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Pedigree Dogs Exposed: part three

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Karlin

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I totally understand the heartbreak, Sandy -- breeding is hard, but especially hard for smaller breeders too as many hopes ride on each dog. I know many great breeders who have had the tragedy of a dog needing to be removed from an already small programme for a poor heart exam, poor MRI and so on -- or where there were no puppies or the puppies died :( -- it is much more difficult to recover from such a situation when you might only have a couple of breeding bitches to start with.

Too many clear dogs have produced SM dogs for a MRI to be the thing we rely on entirely.
I keep hearing this but as far as I can verify, this statement came from nowhere. What number is 'too many' (this implies lots and lots of cases) and who has the clear dogs, were they MRI'd, who graded the MRIs? Or is this people saying their asymptomatic and hence 'clear' un-MRId dogs have produced SM puppies? To date -- and I recently have discussed this with all the researchers I know directly -- I am only aware of a solitary situation where this happened, out of many, many clear to clear matings so far. One of the examples of this being widely touted on some of the other lists, no researcher seems aware of. More ridiculous, it was being claimed to be a test breeding Clare Rusbridge did. :rolleyes: This is a perfect example of the rubbish circulating around as 'fact'. NONE of the researchers breeds test litters. NONE of the researchers oversees or suggests test matings -- this can be directly verified by speaking to any researcher in the US, Canada, South Africa, Netherlands, Germany, France, UK. Breeders making their OWN choices and some involved with scanning programmes have reported back data for research to a range of researchers. However, the fact that occasional clear to clear matings will produce affected puppies has always been a known and accepted possibility, not some secret hidden away by researchers (at the CKCS SM conferences, it is stated clearly in the Rugby talks, for example, and at London). This is simple high school genetics -- if there are recessive genes involved, dogs with a clear phenotype (outward appearance) do not necessarily have a clear genotype (clear genes). But this is EXACTLY the situation with MVD, and research clearly shows that breeding least affected dogs does delay onset and severity. There is every indication that SM is the same.

Some of the other ridiculous claims made about Dr Rusbridge are that she initially claimed 90% of cavaliers had SM -- she has NEVER said this (as anyone can see by simply looking at the archived Rusbridge newsletters. The statement has always been that 90% of their samples have the malformation -- a figure which has been generally consistent across every single research group and from huge samples such as the 1000+ cavaliers Geoff Skerritt has MRId (his figure is at least 85%, and he MRIs lots and lots of breeder dogs that breeders believe to be clear). Initially Rusbridge and Knowler only had their group of MRIs of dogs of all ages (including lots of older dogs). In that early sample, 90% had CM, about 70% SM. Later studies, most with much younger dogs, show a minimum 30% affected rate with SM, and that same 90% with CM. It is wise to take the lowest percentages as a starting estimate -- Dr Rusbridge therefore now states at least 30% affected going from research samples (that was from the North Carolina study). It is quite routine to make population estimates based on research studies, especially when there have now been several, on several continents, all giving similar numbers; in all groups, dogs showing no signs at all of SM make up the majority of the test groups. They still all MRId with a minimum 30% with SM, about 90% with CM.

Also, the silly statement that 'she keeps changing the level of incidence'. Well, doh! That is what scientific research does -- you change your estimations based on new studies and a broader range of data. Are people really so unaware that they believe scientists are supposed to come up with a single figure and never revise it? Science is all about modifying theories based on study results.

If data starts to come in about clear lines, lower levels of incidence, and an easy way forward to breed around this problem, I know that no on would welcome this more than the researchers, ALL of whom are people who work at the front line of dealing with this condition in the REAL world -- they are all the people who see the sick dogs, the one in screaming pain, who do the surgeries, who give owners support after surgery, taking calls and answering emails in their free time as well. They are the ones actually dealing with the reality of this problem, as it presents in all its ugly, painful reality. By attacking the researchers publicly, some breeders have made themselves look utterly shameful on the public lists, where many, many decent breeders and pet owners are quieter members. many of those people have had their dogs cared for by the researchers as well. I know that hundreds of people who had their dogs MRId have had them interpreted, free of charge, by Clare Rusbridge, for example who has also taken many dozens of calls from vets and neurologists on behalf of their patients, owners of dogs around the world, to discuss potential treatments.

