Breeding with a male with seizures

[Jadotha]

The only thing I would say is that we need to keep in mind that whilst we may have seen the same issues over and over again, it is new for each new poster. Being polite and civil and beginning a conversation by giving the poster the benefit of the doubt is not the same thing as 'sugar coating' or'flowering'. For example, how is publishing Troll pictures or emoticons with someone laughing hysterically and pounding their fist on the table blunt, honest feedback that may cut to the bone but is well intentioned? It is perfectly possible to give sound and honest advice/feedback without putting the person down. In my mind, passion for our dogs is not an excuse for demeaning someone (who probably very much loves their dog as well, or they wouldn't be seeking help).

I am very concerned about the current trend of not worrying about rudeness, because not so long ago, I left a forum that had gone down the path of "you shouldn't take offense, we're passionate and we don't sugar coat things here" to absolutely vicious. One thing that I found incredibly attractive when I joined this forum is that people by and large were kind and empathetic in expressing their views -- until and unless a poster proved themselves clearly a Troll or impervious to education.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Thank you all. I am so at peace with not breeding her. I was on the fence anyway and when my friend told me hers had a seizure that day it was a big red flag. I regret I didn't start out my post with more info but I'm not a forum girl...I'm a Facebook girl I look forward to hear more of what you pros have to say...as I said, I never intended to own a dog....never mind a 130# one. She is quite special and I see why my hubby wanted one for so long.

They can steal your heart can't they! Please post more pictures of her!

 

[chuckorlando]

Sounded like a troll to me.

Glad you got it figured out. Nice looking girl you have

 

[Catia]

Chevelle--Thank You--for not breeding her.

I too can tell you 1st hand the absolute heartbreak that occurs with a pooch that has health issues. When you have to put an otherwise healthy dog down because they cannot walk, there's NOTHING worse than the feeling of failure & loss because you could not fix them & make their life better. A pooch cannot tell you what is wrong or when it hurts. That feeling of helplessness does not go away.

As far as epilepsy, I grew up with a girl with epilepsy, & her daughter has epilepsy...
My neighbors had a pooch that had seizures, eventually he had to be put down due to them being uncontrollable.
The more seizures that occur, the lower the seizure threshold become--whether the seizures are caused by epilepsy or a neurological disorder.
Knowing for sure if the male pooch is epileptic, or if it is post-viral damage, is impossible at this point in time.

You can still share your beautiful girl with the world in lots of other ways!
Take her everywhere & allow her to be the good ambassador she is.
Who's to say there's not a younger pooch out there who's lost his home who could benefit from your pooch's good behavior, dogs do teach other dogs

I work with the public, with people, not animals.
I have to remind myself daily that the only stupid question is the one that is *NOT* asked.

The best I can hope for at the end of the day was that I reached someone--that *something clicked* because I'm not doing my job just to hear myself speak...
I'm doing it because I do care.

It is frustrating to educate people about things that may seem like common sense to us, especially if it is an issue close to our hearts.

And fact is, breeding is an issue close to everyone's heart here, even more so due to all of the poorly bred pooches with health issues.
It's not the people who purchased them who are short changed, it is actually the pooch who is suffering who is short changed of a healthy life.
But now the loving owner & family is forced to watch the unnecessary suffering, pay for the vet bills, & just hope they can make the pooch comfortable.
We do what we can.

Even with the healthiest & most thoroughly tested pooches, there are no REAL guarantees of good health, we don't yet even have that for humans, but the odds are much more in your favor when you have thorough testing & proven healthy lines that can be traced generations back.

Even with the human genome, there's so many unknowns--they haven't proven epilepsy is hereditary, but I think most of us know it runs in families, just like diabetes, and breast cancer.

So you were baptized by fire here--LOL---but yes--we do hope you will stay & share your girl here as well

 

[DDSK]

No Chevelle you shouldnt do this as it might be spread to the puppies and that would be a shame to have new puppies and new puppy owners have to go through what your friends dog goes through.

 

[alwcm4]

I haven't had time to read all the comments, but the fact that your vet said the the epilepsy wasn't genetic would make me question every word out of his mouth about it. There are actually studies going on in the EM world trying to trace the gene for genetic epilepsy in EM's so it can be tested for. I know numerous epileptic EM's and it's not small feat, it's heartbreaking and horrible and some are not ever able to be controlled with meds. I would NEVER take a chance at passing that onto puppies. There are alot of other health tests that you need to look into if you do plan on breeding (responsibly and not being a BYB). If you want more info on health testing EM's click the link to my website below my name and then on the health tab of my website. There's alot of info there and links to even more info from there. Let me know if you have any specific questions. Welcome to the forum.

 

[WalnutCrest]

The most important thing your dog will ever do is wag its tail when you get home from a bad day.

While I know you said you were getting her spayed ... a very good decision in your case ... I do have one other reason to not breed ... you best friend may die during or immediately after ... it happened to someone I know. She's crushed and wishes she never would have done it.