Page 15 - Spring Newsletter2024

who own our beautiful breed and by Christine Spear in Australia after
want the best for them. Whoever having a Keeshond with the condition.
bred it, and whatever it looks like it There are groups on canine liver
is still a Keeshond and to the owners disease, kidney disease, cancer and
it is the best dog in the world. many more.

The most valuable FB group is Another benefit of social media is the
Keeshond Health Today started by ability to phone anyone, anywhere in
Debbie Lynch (Foxfair) and mod- the world via messenger at no cost.
erated by her and Beth Blankenship I’ve enjoyed many health-related
(Trumpets). This group now has over conversations in this way, although
3,000 members and covers many it can lead to working out the 24 hour
health issues. It brings reassurance clock worldwide time zones and many
and signposting to owners worried late night sessions.
about their own dog. Shared
experiences can lead to the owner Back to reference material, some
feeling they have a way forward and publishers make their veterinary
are not alone. Debbie is justly proud books, or chapters available online.
of the impact of this site for the good Our world is changing at such a rate
of the breed. and at the time when we hear so
many negative comments about
From a research point of view, posts
have provided leads to dogs still social media and the Internet it is
afflicted with PHPT and contact with good to remember just how much we
Barbara Skelly and the Canine have benefited from communicating
Genetics team has enabled us to with like-minded people and sharing
collect a number of valuable new information.
samples from affected dogs. Without I’d like to finish by referring back to
social media this could never have the collection of DNA samples for our
happened. As I wrote in the last
PHPT research. The Canine Genetics
newsletter, PHPT is still out there in Centre are currently experiencing a
the non-show population and we need financial crisis after their funding was
to have a new test available to all. withdrawn by the Kennel Club. The
These owners are helping from team are an irreplaceable source of
around the world, thanks to the scientific expertise and personal
power of social media.
commitment. With the difficulties
There are support groups covering now surrounding the test at Cornell
many common canine conditions on University the work they are doing for
social media The Laryngeal Paralysis our breed is vital for the breed
(LP) GOLPP Support Group (Dogs) is worldwide.
very active and gives so much An American breeder recently sent a
support to anyone facing this sample to Cornell for PHPT testing
condition in their dog. It is not breed and ended up with a bill of nearly
specific but Keeshonds occasionally $1000. Several countries, including
feature.
our Kennel Club have stated they will
Canine epilepsy group has 13.7 no longer recognise it.
thousand members and was started
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