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Originally Posted by bjh  While doing your research have you been able to come to any conclusions as to if there are more occurrences of liver shunt with line breeding versus outcrossing? |
Only that (upon talking to LS expert vets) the gene could be...and I say "could"...theory...be mutating and that some dogs are learnign to live with it for longer and not showing signs. So people who say they have never had a dog with it...may never know that there are puppies they sold who have it. When I say that my dog had NO signs...you should see him. He is an athetic top shape dog. The breed also may be learning to live with it. My dog has the external multiple (not internal MVD). Again...some theories...mutatiion of gene?? The dr said she has one on her property that is just like mine. looks as health as a horse. Hers she things is missing that main vein...what is it called again???? I am blanking on my terminology. It could be that mine is missing that vein and that is how the multiples happened. Liver biopsy came back clean.
Another helpful resource are the breeders on
http://tsfannymaelivershuntfund.homestead.com/. There are some breeders there who have been studying it and pedigrees and can help breeders "try" and prevent it but there is only so much you can do. They are big on bile acid testing puppies before they are sold so at least the owners do not get attached to the dog.