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countries quickly took up the up again. After careful monitoring he
opportunity, with the Scandinavian had a second surgery earlier this year
countries being the leaders. to remove another tumour. He is now
due to have his 6 month blood test.
Despite prompting from other
academic researchers, Richard The owner informed the breeder but
Goldstein never produced a peer she appeared to have no idea where
reviewed paper to report the it came from. Sadly, it seems she
relationship between the test and the hasn’t tested her dogs and is not a
genetic findings. At this point Barbara show breeder.
was able to resume her research.
The team constantly strive to get
genetic samples from affected dogs
but thankfully, for dogs and owners,
this is harder to achieve 16 years
after the availability of the test.
Social media is the most effective way
to gather information from around
the world. As a numerically small
breed there are numerous Keeshond
Facebook groups with large member-
ships. The main health site is
Keeshond Health Today started by
Debbie Lynch, who I had the pleasure
of meeting at Keeshond 2000. The
site now has over 2,800 members
worldwide and is an invaluable source
of information and support.
Many of the members are neither
breeders nor exhibitors but Keeshond
owners who love their dogs and want
the best for their health and welfare. Chandler in Alberta, Canada
In the USA they often come from
non-show lines and can be the result Barbara produced a research paper a
of volume breeders or have come few years ago showing that if a
from rescue centres. parathyroid tumour is removed when
the dog is younger, the gene’s
A couple of months ago there were programming will go on to affect
two separate posts from owners who another gland.
are living with the trauma of PHPT.
Both are in North America and their The second owner received the
pets come from non-show lines. The diagnosis several years ago when his
first boy had his first surgery in dog was young and asymptomatic.
August 2020 following bladder stones A specialist advised the operation was
and a subsequent diagnosis. Within very risky and 20% of the dogs
months the calcium started creeping having surgery died. Worried about

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