Re: [PyrNet-L] Re: Bad Breeder in Spokane WA

["Janice Swenson" <janices@jump.net>]

On 27 Oct 98, at 12:42, Cathryn Lundberg wrote:
> Aside from the other issues here, heart failure is not a condition that can
> be screened. Heart failure is often a guess by the attending vet, if the
> necropsy (if done at all) yields nothing concrete. 
>
> Although dogs cannot have heart attacks, according to the GPCA health
> committe reports, heart failure is high on their list of cause of death,
> and although not common, is one of the more common causes of death in
> younger (<9 years old?) Pyrs. It is indeed probably genetic (as are most
> things), but of course, we know nothing about its pattern of inheritance.
> What we do not know about we cannot prevent. 

Heart failure is the end result of weakened heart muscle.  It's the 
inability of the heart to provide adequate circulation to meet the 
body's needs.  The liver, kidneys, lungs and other systems are 
affected too, causing a multiple organ-system problem.  And in 
most cases is the result of long-standing conditions which have 
over-stressed or damaged the heart.  What fails to get diagnosed is 
the underlying problem that damaged the heart in the first place 
which could have been genetic, birth defect, heartworms, and/or 
infectious diseases.  And heart checks are not routinely done in 
pyrs as in some other breeds before leaving a breeder to heart 
clear the pup from genetics defects.  

Janice, janices@jump.net
Admiral & Linsey (newfs), Bianca & Sonny (pyrs)  
http://www.jump.net/~janices/
Leander, TX
Visit Old West Newfoundland Club's website at  
http://www.jump.net/~janices/ownc/