[QUOTE=Rhetts_mama;3163911]OK, I should probably shut up, but I have to say that genetics are complicated. It's possible for a line to carry a recessive gene (say for a protein chain deficiency) and it will not be expressed for many generations. That's because each dog will still have one good gene that overrides a defect.
The line will continue fine until two dogs who both carry it (say half-siblings) breed. Then each of their pups will have a 1:4 chance of not carrying the gene at all, 2:4 chance of carrying the gene and being totally healthy (but now they are both carriers themselves) and a 1:4 chance of getting both copies of the gene and then expressing symptoms.
Plus then there is always the possibility of a spontaneous gene mutation that NO ONE could have seen coming, no matter what the lineage.
I'm NOT saying this is what happened in THIS case.
I agree and just because one puppy has health issues due to genetic problems does not mean all the puppies do. Look at Liver Shunt. I have never seen a whole litter get LS (maybe has happened I just have never read this) but I do know most reputable breeders will not breed the two dogs together again because of the one puppy.
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