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JaLaYorkieGirl · 08-15-2008, 08:45 AM

I thought there was more to this...here is what I found!

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Do you have this dreaded disease?

Well, there is hope. In the course of our research, we have found that
most cases seem to stop at Stage 2, and remain chronic. We have, with great difficulty, managed to acquire several Stage 3 ACOS patients. They are currently in our isolation wards, where we are studying them to gain a better understanding of this disease. It is a sad sight, seeing these formerly vibrant people as they shuffle around their rooms in endless triangle or L-patterns, making odd hand motions as if holding a lead and baiting a dog, and making chirping noises. Merely saying the word "Crufts" can send them
into an uncontrollable frenzy.

Unfortunately, there isn't much hope for these cases, but with time and research to further understand this disease; we hope to come up with a cure. We are now attempting to isolate the causative agent and may be able to develop a vaccine in the future. An interesting sidelight of this disease seems to be that exposure at an early age has an immunizing effect. Several people afflicted with ACOS at Stage 1 and Stage 2 have close family members(children/spouses) who have absolutely no disease. It is thought by some of our researchers that this may be due to environmental effects, to an age-related immune function, or to the fact that those with the disease tend not to associate with their close family members, possibly due to the memory deficit induced by the disease - that is, they don 't remember they have close family members!

What can you do to prevent this disease?

Until a cure is found, prevention is the best measure. Avoid kennels
advertising "show stock," since it may be the dogs that are the
carriers of the disease. Leave town when there is a local show. If you
inadvertently come into contact with an ACOS-afflicted person, leave as
soon as possible (they do tend to cling) and thoroughly shower,
preferably with a germicidal soap. If you are living with an ACOS
sufferer, take comfort that if you haven't succumbed yet, you are
probably safe.

08-15-2008, 08:45 AM	#9
JaLaYorkieGirl YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,079	I thought there was more to this...here is what I found! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you have this dreaded disease? Well, there is hope. In the course of our research, we have found that most cases seem to stop at Stage 2, and remain chronic. We have, with great difficulty, managed to acquire several Stage 3 ACOS patients. They are currently in our isolation wards, where we are studying them to gain a better understanding of this disease. It is a sad sight, seeing these formerly vibrant people as they shuffle around their rooms in endless triangle or L-patterns, making odd hand motions as if holding a lead and baiting a dog, and making chirping noises. Merely saying the word "Crufts" can send them into an uncontrollable frenzy. Unfortunately, there isn't much hope for these cases, but with time and research to further understand this disease; we hope to come up with a cure. We are now attempting to isolate the causative agent and may be able to develop a vaccine in the future. An interesting sidelight of this disease seems to be that exposure at an early age has an immunizing effect. Several people afflicted with ACOS at Stage 1 and Stage 2 have close family members(children/spouses) who have absolutely no disease. It is thought by some of our researchers that this may be due to environmental effects, to an age-related immune function, or to the fact that those with the disease tend not to associate with their close family members, possibly due to the memory deficit induced by the disease - that is, they don 't remember they have close family members! What can you do to prevent this disease? Until a cure is found, prevention is the best measure. Avoid kennels advertising "show stock," since it may be the dogs that are the carriers of the disease. Leave town when there is a local show. If you inadvertently come into contact with an ACOS-afflicted person, leave as soon as possible (they do tend to cling) and thoroughly shower, preferably with a germicidal soap. If you are living with an ACOS sufferer, take comfort that if you haven't succumbed yet, you are probably safe. __________________ Jackie JaLa Yorkshire Terriers