drugs that dogs may absorb through food, medicines, woater, air, etc throughout their lives. One particular issue I firmly believe plays a part in immunity related probvlems, is the annual vaccination boosters that many of us inflict on our dogs. There are two interesting and thought provoking articles that deal with this subject: http://www.videxgsd.com/are_boosters_necessary.htm http://www.videxgsd.com/boosters_three_years_is_fine.htm

Amen to that, Solo. The vet I used with my first GSD was one I'd worked for previously and I knew him to be of more concern about money than the welfare of the animal. He inisisted on annual rabies vacs using a 3-year vaccine and of course the annual DHLP combo. I refused lyme and kennel cough although I was forced into using an intra-nasal kennel cough vaccine when I had to board my dog. Within a month of that vaccine, he developed a chronic bacterial sinusitis that never responded to 2 surgeries and years of antibiotic therapy. 3 years later he died from lymphosarcoma. I came to find out that his g-sire had produced several GSD's that also developed this form of leukemia and a number of this breeder's dogs had inhalation and food allergies. Vets don't like to admit it for the most part, vaccines are their bread and butter costing approx $.50 each in the US, but most are aware that annual boosters are not necessary and may even be harmful. My current GSD had his puppy series at 2,3,4 months and a rabies as required by law here in PA. He had a booster at 18 months and as far as I'm concnered he will get no more vaccinations of any sort unless titers show me they are necessary. As far as what is required by law, they'll have to catch me first and if they do I will pay the necessary fine rather than bombard my dog with vaccinations he doesn't need. I lost one wonderful dog at 7 1/2 years of age, I certainly don't want to lose another so young and will do all I can to prevent that from happening, legal or not.

Solo does make a very important point re-immunisation. Like Blitzen, the last immunisation any of my dogs have is the 18mths booster and this has been the case now for 20+ years. Blitzen is also very astute as to the reason vets keep on immunisating dogs, year after year, Dollars$$$!!! Lots or them. Note we humans are not subjected to immunisation for Measles, Chicken Pox, Mumps, etc, etc, every year. One dose, plus booster as youngsters and we are considered to be protected for life. Only three seperate vaccinations against lockjaw (tetanus) are required over a lifetime. My vet has known about my feelings towards constant immunisation for over 20yrs and in the past 15yrs has never once attempted to dispute my belief. Actually he has agreed with me on more than one occasion, confirming that dogs naturally build up their own immunities and well socialised dogs would be in regular contact with any number of virus's which helps them top up their own natural immunity. If then asked why he still administers yearly boosters to others, he just replies "Supply and demand". What he really means is that 95% of the pet owning public bring their dogs in for yearly boosters because they think they are doing what is best for their dog and 100% of vets say nothing to discourage this. As for the Rabies vaccine, this has now become very relevant in the U.K with the pet passport scheme. Yearly boosters are mandatory to keep the Pet Passport valid, another money spinner and another danger to the pet that is subjected to the yearly invasion. Also worrying is the amount of Worm & Tick treatments pets risiding in the U.K are been subjected to when been regulary exhibited on the continent. As for Kennel Cough, only one of my dogs has ever had this nasal spray, it was 14yrs ago and same as Blitzen, it was a necessity for kennelling. The rest of our dogs remained at home looked after by relatives. On collecting him after our holidays he was very run down and had developed Kennel Cough (not much use in that then). However, after some investigation I discovered that after receiving this treatment a dog often displays symptoms and it can take up to one month before enough antibodies are in the system to protect the dog against developing the condition. Stressful situations(such as been put into kennels) can cause the condition to develop and yet most dogs are immunised against this only days or weeks before going into kennels! Hence the reason for such a high volume of Holiday Kennelled dogs suffering from Kennel Cough despite the immunisation, who in turn go on to spread the condition to other (unimmunised) dogs they come into contact with when they come home. All makes perfect sense when the full implication of what is happening is fully realised. Shame vets don't have the same consideration for their patients as can be said for Doctors.