Marley has Distichiasis

[OhMarley]

We are going to an eye specialist today as we have decided to operate on it as those naughty eyelashes are driving him around the bend and really irratating him.
Is it hereditary? (I ask as i should tell the breeder if it is??)
Anyone else had this problem? Howd did you dog go??
I worry to much!

[OhMarley]

Well just got back from the vet and along with the distichiasis he said he had optic nerve hypoplasia which has resulted in his retinas not forming to their full potential which has resulted in marley not having perfect vision , he said that it wont get worse or anything like that and that Marley has never known any different so it shouldnt effect him. He said you can't test how good grubs vision is as dogs don't do eyecharts Either way it was a bit of a shock... which leaves me to ask, what else can go wrong with marley!? He's certainly an expensive puppy, he's beating our last cav with vet bills already!
The surgery is $1100, i've managed to get a discount (my friend works there as a nurse and badgered the eye vet until he agreed to discount us ) so we'll pay $800. We'll have his retained canines removed then. Possible get him castrated too...
Poor little marley!

[OhMarley]

This is going to sound stupid but hey i'm prone to moments of stupidity, I'm feeling really down in regards to Marleys eyes. I made such an effort to find a good breeder that checked them for problems and I did it for my folks... Loosing Jake was so hard and Mum really wanted another cav (as did i) but our major concern was health problems. So i feel like i failed them, even though its not life threatening or anything like that I just feel so bad that we've ended up with a dog that's already had so many health issued and had to fork out so much money. No matter what we love him so much and even had i known he had these issues it wouldnt have changed our decision to get him... he's the grub and we love the little devil.
It just got me down to find out he's got something else wrong ya know, like i said i feel like i failed my parents in choosing a healthy pup for them, after all when I move out (if i ever leave ) they'll be the ones paying for him when he's an old man (even though i intend on stealing him)...
Anyway there's my rant i feel a little better now ive got that off my chest

[Karlin]

I'm sorry to hear Marley has some further eye problems that you will need to treat. It sounds like they can be managed though without too much discomfort for him.

Yes you absolutely, without question should tell the breeder about all the health issues he has had. While any dog cannot realistically come with a health guarantee, because they are living creatures and as with people, health issues come up, some of the things you are talking about are inherited. If the breeder wasn't testing for any of these things, or was testing and had not had any show up before, and this is a reputable breeder, they will absolutely need this information in order to adjust their breeding programme -- she will have no way of knowing these problems are cropping up in this line unless you let her know and she may repeat the breeding with further puppies suffering these problems. No reputable breeder wants any dog they breed to suffer with health problems and of course they would also be concerned about the costs associated with one of their dogs. A good breeder can also offer guidance and advice when you are dealing with issues like these -- that's one of the whole points of going to a reputable breeder in the first place.

The good thing now is that you know what he is dealing with and know how to proceed with treatment so hopefully Marley will be a lot more comfortable.

Don't feel guilty; any time anyone opts to have a pet join the family there are always risks that the animal will have health issues. You can greatly increase the odds of a health puppy or kitten by only ever getting a pet from a reputable, trustworthy, health focused breeder, but that isn't a failsafe route. Unfortunately not all breeders who seem to be good breeders actually are -- many know how to talk the talk but do not also walk the walk!! -- especially the many duplicitous breeders with websites that indicate they do 'testing' but actually, they only have their vet give their animals a cursory glance and they don't understand how to breed for health either. Into this category fall breeders who are deliberately misleading as they know good breeders do test and breed carefully, so they make it soundlike they are doing what should be done (over time you learn how to spot the red flags on websites or in the talk of this type of breeder). But sometimes the worse breeders are the ones who don;t even understand breeding basics and are very well intentioned about supplying puppies to a pet market (often 'because they are not snobby about homing their puppies like some breeders') -- they are the most dangerous because they THINK they are doing enough but haven't the faintest clue about genetics and proper breeding practice and will not spend the money for proper heart testing etc.

[smoky]

I fully agree with Karlin on this matter!! We have adopted a few dogs in the past with severe health problems. Our lab had a heart problem that the breeder at first did not acknowlege, but when we pushed the issue revealed that they had not been doing health checks like they said they were because of the costs. I also just recently purchased a cav from a breeder who talked the talk!! I will now be alot more leary of the "non snobby" breeder! This little cav has many health issues, has cost me a fair amount of money, and my children may have heartbreak with this one as they did with the first puppy from this breeder!
Definitely tell the breeder so they can look into the problem further!!

[luvzcavs]

Oh poor Marley and poor you.

Don't feel bad about it though as I know how long you would have waited for a pup with this breeder and they are possibly the only breeder here in perth who breed for all the right reasons. I'm sure compared to more advanced countries they don't do everything in their power but compared to perth standards and what is on offer in the cavalier breeding circle here you did good.

Tell yourself it could be a lot worse and everything happens for a reason. I know it is no easy cleche to endorse when money is being poured into your doggies health and you see them suffer BUT there will be a life lesson here somewhere for you or your parents and it was all meant to happen for the greater good. Plus you know Marley will receive all the care and love he needs with your family and so better he be with you than someone who may not care enough or have the resources to look after him as well.

Definately contact the breeder, they do have an email address if you find it too confrontational over the phone. if you need it let me know and I'll get it for you ?

Chin up dear, you did your very very best.

Feel free to contact me if you need to chat

[OhMarley]

thanks everyone, I was thinking about it all last night and today and i'm just so glad we chose Marley, I keep thinking imagine if someone else took him who wasnt able or willing to put the money into helping him out, he could been left in discomfort! I just look at him and melt he's just such a beautiful little man and i love him dearly with or without his problems he's still the most beautiful wonderful little creature in the world. I spoke with my parents last night and they are cool about it, we are going to contact the breeder we don't blame them or anything like that i'm more worried that they may not be aware of the problem.
Thanks again everyone!

[Caraline]

I am sorry to hear that Marley has had a bit of a rough run. I know it doesn't make the hip pocket feel any better, but it sounds like Marley's eyes will be much more comfortable after his surgery.

Don't beat yourself up too much over how things have turned out with him. None of us have a crystal ball and even going to the very best breeder with the very best sires & dams is still no 100% guarantee that things will go smoothly. Certainly let the breeder know of any problems Marley has been experiencing. If all the human parents of their puppies provide feedback, they can then get a picture of whether a particular mating was not a great match, or if there was just an isolated case of a puppy that inherited some problems.

Let's hope that this is the last of Marley's problems eh?

[Cathy Moon]

I'm sorry that Marley has these eye problems, but glad he has such a loving family to see that he gets the proper treatment. He will be so much more comfortable after his surgery, and Marley doesn't know that he has a vision problem.

Please keep us updated about his surgery.

[Cathryn]

Playing catch up here!

First of all I am so very sorry to hear that Marley has these problems, I agree with Karlin that the breeder should be informed, as a breeder myself I would want to be informed of ANY problems one of my pups develops no matter what it is!

Secondly I hope the surgery goes well

Donning my breeders hat once again, this is one thing we quite simply CANNOT predict, the future health of a puppy, what problems may arise etc, etc....... BUT should a pup develop problems such as this I would want to know about it ASAP!! Oftentimes a pup in a litter can develop problems such as this and if the owner does not inform the breeder they can then go ahead and breed from a sibling whom is carrying the gene for this problem recessively, which could be catastrophic! We breeders in a way rely on our puppy buyers informing us of their health problems as a way of carrying on, which direction to take so to speak, not every pup in a litter will develop problems (Hopefully none will!) BUT we do need to know in order to protect our wonderful, beautiful breed!