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Originally Posted by blitz  It's this kind of attitude that makes people not want to be involved in further discussion. There really is no need for sarcasm and Amazing Yorkies impressions of the blood drawing procedure are her impressions. She has a right to share them and not be put down because you have not had the same experience. My attitude? Dog breeding and especially showing is often cutthroat and I am not like that at all. I have found that a thick skin is invaluable in this business. I am really sorry that you don't like my attitude but I am passionate about this discussion and I can't help but be incredulous when people find reasons to be adverse to progress in this disease. Docking tails are a necessary evil but that is ok? I just can't understand how that can be. A cosmetic procedure that some consider barbaric is acceptable but one that is for health reasons is not acceptable? See, that opinion makes no sense to me, but of course, one is entitled to that opinion and it is my right to express that, as well.
I don't know why you would talk about your local vet in such an unkind way but I wander if he would be offended by your attitude. My vet is my partner in my breeding program. He raises Whippets, has been a long time member of the dog fancy, showed confirmation for years and is presently involved in agility. He answers my call in the middle of the night and the wee hours of the morning. He has talked me through milking a pup down the birth canal and has raced to the office at 6:00am to save my Roxie's life. A good breeder's vet isn't easy to find and I do not change my health protocol without discussing it with him first. I have no problems with my local vet but he hasn't been invloved in research on LS, has yours? If he has, then he knows the latest findings. If my vet told me to just wait and see and hope a problem doesn't pop up, I'd not take his advice on this particular issue. If I find a problem with a puppy, like hydrocephalus, liver shunt, PDA, etc. I'm going to a specialist, i.e., a neurogist, cardiologist, etc. I'm the one who is responsible for my dogs and I have no problem insisting on certain things and he has no problem with my reasoning. I am proactive in my own health as well, and as an antecdotal aside, I have saved my own life when a doctor told me I was fine but I knew I was not and pushed and pushed my doctor to do more extensive testing. He was white as a ghost when my problem reealed itself to him because I could have easily dropped dead the next day. Perhaps some people wished I'd had because of my bluntness but I'm sorry, I really don't know any other way to be.
I will also discuss my findings on this subject with my mentor before any new tests are performed. She has 18 years experience in breeding and showing yorkies and has been generous enough to agree to share her years of experience with me. When someone has been kind enough to agree to invest in your life in that way you discuss these things with that partner. I have read the research several times and I understand it, I have also read research by Dr. Larry Snyder who disagrees about the best way of testing for this problem. I already posted about what he has to say for anyone who is interested. It is not unusual for even experts to disagree on the best way to proceed in solving a problem, I'm sure they will continue their research and who knows what the answer will be? Meanwhile I am allowed to have remaining questions and to seek answers from others that I respect without censorship from you or anyone else. Censorship?  I respect your relationship with your mentor but does she have an answer to this problem? If you have total faith in Larry Snyder's opinion, so fine, do ATT instead of BAT, if he is the authority that you feel most confident in. I also read that he feels LS is unquestionalbly genetic. I was not able to locate any research online that he has been involved with. If you have a link to some of his research, I would be very interested in reading it. Please don't take anything personally. This is merely a discussion and we don't even know each other. If a breeder is truly not worried about LS (personally, I feel that anyone who is not has their head in the sand) well, nothing more will be done by her and she is entitled to that and this discussion should be of no interest to her. A breeder who is concerned with this disease will do SOMETHING about it OTHER than finding reasons to deny what is the latest and best information available.. Have you read the post from the breeder who sold a LS puppy? I bet she wished she did some kind of testing on that puppy before she sold it. She is devastated now and I truly feel for her and the owner of the puppy. She had never had it before in her breeding and it just popped up -- that's the sneaky MO of this disease. I would much rather test a puppy than hold my breath every time the phone rings. |
DITTO!!! I agree it's not that we are bashing, slamming or critizing anyone, it's something we all should be concerned about breeders and buyers alike.
Again, I try to take a direct approach to questions and not try to be so blunt but again, truth is truth and facts are facts no way around it! I've developed that thick skin from the world of dog showing! LOL
I am here to learn like the rest of you and I've actually learned alot from those more knowlegdeable than I. I never tested with my first through 4 litters but now when I have my 5th litter I will guarantee they will be tested. Or the buyer can test and I will refund the amount of that test! I would be devasted just like one poster on here was/is. I really feel for her!
Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers