Epilepsy Do we have a problem - Page 4

Ther are two things here that is clear.  First there is a problem. Second, in order to deal with the problem we have to establish the basis for pointing the finger at Apollo.  Davey should be pressed for an answer on this point.  Apollo has important breeding families behind him and should one of these be the transmission route for the disease then it is not just a UK problem but a worldwide one.

Davey Hall has done the right thing by removing Nasko from future matings but until the transmission route is discovered Nasko's own breeding family must be examined further.   That is common sense.

This should not become a witch hunt in the search for the truth.   If breeders as a whole have no cause to suspect the problem exists in a bloodline then they cannot be blamed if a problem arises.  Upon discovery the problem then becomes "what happens next", will the breeder concerned be open with their findings?    I would hope so because I would in the best interests of the breed.

Mackenzie

Mackenzie, an excelent post.

And what about the several litters of pups sired by Nasko who are suffering from Pituitary dwarfism ? Are they also being investigated?
Zac

Zac you have named Nasko saying he had produced dwarfs who were the bitches as both sire/dam need to be carriers, are you sure you mean Nasko? and not the VA dog that begins with N.
Pam

So  far today there has been 217 viewings on this thread and that has produced only 5 contributions.  Of the five replies there is two posts about dwarfism - nothing at all to do with epilepsy.  If the KC read this thread it is easy to see that they will form the opinion that perhaps the health issues that have been so forcibly discussed is no longer becoming such an issue after all.  A casual  observer would think that from the number of viewings there must be some who can contribute something, or, know something of value to be used in solving this lastest problem.

Perhaps if more people knew the extent of the epilepsy problem in the seventies they would be more active on this thread.  That era was pretty miserable for the breed with so many well known dogs implicated in epilepsy.  If anyone doesn't believe me  just ask the Alsatianists.  Their club is founded on epileptic lines.

Methinks that the ostrich syndrome has arrived as it did all those years ago.

Mackenzie

I have to agree with Mackenzie, more should be said, i rather get the feeling there might be more skeletons in the cupboard, and that people might be hoping that the " Ghost Busters " will go away.  If people dont start to accept that there  is no blame, or shame, if they are completely open, then we are doomed.
   Breeding livestock is fraught with enough difficulty, without us having to be mind readers.

  Regards, Paul Rattigan.

I was a veterinary nurse from 1964 to 1973 and I can well remember that when an Alsatian walked in the door of our surgery with a problem it was frequently related to one of two hereditary conditions - HD and Epilepsy. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see how many Alsatians had epilepsy and how this drove people away from the breed. I lost touch of how many dogs I saw given sleep to save them suffering and those were only the ones too seriously affected to be medicated.
Thanks to the efforts of people like Dr Phyllis Croft and Dr Helen Hein the breed was made aware of these conditions and the GSDLeague led the way - having initiated the BVA/GSDL hip scheme (as it was then). Epileptic lines were identified and most sensible breeders took the appropriate action by breeding away from known lines. Sounds great, doesn't it?  But actually it's practically impossible to make informed breeding decisions when not all the facts are made public.

Epilepsy is a HIDDEN condition - as far as I am aware there is no test for it (if there is perhaps someone can post it here for all to see). The sooner the true picture is revealed the better for our breed - please be open and honest, otherwise our breed is dead in the water.

Hi all for your information I have just recieved this from a prominent  Veterinary Neurologist in the UK

The gene had unfortunately not been identified in the GSD - and neither has
the inheritance. I am not sure if anybody is actually looking at this in the
GSD breed other than storing blood / DNA in the hope of future studies. To
investigate the inheritance would require a good breed club cooperation such
as with the Belgian Shepherd club in Denmark.


Pam

Maybe this is one for the GSDL to take up with the veterinary neurologist who spoke with you wildmoor you could ask that someone from the GSDL contact him or he contact them as they are our biggest gsd club and they do have the health of our breed at heart ie the gsdl/hip scoring scheme
jim h

Pam. Yes I am sure I mean Nasko.

Zac