Unhealthy breeds

[AussieAshley]

I would not seek out to own a heartbreak breed or one prone to debilitating health issues such as hd. My collie had hd and it killed me to see him struggle with it. His epilepsy we could manage but there was really not anything that helped his hd and it was heartbreaking to see a dog that was so lively, happy and sweet struggle to move. I would have another but not a rescue, one from a breeder who screens as its not a problem that's rampant in the breed. Issues that affect the quality of life in the long term are far more concerning to me than say a giant breed with a known short lifespan.

 

[Saeleofu]

I think you just have to choose a superb breeder for "problem" breeds. I have seenon exactly ONE healthy English bulldog where I work. He has been perfectly healthy aside from demodex as a pup (and that was a total fluke, the only pup in his litter that had it). But he's not extreme like most of them are.

I want another boxer. But I have yet to find the perfect breeder, since boxers have health problems out the ass. Eyes, skin, heart, thyroid, hips, cancer, etc. But I DO want another boxer some day.

 

[PWCorgi]

I do consider health a huge deal, and try to fall in love with long-lived breeds.

Unfortunately, the other half picks ALL the unhealthy breeds for his wants (Dobermans, FCR, and Standard Poodles are all at the top of his list), so I am sure we will end up owning heartbreak breeds at some point.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

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First off, its my opinion and is how I feel, so no, not weak...just not something you agree with.

Second...I actually wasnt talking about dogs dropping dead in the prime of their life, which I agree is tragic. I was talking about dogs with shorter life spans in general, like in danes, a 10 year old dane has lived a full life and is a senior.

I understand. However, a breed like a wolfhound where 7 is a "good long life" according to some wolfhound owners I know, is depressing to me.

I'm shooting for 15 or more with my dogs.

 

[HayleyMarie]

To me 10-11 Years does not seem young to me. I dunno I guess Im used to growing up with Bouviers that lived till 10 or 11. Badger our past Bouve lived till 11 and he was a happy, healthy dog other than when he got bone cancer and as soon as we realised he got it he let us know it was time to go, so it was not like he was unhealthy for a long time. And our first Bouve lived till 10.

I charished those years with both my Bouves that only lived till 11 years. And I did not dwell on the idea that their lives were cut short.

 

[Aleron]

I think you just have to choose a superb breeder for "problem" breeds. I have seenon exactly ONE healthy English bulldog where I work. He has been perfectly healthy aside from demodex as a pup (and that was a total fluke, the only pup in his litter that had it). But he's not extreme like most of them are.

Unfortunately with some of the health problems in the breeds mentioned in this thread, dogs from "good" breeders are just as likely to have the issues than ones from less careful breeders.

According to Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Health & Genetic Diseases

"Heart mitral valve disease (MVD) is a terminal illness which afflicts over half of all cavalier King Charles spaniels by the age of 5 years and nearly all Cavaliers by age 10 years. It is CKCSs' leading cause of death."

Which means...all Cavaliers pretty much have or at the very least will produce this heart problem. It is widespread throughout the entire breed, well bred or not. All Cavaliers can and will produce MVD.

And about SM...

"The back half of the cavalier King Charles spaniel’s skull typically may be too small to accommodate all of the brain’s cerebellum, which may also be too large, and so it squeezes through the foramen magnum – the hole at the back of the skull – partially blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) down the spinal cord. The variable pressure created by the abnormal flow of CSF is believed to create the SM cavities – called syrinx – in the spinal cord.

SM is rare in most breeds but has become very widespread in cavalier King Charles spaniels. The number of diagnosed cases in cavaliers has increased dramatically since 2000. Researchers estimate that up to 95% of CKCSs have Chiari-like malformation (CM or CLM) – also known as caudal occipital malformation syndrome (COMS) or occipital hypoplasia (OH), the skull bone malformation present in all cases and believed to be at least part of the cause of syringomyelia – and that more than 50% of cavaliers have SM."

So nearly the entire breed has the malformation that associated with the problem and more than half the breed is affected/symptomatic, which means that it's safe to assume any Cavalier is at risk of producing this problem. There is no breeding away from it or breeding to improve upon it within the current gene pool, no matter how well bred the dog is or how careful the breeder thinks they are being. The only real solution to breeding away from MVD or SM in Cavaliers is to outcross to a breed that can introduce genes for normal hearts and skulls.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I agree with this. I've lost dogs too young and those dogs are the ones who sort of haunt me. It's very sad to say goodbye to the old dogs too but there's a comfort in knowing they had a good, long life and it was their time.

I agree too.

When I lost my GSD at the age of 4, it DEVASTATED me. It was sudden and unexpected. I still think about it a lot, even ten years later.

However, when my very first dog, our Golden Retriever, died at 10... she COULD have lived longer but she did live a pretty long and happy life, and even though it was still hard to say goodbye, I did not have as hard of a time with her loss as my GSD.

 

[Saeleofu]

Unfortunately with some of the health problems in the breeds mentioned in this thread, dogs from "good" breeders are just as likely to have the issues than ones from less careful breeders.

This is all too true. With a good breeder you can minimize your risk, but for some things there's just no way around it.

 

[Aleron]

Again, no argument with that aspect of the discussion.

I guess what I have a hard time understanding how the idea of outcrossing is so taboo and the idea of breeding generation after generation of "unhealthy" dogs (dogs who are almost guaranteed to develop heart problems or cancer or any other fatal issue at a relatively young age or a health issue that affects the entire breed) is not. That isn't a knock to FCR people or Cavalier people or Dalmatian people, it's something that in general just doesn't make sense. I don't expect everyone (or anyone really) to agree with my opinion on that, since it isn't necessarily popular especially among people involved in AKC. Again, I'm not saying that people should be having outcross free-for-alls in the name of improvement. And I'm not saying I, in any way support or promote the AR propaganda associated with purebred dogs. I don't think "purebred dogs are unhealthy" but I do think there are breeds which have problems that are going to require thinking outside of the box type solutions if they are going to survive. Really, it isn't anything personal against you or your breed or your friend sin the breed or the breeders of your breed. FWIW I think it's really unfortunate this sort of thing is happening with FCRs, Cavs, Dals and other any other breed who has really widespread health issues and I do hope a solution can/will be found.

 

[Dekka]

Eventually there will come a time when crossing will become a reality due to obvious necessity. We just aren't there yet.

Though being inbred does not automatically mean unhealthy, or bad.

But inbreeding when there are deleterious alleles.. that IS bad.