[sky15]

Question for breeders on this forum: If one of the dogs in your breeding program produced a puppy with severe SAS, would you continue breeding that dog even if it had the necessary heart clearances? What about breeding offspring of the dog that had a puppy with severe SAS? Would it be acceptable to breed them as well, so long as they had all of their heart clearances?

General question for everyone: Have any of you had a dog that lived a lengthy life with severe SAS? I have a puppy whose SAS recently progressed from mild/moderate to severe (Grade V heart murmur). Am obviously devastated, but am hoping my dog has a chance to defy the odds and live a somewhat lenghty life. He is going on beta blockers and is under the care of a cardiologist at a well known vet school.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ArkansasGold]

Bumping up.

 

[nolefan]

I am so sorry that you and your dog are going through this. If you PM someone here the pedigree, they could probably take a deep dive and look at relatives of the dog. If a breeder uses dogs with generations of clearances behind it, there will be other dogs showing up with issues, doubtful your dog is alone. Finding out which side it appears to be coming from might help answer your questions. It's one of the reasons that dogs imported from Europe with no family history to see is so risky. I encourage you to enter your dog on k9data and register the diagnosis and OFA link publicly. This will at least allow other people (and breeders doing research) to see the history and use the information going forward. If you need help with it, I or someone else here can do that.

 

[SheetsSM]

Were the heart clearances auscultations or echos?

 

[sky15]

Thanks nolefan and SheetsSM. The dam’s OFA page says her heart clearance from 2020 is norm ausch + ECG + echo. The sire’s OFA page says normal auscultation, although the most recent one from 2021 just says normal.

My puppy came from a reputable breeder who uses champion sires from other reputable breeders and who I believe gets clearances on all of her dogs. The sire of my dog’s litter is from a very well known breeder that most would know on this forum. The sire’s owner may not know about my puppy’s SAS (we only told our breeder).

 

[DblTrblGolden2]

I’m not a breeder, but was recently doing some research on SAS and found this link very helpful. Dr. Stern is very informative, and helpful on genetics.

GRCA SAS Dr Stern

Sorry you’re going through this, and you may have already seen this video, but if not it can help explain some things.

 

[ArkansasGold]

Thanks nolefan and SheetsSM. The dam’s OFA page says her heart clearance from 2020 is norm ausch + ECG + echo. The sire’s OFA page says normal auscultation, although the most recent one from 2021 just says normal.

My puppy came from a reputable breeder who uses champion sires from other reputable breeders and who I believe gets clearances on all of her dogs. The sire of my dog’s litter is from a very well known breeder that most would know on this forum. The sire’s owner may not know about my puppy’s SAS (we only told our breeder).

Can you PM the pedigree?

The current thought among researchers is that SAS is autosomal recessive, although the gene has not been identified. Other breeds are affected by SAS, and universities doing research are recommending echos for all affected breeds. Despite this, the current Code of Ethics only requires auscultation by cardiologist, so the sire is in compliance.

The sire’s owner should be informed and should be very picky in the future on who breeds to their dog. Would also be worth getting his echo done ASAP. Some dogs can be asymptomatic and only diagnosed via echo.

 

[ArkansasGold]

Here is a link to some of the research: Genetics of canine subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) - Canine Medicine and Genetics

 

[Smoochiebird]

I am so sorry that you have to deal with this. I know this is not easy. I agree a 1000% that someone needs to contact the sire owner. Although GRCA still. only requires an auscultation from a Board certified cardiologist. ECHO's thankfully are being seen done more often, especially well know stud dogs. This is the Gold Standard cardiac evaluation in Golden Retrievers Dr Stern identified the gene in the Newfoundland a number of years ago but sadly not yet in Goldens.

Fingers crossed your baby has a happy healthy life ahead !!