talking to Cavalier owners

[Murphy]

Bet,
Please remember that Pet-owners do NOT have a monopoly on being 'Broken-Hearted' . I have recently lost my 7 year-old Ruby dog, Red Alert to MVD.
I still have his mother, auntie,(almost 12) and until recently his grandmother(she was 14).
No heart meds there.
I bred him, so I do not apportion 'blame'. The buck stops right here.
What did I do wrong?
Nothing. These things happen in life. It seems all wrong to me but these things must be coped with.
Life does not always give us what we want but we must be brave enough to soldier on - again and again.
IMO there is nothing productive about apportioning blame; to do so simply eats way at you and prevents you moving on.
Yes, I held him in my arms and looked into his eyes as he went; yes, I watched his tail wag until it could wag no more..................
Yes, I am a breeder - his breeder - and I am broken-hearted . Breeders bleed too....
Elspeth Glen, Sandbrae CKCS, Scotland

[MARK MARSHALL]

Well written and how so very true.

Regards Mark.

[Bet]

My complaint is with those Cavalier Breeders who have known for years about the MVD Heart Problem in the Cavalier Breed ,yet persisted to claim ,Heart Trouble what Heart Trouble!!! and continue to Breed from Cavaliers with a Heart or SM conditions.

I think we all know what the UK CKCS CLUB Chairman has said recently on this subject.

Hopefully when the APGAW 's Recommendations are revealed on November 2, a number of Cavalier Breeders Minds will be being Focused on how Cavalier Breeding should be carried out.

[Bet]

Forgot to say this, I sure will Move on when all Cavalier Breeders are forced to do Mandatory Health Testing for MVD and SM ,so that our Cavaliers will have the chance of Healthier ,Longer Lives.Thank goodness there are now other Cavalier Owners with similar views as mine .

Never thought I would see on the UK CKCS CLUB WEB SITE ,that if a Cavalier Breeder want's to have their Cavalier Puppy on the CKCS Puppy Register , a form has to be completed saying asto whether the Sire and Dam of the Puppy has a Current Health Certificate for both MVD and Eyes.

Hopefully it won't be long before SM will be included in this List.

[Murphy]

Since losing 'Patrick' I have spoken at great length to my local Cardiologist, in an effort to find out a reason for his untimely death and, as one does in such circumstances, if there was anything I might have done differently.

I am now more convinced than ever, that all cavaliers are genetically programmed to develop MVD, I also believe the same to be true for Syringomyelia.

As I see it, our efforts should now be focussed on finding out why some dogs develop early onset in both diseases, while others do so much later in life, and some, not at all.

This leads us on to an area of extremely complicated genetics which has become the focus of much recent research and was well-documented via the 2 recent programmes broadcast on BBC2 on the Twins.

Best Wishes,
Elspeth Glen

[WoodHaven]

Bet,
Please remember that Pet-owners do NOT have a monopoly on being 'Broken-Hearted' . I have recently lost my 7 year-old Ruby dog, Red Alert to MVD.
I still have his mother, auntie,(almost 12) and until recently his grandmother(she was 14).
No heart meds there.
I bred him, so I do not apportion 'blame'. The buck stops right here.
What did I do wrong?
Nothing. These things happen in life. It seems all wrong to me but these things must be coped with.
Life does not always give us what we want but we must be brave enough to soldier on - again and again.
IMO there is nothing productive about apportioning blame; to do so simply eats way at you and prevents you moving on.
Yes, I held him in my arms and looked into his eyes as he went; yes, I watched his tail wag until it could wag no more..................
Yes, I am a breeder - his breeder - and I am broken-hearted . Breeders bleed too....
Elspeth Glen, Sandbrae CKCS, Scotland

Very well said Ms. Glen--
I too have had heartbreak and worry that started right at my feet.
I followed the MVD and SM protocol to the letter and got 2 pups with full fledged SM. Both parents MRI'd -- both parents hail and healthy TODAY. Actually the Sire is 10 -- the grandsire 12+ and great grand sire 14+ // ALL MRI'd clear.
Condolences on your loss.

[Murphy]

Thank you Sandy, and mine to you. As breeders, we will keep trying, in the hope that one day we will get it ALL right.
Elspeth

[EddyAnne]

I followed the MVD and SM protocol to the letter and got 2 pups with full fledged SM.

That could possibly happen with Hereditary Diseases where DNA testing is NOT available, yes even in regards to MVD, SM/CM, Hip Dysplasia plus a number of other Hereditary Diseases, but I think it tends to be an exception rather than what generally applies.

All the more reason that the focus should be on finding the genes and developing a definitive DNA test that is cost effective and readily available to everyone.

In regards to Legal Liability in some countries, I think that a breeder's defence in case a court case eventuated is to have the appropriate specialist health testing certificates and to have bred according to specialist recommended breeding protocols.
.

[WoodHaven]

That could possibly happen with Hereditary Diseases where DNA testing is NOT available, yes even in regards to MVD, SM/CM, Hip Dysplasia plus a number of other Hereditary Diseases, but I think it tends to be an exception rather than what generally applies.

All the more reason that the focus should be on finding the genes and developing a definitive DNA test that is cost effective and readily available to everyone.

In regards to Legal Liability in some countries, I think that a breeder's defence in case a court case eventuated is to have the appropriate specialist health testing certificates and to have bred according to specialist recommended breeding protocols.
.

2 out of 2 pups. Quite an exception. I tend to believe (maybe erroneously) that different lines carry different parts of the issue and if you get them all-- you get the disease (also that bad gene combinations just happen)
This was a total outcross-- very low COI 4.5641 .

[EddyAnne]

Sandy, where I am many have discussed Hereditary Diseases for many years and we have come to the point where State Government Codes of Practice is stepping in with things like breeders should provide Health Certificates when they sell or give away a puppy or kitten, and I have even seen the word MUST used by another State Government where they have Legislation and Codes of Practice regarding Hereditary Diseases for dogs and cats. This is new and it is happening now, and as I previously mentioned, I think that a breeder's defence in case a court case eventuated is to have the appropriate specialist health testing certificates and to have bred according to specialist recommended breeding protocols.
.