Dear list: Claudia wrote: "...i dont think anyone is making fun of anyone else who does any kind of health testing, but there is a limit even for that. to go out of ones way to look for something else to be wrong with any breed is insane. if you look hard enough for a defect in a dog, you are going to find it. being that there are a lot of prospective cavalier owners on this list, i think there is an injustice being done to them. all this talk about platelets will just give them something else to worry about when trying to purchase a cavalier, as if we dont have enough to worry about. every breed has its problems, some worse than others, but overall i would say cavaliers are alot hardier than some other breeds. lets not go looking for more things to be wrong with them."
I didn't think that anyone was "making fun" in their responses to this topic; however, I do feel that their comments do reflect the opinion that testing for this particular disorder is baseless - even though they state that they have no personal experience with this disorder. Many of those with this opinion have been on this list as long as I have and know (or should know) that there have been several people expressing concern for their cavalier. Mine was not the only one who died or was near death. Instead of minimizing or dismissing these posts as "looking for trouble" or stating that mentioning the problem is giving the public something else to worry about, why can't these posts be appreciated for what they are - sharing experiences. Collectively, they mean something to our breed. I don't have it in me to worry about what is happening in other breeds. I want to know what is happening in mine! As for the "group think" mentality, I can assure you that I am an independant thinker. I take the time to learn about health issues. Because I also have limited time and resources, this education usually comes about because a certain situation has presented itself. I didn't go looking for it; either as an internet provoked interest or a love of discovering problems. I inherited the problem and believe in learning all I can about it, in hopes of not having to deal with it again. Sharing experiences is not meant to be a message of "doom and gloom". Those sharing either want to know if their problem is unique; if not, what advice can be given. As for the impact on the general public; I believe that our openness and willingness to address our particular health issues is what enables the public to trust in us and our breed. I don't WANT to find MVD in my dogs. I didn't WANT or EXPECT that I would be a victim of the perils of Thrombocytopenia. These problems were presented to me and came about through the genetic make-up of my particular dog. Without pointing fingers, I was not dealing with just my breeding practices, but rather all those before me in that individual's pedigree. This includes some of the top reputable kennels. What is, is. It's up to us how we handle what is presented. Do we choose to sit and do nothing, deny any possible cause for concern, all the while warning flags are raised by those brave enough to venture out and say something happened to my cavalier and this is what happened. This information should move you to do something - even though you haven't experienced it yourself. Listen to what veterinary professionals and cavalier owners are saying. Pat Barrington - Barrington Cavaliers (Southern Ontario-Canada) [EMAIL PROTECTED] ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
