Epilepsy - Meerdyke Machk's short life - Page 3

Deanna - it does hurt a little, but, it is probably my own fault for not expressing our story fully.  It is sometimes hard to express properly in writing. 

I do agree with your comments in that owners should be responsible and we were responsible with everything to do with our dogs health and welfare as much as we possibly could be.  I think the emphasis of my story is that maybe responsibility should start before purchasing a puppy.  Owners should research thoroughly first by researching the pedigree of their potential dog and any potential health issues that may arise, then, at least an informed decision can be made. We didnt do this and that is where our personal irresponsibility lies, we saw a gorgeous bundle of fun and fluff and sense fell out of the window!  We previously had 3 gsd's together so have been gsd pet owners for 15 years and have always cared well for our dogs.  the last of the 3 died aged 12 years and died a few months before we purchased this puppy.  

I do however, feel, that in our case the breeder has shirked responsibility when we needed it most.  But I also feel that this breeder may have produced this litter knowing of the potential inherited illnesses.  So if my dogs story can help breeders to take more responsibility when choosing matings and help other potential owners to become more aware of inherited diseases and if I can stop other families from enduring this heartbrake and more importantly help there to be less potentially sick dogs being produced.  Then I would feel it has been worthwhile sharing my dogs story.

 Rachael,
  We sometimes forget that or expect people to understand what we have went through regarding our dogs, but I am sure that Deanna would agree that you cannot possibly know exactly what you have went through unless you have had to care for a dog with Epilepsy, having your babies to look after and a dog that suffered from severe seizures and terrible Post-ictal is not an easy task, infact we struggled, and did not have young children, Post-ictal can last a few minutes to many hours for the dog, and the dog can be temporary blind, to being so destructive, that they would tear out cupboards etc, when you are needing to put that dog in a safe place, there is no safe place really, they need to be watched, as does your babies.

I agree that there should be Commitment and Responsibility from the dog owner, especially when you are looking after a sick dog, looking after a dog with Epilepsy is a huge Commitment, but I do feel that some of that Responsibility lies with the Breeder that created the dog,and they are the ones that boldly put on their web-sites that they will be there for the life of the dog they sell you, and where are they when you actually need their help, where is their Responsibility to this pup that was once special to them while he/she was once crawled about the whelping box, do they not care about the dog they produced, where is there conscience. All you ask of them, is for their help and understanding we expect that from them, and Rachael we are sorry that all you have had is silence.

Sharing Bailey's story shows a great Commitment to his memory and to this Breed, sharing his Pedigree shows great Responsibility and Courage.
It is only acts like these that will truly make a difference to the future of our dogs.

Margaret

I am so sorry for your loss. It must've been heartwrenching to let him go.

As for rehoming a dog with epilepsy, there are people out there who are more than willing to take in a dog like that, although they are few and far between. I personally know someone who has four adopted dogs, all with disabilities and one has epilepsy (she knew this from the beginning). So, I guess my point is that you were not completely off base in your attempt to see if he could be rehomed. I know in many ways it would've been easier to deal with, but as to whether it would've been the best thing for him is questonable. The bottom line is you should not feel guilty about anything at all. It is the unscrupulous breeders that should be feeling tremendous guilt over this tragedy.

I hope and pray your heart begins to heal from this very traumatic experience. Godspeed beloved Meerdyke Machk. You are now running fast and free, without any ailments, sweet pup.

Rachael,
As has already been mentioned, it should be the Breeders who should be feeling guilty, these lines should not have been used, that can be said, as Megan's lines were well documented and
very public, for the exact same reason you are sharing Bailey's story and his Lines, to protect future buyers and puppies being born from affected lines.
It is very disappointing to see that following protocol requested by the KC as we did, was not worth their input ie. a letter to the Breeders, because as we can see the Breeders have chosen to ignore what is and can be produced in lines.
There are Breeders who have cut their lines when informed about these problems, and had to start all over again, but unfortunately, there are still many who continue using these lines and deny any prior knowledge of Epilepsy being in them. That is why continuing to make things public is the only way to make people aware of dogs that are still being produced with Epilepsy.
The thought of having to make this public is not easy, regardless of what others may think, but it is necessary, imagine having to Convince your Breeders also people, strangers on forums, that your dog does have Epilepsy, that your dog comes from lines that have Known Producers and Fitters, yet some they still argue and deny.  They spend more time trying to discredit you rather that going down in history as one of the Breeders who cared and did the right thing, instead some even change their Affix, to allow them to carry on their  breeding practices.

Bailey's story has and will be well read,and I am sure it will make a difference to some, and that in itself is a great achievement.

Margaret

Margaret, what you say is so true. How are we ever to stop these greed focused breeders just continuing on their own destructive, but certainly lucrative path?  The Kennel Club will never offer any help, they are worse than useless. Until the day they make health testing compulsory there will never come a day that they will do anything about epilepsy. Although at the moment Epilepsy cannot be tested for, if it could be proven that it was originating from certain lines, they could refuse to register litters from those lines where it was clear that it was evident that it was a recurring problem.  But that is light years away.....

You mention breeders changing their Affix, I take it you mean Bricketwood, as I had heard they had changed their affix....can't remember how I heard it. Now why on earth would you change a well known affix, unless maybe it is well known for all the wrong reasons!  If this is incorrect, perhaps someone will come on here to correct me.  Hopefully, despite the change of name, people will still see 'Bricketwood' in the pedigree and see those red flags flying. One can only hope that posts like this raise some awareness for the unsuspecting puppy buyer. 

I believe this information should be out there. There is far too much secrecy and it only serves to protect the perpretrators and not the victims. That is so wrong.

  Remembering Dr. M. Willis talking to us about Megan, that she is living proof that Epilepsy exists in these lines, even though many thought she was an isolated case and questioned the existence of Epilepsy. It is sad to see regarding Bailey that once again they deny any Epilepsy being in their lines, but this time, people not just Breeders, are well informed with the facts of these lines, from Belgran Incaspirit at Vonsilvas in particular, these mating should never have taken place due to the known Epilepsy carried, so knowingly using these lines begs the question why would you, why would you risk such a gamble when you already know what can be produced. Lifting the veil of secrecy on Epilepsy has a huge impact, but from experience it has a bigger impact when you have a dog that suffers and dies from it, we know from personal experience! and all the time there was people who knew and yet said and did nothing, until it was too late,  but now hopefully not too late for others.

Rachael should be enjoying her dog not mourning him.The information should be put out there always bearing in mind to keep it factual, and realise that dogs that are being spoken about, these Producers, are someones beloved dog, and know that it is the disease that you hate not the dog. How many dogs have to suffer and how many pet owners have to continue to go through the whole denial of nothing in my lines, too many have already suffered, yet these lines are continually used, not just with the knowledge behind them but with arrogance, knowing that whatever will be produced will not be their problem but always someone else's, the old saying walk in my shoes and then pay out thousands of pounds on a disease that took our dogs life. comes to mind.


Abby Yes I believe that they have changed their affix, ???????
Margaret

BUMP

Apart from one VA male there is also a top ten male with Ramacon Philanderer and Ramacon Swashbuckler way back in his bloodline.  It is well known in the UK that both Philanderer and Swashbuckler produced epilepsy.

Mackenzie