Alerting dog owners to genetic health problems in post op/discharge instructions

RE: Alerting dog owners to genetic health problems in post op/discharge instructions

Sean McCormack — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 13:01:34 GMT

They also recommended in the discharge sheet not to breed from that individual animal, but no mention of neutering.

RE: Alerting dog owners to genetic health problems in post op/discharge instructions

Neil Wheadon — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 12:37:47 GMT

The problem is 'who's listening?'

I had a pug in yesterday for a booster. The owner commented that they were looking to breed from her (a nice pug) The issue was that she had had BOAS surgery 6 months ago. I said that it wasn't a good idea, but did feel uncomfortable saying that, trying to say it in a way that wouldn't sound confrontational.

Good breeders will and there are a few about, but the rest, no

Neil

RE: Alerting dog owners to genetic health problems in post op/discharge instructions

Dinu Catilina — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 12:20:37 GMT

[quote userid="8991" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-clinical-discussions/30344/alerting-dog-owners-to-genetic-health-problems-in-post-op-discharge-instructions/237957#237957"]Are these dogs neutered at time of intervention? I know most places don’t. Otherwise you’re wasting your time.[/quote]

They are not wasting their time, they are educating the public. And these dogs are pets not breeding stock so the bast majority will be neutered anyway.

RE: Alerting dog owners to genetic health problems in post op/discharge instructions

David Mills — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 21:59:26 GMT

[quote userid="14489" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-clinical-discussions/30344/alerting-dog-owners-to-genetic-health-problems-in-post-op-discharge-instructions"]

Had an interesting discussion with some members of Dog Breeding Reform Group today (https://www.dbrg.uk/) about an example of vet clinic discharge instructions following orthopaedic surgery for a condition that is hereditary in nature and specifically mentions the genetic cause. Not only did it mention it but also explicitly asked the owner to get in touch with the breeder to report that the dog they bred has had this problem and future pairings of said parents should be reconsidered or not attempted again.

Does anyone here do this already, using post-op discharge sheets to educate clients on genetic disease in dogs, or to ask that breeders are made aware of the hereditary problems in their 'product'? Would love to know how it goes and whether you think this could make a big difference if every practice made this a part of standard discharge instructions? Do you think we'd see a trickle down effect and more irresponsible breeders would be held to account about their practices?

[/quote]

Are these dogs neutered at time of intervention? I know most places don’t. Otherwise you’re wasting your time.

RE: Alerting dog owners to genetic health problems in post op/discharge instructions

Lucy Fleming — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 16:40:16 GMT

I've not seen that, but it's a very interesting idea. My cynical brain says I've seen enough Dachshund breeders advising that their product never be allowed to set foot on a staircase lest their spine implode to be confident they will be receptive to the idea that heredity/ conformation might play a role...