Finally there have been ridiculous statements that 'Clare Rusbridge never thanks breeders and the clubs' -- sheesh, I have seen this posted on lists on which some of the people who were publicly thanked at events (even given a thank you gift for their own contribution on behalf of breeders!) were there feeding the accusations while not once stating that this was totally untrue.

Again, simply reading the newsletters will show this is patently untrue -- clubs and breeders are regularly thanked. They were also publicly thanked and recognised at both CKCS SM events in the UK. And in Dr Rusbridge's doctoral thesis, there are specific thanks to the UK CKCS Club, the US clubs and Canadian clubs and their breeders, as well as specific members. How many more public thank yous are needed? :lol:

The lowest level of discourse -- and often the sign of the desperate defending the indefensible -- is to keep returning discussions of serious issues to ad hominem attacks on people and personalities. Questioning qulifications -- yes, do it, and defend it with FACT. But attacking personalities (even hairstyles and appearance! Goodness, that is critical to research, isn't it!) and making up wild 'facts' is laughable (and it the only criticisms of a researcher were hair length, whether they say thank you and whether solid, internationally peer-reviewed research goes into a PhD or not are the main criticisms -- you truly wonder what is actually valued? Research that only proves your own point of view and lets you continue doing as you've always done, with disregard to breed health or suffering?). As some of the key people in the US and Canadian clubs have asked of their breeder members -- if you have problems with believing what researchers are telling you, or with a particular researcher, then FUND OTHER STUDIES. To some extent, this is what the ACKCSC did with the North Carolina study. And guess what: the results basically aligned with Dr Rusbridge. Maybe now is the point where time and money should go towards a massive random scanning programme in the US to get that truly random sample -- this would be welcomed by all researchers too. It is time to focus support on Sarah Blott's EBVs and the Canadian genome research needed to make it truly accurate and helpful to breeders. And much work remains to be done on searching for cause and treatment.

But breeding of necessity is a lot, lot harder. Unfortunately, that is the reality and it isn't the fault of researchers that this is the case. Breeding when SM wasn't understood or recognised produced this problem and only careful breeding in conjunction with research knowledge is going to help the breed.
 
Anyone have time to do a rebuttal on Dog World-online-news-Cavaliers? Dr. Ingpen again being touted as an authority- that is just wrong.. I can't get on.

Will have a go if I can find the comment about Dr. Ingpen. Can you help me please? I found dogworld.co.uk
 
Karlin, thanks for your recent post on this thread.

I've read a lot of this misinformation from various sources. I'm glad you've dispelled these myths. I've noticed differences between discussions based on facts vs. discussions based on misinformation. :cool:
 
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Yes, Cathy.....that was some great information dispelling a lot of the misinformation going around masquerading as fact.

In the U.S. there are a small number of breeders following BOTH the MVD and SM protocols and getting in touch with these people is difficult, not to mention actually getting a puppy.

I believe that puppy buyers will play a large role in the future of properly bred cavaliers, but I am concerned with what this outcome may be.

I have written to two breeders here in the U.S. letting them know that, as a pet owner, I have been following the conversations. I've told them that I appreciate what they are doing and how they are doing it. I've let them know that I hope they are still breeding when I'm ready for my next puppy as I will be contacting them. And, believe me.....I have absolutely no problem buying an airline ticket to pick up my next dog!!
 
Cavalier Breed Notes

Having read the Cavalier breed notes in this weeks copy of Dog World I am again angered beyond belief at the correspondents statements in relation to the best in show winner at Malvern.:bang: Should we be surprised, no I do not think so as the correspondent has used the dog in question 3 times at stud and who also condemns the person who exposed the breeder.
She comments that Breeders need people to give loving homes to their puppies does she not mean BUY their puppies and that pet-loving public need breeders to supply them, WHY? Yes I absoutely adore cavaliers and cannot imagine life without one but not to line the breeders pockets when they cannot even follow the protocols laid down and think about the pet-loving public who ultimately have to pay the vets bill.
She also comments that some groups are regarding these breeders as criminals, is it not criminal to use and SM affected dog on was it 26 Bitches? I think so. I also think it is criminal to organise petition signing in order to get Maragret C expelled from the Cavalier Club, one of the few breeders who do much for the health of the Cavalier. Perhaps now is the time for the owner of the best in show to make the scan public, surely that would prove one way or another who is right after all having been accused of the dreadful act would one not try to set the record straight.:xfngr:
 
Sorry for not setting up good directions :xctly: When you go into Dog World,UK there is a Dog Breed section and scroll down to Cavaliers and click.
On the right you'll see Breed Notes Fri.5 Sept and click on "cont.reading Breed Notes"

http://www.dogworld.co.uk/Breeds/BreedsHome.aspx?nodeID=264 This will get you to Cavalier Breed Notes.

