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Originally Posted by Robin Lodal  We only wish it was as simple as recessive genes! They have not even been able to find the genetic marker for LS/MVD yet... when at UT, I was told they hope to be able to find the marker within the next 5 years, which would be great. |
I said it more as an example, but it sure sounds like a recessive gene from what Mardeline said. If many generations can live happy and healthy, and then all of a sudden it just pops up, it definitely doesn't sound like a dominant gene causes LS.
It's like my cousin who has this disease that degenerates his nervous system as he ages. He's in his 30's now, and was born with no sign of it, but lives in a wheelchair with no use of his legs, and less and less use of his hands. I can't remember the name of his disease off the top of my head, but we were able to trace it at lest 6 generations back to the last case of one of my relatives having this. His is a recessive gene that both my aunt and her husband passed on to him. For 15 years of his life he had no symptoms.
The main difference here is we as people choose to breed or not to breed our pets, so if we choose to go forth and bring about more puppies it's our responsibility to check for all of this.