Re: [PyrNet-L] SAS- Threat to Pyrs?

[Kshoffman@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/17/99 8:49:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
JGentzel@aol.com writes:

<< If the following is true, why should only a few "identified" dogs be 
checked? 
  How do you identify a problem this complicated without checking?  Seems we 
 may have done this too long with other problems, i.e., eyes, Patella's, 
 epilepsy, etc. >>

Well, of course you are right, Joe.  Ideally, *at least* all BREEDING 
candidates should be screened for SAS starting now, so if we are seeing the 
early stages of this condition surfacing in our breed, and it is at a low 
frequency, we can more easily take steps to nip the problem in the bud by 
stringently eliminating all affected animals and potential carriers 
(littermates and/or other immediate relatives of affected animals) from 
breeding consideration.

I believe we are talking about a cost of somewhere between $100-200 per dog 
for the cardiology consult.  I personally think it would be wise for all 
breeders to seriously consider cardiac screenings at this point on all 
breeding stock, and these can be sent to OFA and probably GDC as well and 
entered into their cardiac registries.  This is what I intend to do.  
Ideally, I would like to have all puppies screened too before they go to 
their new homes.  That is a hefty bill for a breeder to handle on an entire 
litter, *but* if the breeder doesn't do it, it is not likely a pet buyer is 
going to want to go to that expense purely for the breeder's information on 
an animal that is asymptomatic.  Of course, you can't put a price tag on 
peace of mind, can you?

To date, I personally have not yet been able to gather pedigree information 
on dogs or lines that are known or suspected to be at risk.  I assume most 
other breeders are in the same boat if they have never experienced this with 
their own stock or litters. So in that sense, until and unless we have some 
idea on what dogs/lines are involved (definitively diagnosed cases to date), 
we must all assume our own stock and lines *may* potentially be at risk.

If there are any brave and bold souls out there who would be willing to 
divulge breedings and pedigrees of known or possible SAS dogs, and have 
permission from breeders and owners to do so, you would be doing the breed a 
great service by sharing this information.  This could be done in the way of 
an article in the GPCA Bulletin for example.  If you do not feel comfortable 
sharing publicly, but would be willing to share with me privately, I can 
assure you I would maintain the information in confidence and would not pass 
it along without your permission.  As a breeder, I feel like I'm just dancing 
in the dark on this one, and I sure don't like that feeling.

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help out on this.  If we open the lines 
of communication, and start discussing this out in the open now, maybe we can 
get this in check before it becomes as widespread in our breed as it is in 
some of the others.  I understand that a *vast majority* of Golden Retrievers 
breed-wide are likely carriers of this horrible heart disease.  I would hate 
to see us all wait around until *that* becomes the impetus in Pyrs that 
finally gets people talking about it and doing something about it.  Once you 
reach that point, eliminating all carriers may not even be possible, due to 
the risk of increasing some other health problem in the breed.

And please do remember that if you do *hear* of an individual dog or line 
that is linked to SAS, it DOES NOT mean that the entire line or kennel 
associated with that dog is riddled with health problems.  No line or kennel 
is genetically perfect, that's just how it is.  Breeders do the best they can 
with the tools and information they have available to them to reduce the risk 
of health problems with each and every breeding.  Unfortunately, genetics is 
very complicated and no breeder can have 100% control and knowledge of the 
genetic material they are working with.  We do our best to reduce risks to 
the best of our ability, and then we hope and pray for healthy dogs. Reducing 
the rates of genetic health defects in dogs would be a whole lot easier if 
all breeders could freely exchange information on the health problems they've 
encountered in their lines without coming under attack or being labeled a 
"bad breeder."

Kelley Hoffman
kshoffman@aol.com