This is a very lengthy "letter". Thank you

I registered with them but can't find anything to click on to reply. h*lp Won't you all try to reply too? I am not very good with words like some of you.
 
It might interest you to know that the person who wrote the Breed Notes, Craigowl breeder Norma Inglis, is I believe slightly in conflict of interest to have written what she wrote -- given that she herself has according to club records, bred SEVERAL bitches to the Malvern dog. Other breeders will be aware of this but probably no one else unless they follow the club puppy gazette or go research Kennel Club statistics. :rolleyes:

Perhaps someone would like to write Dog World and note that while anyone is entitled to their opinion this obvious financial and professional conflict of interest should be pointed out by the correspondent herself and might change considerably the perspective with which others read her opinions.

Within many publications, a journalist would lose their job over not disclosing such a gross conflict in an opinion piece. That is why at the foot of the piece I wrote on the editorial pages of the Irish Times on the programme, it indicates my SM website and notes that I have a direct interest in the subject of the programme. I discussed my personal interest with the senior editors at the Irish Times at the time of proposing an opinion piece, and we then discussed how to make clear my own perspective for writing the piece by adding such a footnote.

It also amazes me that these people continue to post the opinion of a human rheumatologist with no experience of reading vet MRIs whose lifetime around cavaliers comes from his WIFE being a breeder! And in a club in which the breeder of the Malvern dog is also a member in Australia! Is this too not a serious conflict of interest to roll such a person out as a 'neutral expert'? Much less the direct affront to one of the researchers who has given more time and discounted scans to the UK CKCS Club than any other in the UK, Geoff Skerritt, who once again will be doing deeply discounted scans next week for one of the clubs.

The only solution is what Dr Ingpen himself proposed -- take the scan to a truly neutral panel of MRI experts to pronounce upon it. And then announce the results, because public reputations have been called into question, raised by club members themselves.
 
Thanks Karlin, That's very helpful. I don't know why you can't post a reply to that particular post of hers. (5th Sept.)

Edit: I see I can now reply to her post, at last!

You know what, this makes me so wound up, I can't get over the fact that there are tests for SM, who in their right mind wouldn't use them. If it's too expensive, don't breed. The fact in the program that keeps going over in my head everyday is that if you beat a dog with a stick to cause the same pain that SM causes, you'd be in trouble with the law but breeders are in fact causing dogs excruciating pain by poor breeding practises.

I'll compose my post after lunch, for now I have to go to a meeting.
 
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HollyDolly - totally agree with you about making the scan public.

I wrote the the Kennel Club and the CKCS at the end of last week and one of the issues I mentioned was the petition against Margaret C. I said that not only was this a disgusting thing to do, but it was also a method of distracting from the main point -ie: the Beauella dogs scan. If there is nothing wrong with the scan then why doesn't Beverley Costello show the results?

I am a non-showing, non-breeding member of the CKCS club, but still a member, so I wanted to know how they could possibly justify supporting Ms Costello and not Margaret, a member of their Health Committee, who is working so hard to improve the health of all Cavaliers.
 
Having read the Cavalier breed notes in this weeks copy of Dog World I am again angered beyond belief at the correspondents statements in relation to the best in show winner at Malvern.:bang: Should we be surprised, no I do not think so as the correspondent has used the dog in question 3 times at stud and who also condemns the person who exposed the breeder.
She comments that Breeders need people to give loving homes to their puppies does she not mean BUY their puppies and that pet-loving public need breeders to supply them, WHY? Yes I absoutely adore cavaliers and cannot imagine life without one but not to line the breeders pockets when they cannot even follow the protocols laid down and think about the pet-loving public who ultimately have to pay the vets bill.
She also comments that some groups are regarding these breeders as criminals, is it not criminal to use and SM affected dog on was it 26 Bitches? I think so. I also think it is criminal to organise petition signing in order to get Maragret C expelled from the Cavalier Club, one of the few breeders who do much for the health of the Cavalier. Perhaps now is the time for the owner of the best in show to make the scan public, surely that would prove one way or another who is right after all having been accused of the dreadful act would one not try to set the record straight.:xfngr:
I agree with every point you've made. The scan needs to be turned over to a mutually agreed upon veterinary specialist panel for interpretation.
 
