Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

I'm a regular over on the message boards over at Kingsnake.com, mainly because I'm new to keeping snakes and am in learning mode when it comes to reptiles.

Although I've kept dogs my entire life, this is my first visit to this forum, mainly because I haven't needed advice on dogs before.

That said, I was just informed that my two year old, pure bred yellow lab has epilepsy. I always knew that Dalmations were prone to the disease, but my vet says that these days all pure bred dogs have the same propensity of getting it. (news to me, but who am I to challenge a professional?)

Curiuosly, yesterday a friend at work told me that his Jack Russell mix was also diagnosed recently with epilepsy. My Mom told me today that her next door neighboor's dog is the same story: 2 years old, and came down with epilepsy.

WTF?

I do not believe that this is coincidence. My feeling is that it must have something to do with all the vaccinnations we are required to give our animals. In my case, it was 1 week to the day from a regular check up and vaccinnation that my 2 year old lab started having fits. True, the information that I have read states that the disease tends to strike from the age of 2 and up, but I see too much evidence that supports my side.

What is the opinion of the users of this forum?

Thanks,
Lenny B.

>>Hello all,
>>
>>I'm a regular over on the message boards over at Kingsnake.com, mainly because I'm new to keeping snakes and am in learning mode when it comes to reptiles.
>>
>>Although I've kept dogs my entire life, this is my first visit to this forum, mainly because I haven't needed advice on dogs before.
>>
>>That said, I was just informed that my two year old, pure bred yellow lab has epilepsy. I always knew that Dalmations were prone to the disease, but my vet says that these days all pure bred dogs have the same propensity of getting it. (news to me, but who am I to challenge a professional?)
>>
>>Curiuosly, yesterday a friend at work told me that his Jack Russell mix was also diagnosed recently with epilepsy. My Mom told me today that her next door neighboor's dog is the same story: 2 years old, and came down with epilepsy.
>>
>>WTF?
>>
>>I do not believe that this is coincidence. My feeling is that it must have something to do with all the vaccinnations we are required to give our animals. In my case, it was 1 week to the day from a regular check up and vaccinnation that my 2 year old lab started having fits. True, the information that I have read states that the disease tends to strike from the age of 2 and up, but I see too much evidence that supports my side.
>>
>>What is the opinion of the users of this forum?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Lenny B.

>>>>>>>>>>>.

Epilepsy can be caused by organic things, but it is also inherited. Beacause there is no genetic test for it yet and it often shows up after a dog has already been bred, it is spreading. The search is on for genetic markers so that we will have a test.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

While vaccines may have something to do with aggrivating the condition (I will not vaccinate my epileptic Beagle & my Vet supports that decision), I don't think its the cause. Just about every single dog I know of with epilepsy was from a disreputable breeder. Puppy mills, commercial breeders, BYBs, and in my breed (Beagle) many, many affected hounds are coming out of hunting breeders who bred dogs who were know to have seizures. The favorite excuse of these hunters is that they dog seized due to hypoglycemia ... its a cop out.
Anyway, not to knock shelter dogs, but many of them who are adopted as pups or young adults are from a poor breeder (any good breeder would either take pup back or find it a new home)and considering the majority of pets are from pet stores or shelters or a one time litter ... diseases like epilepsy and hip dysplasia just seem to EXPLODE in popularity ...