[gemy]

Nancy you have always been so nice with your help. Gawd I didn't think I was that much older than you, but you always are able to wade through this internet stuff, and get the gold kernels.

I feel the need to express myself why this is so important to all breeds, but particularly to large breed dogs, if indeedy we are close to a genetic relatively accurate indicator of HD.

If you have ever seen a large breed puppy - 7 months old start to limp, then 9mths old, then with severe HD, finally the owner goes to the vet. Severe HD is literally a death sentence for these 90lb or so dogs. FHO surgery is usually not successful; and oh my the PAIN these dogs are in over their very short life. Before they are euthanized! And yes there are some experimental things that can be done; which are very very expensive to do, with some small chance of success.

If there are ways to accurately pre-screen breeding stock, if there are ways to safeguard through puppy rearing the seriousness of this disease; I would move heaven n earth to get that done.

I flash to this very morning, driving to work, a woman and what looked like a Bernier, crossing the light in front of me. He had double hip dysplasia as far as I could see, plus he had an operation on his right rear knee. He was in such obvious pain! He could not have been more than 18 months old (my guess). That woman crossed the street with him, he gamely followed, she bent down and stroked him, kissed his head, and you could see the pain in her face from 20 feet away. I about died inside to see this, young dog, with an owner obvious willing to nuture and support this young dog. Why he had knee surgery, not too sure, maybe as a stopgap to keep this beloved dog longer with her. FHO is not so successful with the large breed dogs, and maybe he had knee problems as well that was easier to treat.

This should not be!@!@ I see it way way too often here on the streets of Toronto. I hear of it on my list for BRT the ultimate heartbreak of the owner with a dog with severe HD. I want to eradicate this crippling disease!!!