If it's too expensive, don't breed.
Well, I do think the expense is prohibitive to do many dogs in many parts of the world, and will need to be dealt with in some regions -- and the gEBVs should also deal with things so that scans will not be a necessity -- but there is simply no reason for UK or Irish breeders not to be scanning. I know that the clubs are offering £100 per dog scans at special breeder scanning days with Geoff Skerritt for example -- that is about $175 at current exchange rates, and about €130. It is NOTHING.
 
Has ist occurred to anyone here that according to the protocol it is permitted to breed with a dog who has a syrinx but is asymptomatic?

My internet availbaility is restricted at the moment - so I have not been able to follow the development of this discussion closely enough. I have the impression that many people are accepting everything the BBC dosumaentary hs said without questioning it for themselves.

The dog is nearly 5 yaers old now.

kind regards,

Katherine

back on line properly on Monday
 
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Has its occurred to anyone here that according to the protocol it is permitted to breed with a dog who has a syrinx but is asymptomatic?

My internet availbaility is restricted at the moment - so I have not been able to follow the development of this discussion closely enough. I have the impression that many people are accepting everything the BBC dosumaentary hs said without questioning it for themselves.

The dog is nearly 5 yaers old now.

kind regards,

Katherine

back on line properly on Monday

I haven't come across any evidence that the documentary was inaccurate.
 
Has ist occurred to anyone here that according to the protocol it is permitted to breed with a dog who has a syrinx but is asymptomatic?
Yes, this has been discussed several times and I have pointed out many times that according to the recommended breeding advice offered by a panel of neurologists, dogs may have syrinxes. (y)

However there are specific grades that relate to the age of the dog when scanned, whether diagnosed with SM and whether symptomatic. To be graded, the dog MUST be at least 2.5.

As Beauella Radzinski was diagnosed at 16 months, he would have been graded an E. That means he does NOT automatically become a D when he gets to be over 2.5 or even 5. He must be rescanned or he becomes an F -- graded NEVER to be bred from. Also, you must add to this that the neurologist has said the dog had one of the worst syrinxes he had seen in a dog this age and should NEVER be bred from, regardless of whether symptomatic. This came from a man who is one of the leading specialists in SM in cavaliers.

Whether the dog is symptomatic or not, we can only take the owner's word. But she already denied on the BBC programme that he had SM. The breeder who accompanied her and was there for the whole conversation between the neurologist and the dog's owner has sent a letter to the breed club clearly stating that this is what Geoff Skerritt said and has stated she sent the letter because she could not believe her ears when she heard the breeder deny her dog had SM and was horrified to find she had bred him 26 times at least since the scan and the advice. In a later interview the breeder also refused to confirm or deny that he had been diagnosed with SM. Either he has, or he hasn't. It is also relatively easy to medicate so that symptoms do not show.

The debate over the scan at least could be easily resolved by having some neurologists not involved in the debate between Geoff Skerritt, who took and interpreted the scan, and Dr Ingpen, who has stated ONLY that he couldn't read it, NOT that the dog didn't have SM (as some are implying from his letter even though he has clarified himself that this is NOT what he has said). As several breeders have now put forward Dr Ingpen's letter as 'evidence' of the dog not having SM (rather bizarrely), and Dr Ingpen himself suggested having a panel look at the scan, then surely that is the obvious next step with the breeder accepting the interpretation and this being relayed to the club?

I wonder whether any of the bitches bred to him were scanned? If the breeder told the owners of the bitches about Mr Skerritt's professional advice? Curious how the owners of the bitches have all remained silent -- or not revealed themselves even when they publicly come out defending the breeder! If they have nothing to hide, and are advocating honesty and truthfulness, then why are they hiding?
 
I haven't come across any evidence that the documentary was inaccurate.

Katherine,

I understand Margaret C (CKCS club Health Committee) saw the scan and has confirmed that the breeder was recommended not to breed from that dog as a result of the scan.

If (which I do not believe) this is wrong, why has Ms Costello not allowed an independent expert to look at the results?

Have a look at the Health Forum (posts 168-170) from Margaret C and Karlin and decide if you think these are the actions of an honest breeder.

Best wishes,
 
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