Sharing my rotten news - Page 3

Deb:

Very sorry to hear about Echo's hd.  I too know how devastating the news can be.  But as many have said above, Echo can lead a normal life.  My dog was diagnosed with severe hd over 2 years ago and she is still training and competiting.  To date she shows no signs of pain (although I am always looking for signs).  I don't have her practice jumps at full height and limit her jumping as much as possible.  Continue to train and have fun with Echo!  I wish you many fun filled years with her.

Cheryl

Thanks everyone for your heartfelt comments.  Yes, it sucks but we will continue to enjoy our little girl.  She will be spayed.  I promised my husband that if she failed the hip xray then we would spay her.  After all, he is the one who is home all day and has to escort her to the fenced back yard and change her diapers LOL.  She is two and I believe she has benefited from being intact this long and the time has come.  I know that I made a mistake buying her from the type of breeder that I did...but our other girl, Airin had a wonderful "hip pedigree" and she had even worse dysplasia in one hip.  There is no need for me to send in the films for an expert to see them.  I traveled 3 hours to use a vet who knows his stuff, plus a friend who is in SchH & breeding was with me.  Even my untrained eye could see the shallow sockets and knobby femur heads.  Plus, no one who buys from this guy has ever heard of OFA either.  His male died last month at age 6 from some "virus" (Parvo?) so he may not breed again.  I have watched the paper for his ad and not seen another since we got Echo.  I did send him an email to let him know and of course got no reply...I also notified the woman who sold him the dogs...again no reply.  They don't care. 
But it sure is nice to know that you all care.  It helps alot.
Thanks again everyone.
Deb

Hi Deb,
even though I do not come on here that often I happened to read your thread here. First of all, I want to tell you how sorry I am because I know the heartbreaking feeling.
What I wanted to point out to you is this:
In my opinion, it is very important to send these x-rays to OFA. Even though you know that you will get a failing grade, you will at least have done a service to the next person considering a dog from that particular kennel - if what you say is true that this breeder has a reputation. We all can breed a dysplastic dog every now and then, even with the best intentions! If a breeder tells you that they only breed good dogs and never had such a thing happen they flat out lie! Unfortunately!!! But if somebody knowlingly ignores hips grades and takes a gamble, that is a crime!
If you check the part on the application which allows OFA to publish the grade on their website, this info will be available permanently. Many of us rely on OFA to have a somewhat accurate statistic but how can that happen if nobody sends in bad results? We have had these discussions many times in Germany in regards with the SV maintaining their ZW system accurately and that it is not possible if bad results were not send in. To encourage people, the SV now refunds the fees if the hips do not pass.
So, I am hoping that you will think this over and send the x-rays in, if for nothing else but get your dog with her bloodlines in the database.
Best regards, Chris

Chris:  Good suggestion.  I also sent Molly's in - knowing that they would come back severe.  It is important that the poor hip ratings are enterred too as how else can we see how many fail if only the good ones are submitted.

Take care,

C

I want to agree with the very good advice to send those hip xrays to OFA and be sure to check the box that gives permission to publish negative results.

It is the only thing you can do to help others.  It is an act of "transparency".

As to long term care of Echo, I recommend Ark Naturals Joint Rescue.  This is a very good price for 90 chewables.  My beautiful Phantom was mild displastic.  This recipe helped to keep her hips from deteriorating.  She lived to be 12 and died because of osteo sarcoma in her pelvic bone.  She was never lame and by the time she was 12, her hips looked very good for her age.  You can start this now and as she gets older, increase over time to 4 chewables per day.  It has large doses of good stuff.
www.vitacost.com/Ark-Naturals-Joint-Rescue



Michele

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.  They are greatly appreciated.  Some of the best people in the world are on the PDB.

Thanks for posting Chris because as soon as I read that she wasnt going to send the films in, I wanted to encourage her to do so. Ive put in hours of research on pedigrees over the years. Going to the OFA site has really helped me. Ive wondered just how many dogs I "could" have known more about if the owner had just sent in the films. It will help so many others you will never know AND it will be a warning to others that certain lines are faulty.

Ive been where you are and its devastating. Im sorry you wont get your chance to breed this gal. 

DebiSue

I feel for you, when we buy a puppy we purchase all the wonderful possibilities. Every one of us buys a the dream of having a dog that can win in everything we decide to promote.

We love our puppies, we nurture them, we train them and then after we fall in love with. Then we get their hips and elbows X-rayed and sometimes we our hopes and dreams come crashing down.

I feel your pain!

DebiSue, So sorry for your disappointment. Echo's still a great dog. You are a great team together. Remember, she still thinks she's wonderful, nothing's changed for her. Tough learning the hard way finding a trustworthy breeder, guess I'm in that same boat with you.