Congenital disease

I'm not likely to start this off in the manner you may have anticipated.  I'm upset.  Really upset.  I'm sad, frustrated, and angry.  Yesterday, 1/2 of my morning appointments ended with me telling owners of very young pets (<1 yr, 1 yr, and a 3 year old) that their companions were experiencing signs of diseases likely secondary to poor breeding.  All 3 pets were purposefully bred.  All 3 are going through significant issues.  I am faced with emotionally upset families that are being asked to spend money they didn't anticipate spending on a "young healthy animal".  Doc, why?  When I mention poor breeding the phone or room gets quiet.  I'm left wondering, do they believe me?  Do they understand that breeding takes a lot more skill than most give credit.  The breeding I approve of is done by individuals where the goal is to IMPROVE the breed.  Therefore showing the dogs, pursuing tests PRIOR to breeding to make sure congenital conditions are not passed on, and waiting until of proper AGE is paramount.  Essentially, there aren't many I approve.

The most common congenital conditions we see frequently are:  liver shunts, open fontanelles, umbilical hernias, cryptorchidism, malaligned dentition, distichiasis, stenotic nares, elongated soft palates, demodectic mange, hooded vulvas, angular limb deformities, and behavior.  I'm sure I've missed a few, but please note - with reputable sound breeding programs these conditions above are not acceptable.  They are considered poor traits and are excluded.  Many breeders (and I'm losing this term lightly now) are breeding FOR these traits.  They desire the round chihuahua skull, they want the narrow nose and wide face of a bull dog, they want the short crooked legs of a basset hound, and so on.  Folks, it's expensive to manage these conditions properly.  And in some cases - the condition may cost your pet his/her life.  Yesterday I told one of those clients I would most likely end up needing to surgically remove the pet's eye.  Glaucoma!!!!!  Another pet is fighting for her life - liver, kidney and endocrine disease - she's 3 years old.  And the final one, well, we're starting a battery of diagnostics each step in the hundreds trying to determine the origin of her elevated liver values.  She is also experiencing parasitic disease most common in crowded unsanitary conditions (breeding facility) and skin disease. 

Next time, consider adopting.  Plenty of "purebred" animals are found in shelters.  And they already exist - there's no need to make more.

Sincerely and with deep respect,

Dr. Sparke

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