Our family dog, a German Shepard named Bono, was diagnosed @ 11months old as having Canine Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.
This life threatening defect is hereditary in nature and is carried by a ressesive gene. When bred, both male and female must be a "carrier" of this gene to pass the defect along to thier offspring. "Carriers" show no outward signs or symptoms like that of EPI dogs. Some of these puppies may inherit the gene and have EPI itself, showing the effects of this disease, some puppies will be " carriers " like the parents and some puppies will be " clean ".
Any dog that has EPI should not be bred. Any dog, sire or dam, that has produced an EPI puppy should not be bred any further. That dog is a "carrier" of the defective EPI gene and will continue to affect the longevity of the GSD. Any puppy, sons, daughters or granddaughters have the potential to be "carriers" of this defect and should not be bred either. Remember, a "carrier " will show no outward signs.
As a breeder, Ms. Hiemenz, you had an opportunity to discontine using these dogs. A moral obligation.
My husband and myself notified you, Bono's breeder, immediately when we first learned that he had EPI. The test was confirmed by using a TLI test procedure. We let you access Bono's veterinary report so that you, in good concious, could discontinue your breeding program with Xya Von Fenwald, Jupiter Vom Monchberg and any offspring that were produced including others from different sires/dams.
This test was reported to you December 11. You knew from that day forward that Jupiter was a "carrier" of the hereditary defect EPI. Although you assured me both dogs, Xya and Jupiter, Bono's parents, were retired after his diagnoses I have found that to NOT be the case. You played the odds and continued to breed him.
After posting on this website, I recieved information that Jupiter continued to be bred by you, Ms. Hiemenz, until he was finally retired in 2005 by his new owners.
Did you feel you had to lie to me because I questioned your ethics on your decision to continue breeding Jupiter and his offspring? Is it because they have the potential to be "carriers" and that you have willfully allowed this defective gene to be further spread into the GSD population as hip dysplasia has?
On your website you have puppies for sale. Both of these females, one daughter and one grandaughter of Jupiter Vom Monchberg were bred. They both have the ability, if they are "carriers", to have mated with another carrier thus, producing another EPI dog. Are you going to say to those new puppy owners "I had no idea?" or "I don't have EPI dogs?" Funny, those words sound all too familiar.
I harbor no resentment towards you Ms. Hiemenz in recieving a puppy with a hereditary defect. We never asked you for anything, we just loved and took care of Bono until his death in August. What I have is an overwhelming disdain for your greedines, ignorance or would it be both to have kept breeding these dogs after having been given the resourses to do the ethical and responsible thing and stop breeding any dog that has EPI in it's line. Will all the GSD one day be required to take pig pancreas with their meals to survive?
Interestingly enough, I have found that I am not alone in owning a Von Fenwald German Shepard Dog that has EPI.
This female dog was a 1/2 sister to 'Xya' Von Fenwald, Bono's mom. The common link to these two females was the sire, Kayos Vom Felsenwehr, this would be Bono's grandfather. Both female dogs had different mothers. The two different mothers and Kayos were "carriers" of EPI. Xya went on to be bred and produced a litter of puppies December 22. Bono's litter, the "Q litter" Von Fenwald. You were informed prior to that date that the female dog, Xya's half sister, sired by Kayos in 1999, had EPI and yet YOU STILL BRED HIS LINE. Another EPI dog was produced, my dog Bono.
As for my opinion, are you an ethical breeder? Greedy?
I'll let the people who buy your puppies, especially the granddaughters of Jupiter Vom Monchberg for sale right now decide. Maybe they will have EPI, maybe they will be "carriers" or maybe they will be "clean".
Only Time Will Tell.
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