Since Radio's (Szinarany Apollo - click on this link to see 5 generation pedigree) death we had conversations with many people involved in the breed, and have found that there is still a lack of understanding as to what Radio died from.
Radio's case was not an isolated one. Jasper, Radio's close relative, (Vizslanya Lantos - click to see 5 generation pedigree) had the same illness, and Harvey (Oneandall Chough - click here to see 5 generation pedigree), another close relative, produced one litter only because 2 of his pups died of the same illness.
There are many more dogs affected, but sadly people fear to come forward. And understandably so, as some breeders in the UK still claim that this problem has nothing to do with breeding but is caused by flea or cat bites.....and just keep on breeding with shutters over their eyes.
We Vizsla pet owners took responsibility and said NO to breeding from these dogs, NO to breeding from any dog that has either produced progeny that died from what vets suspect may be a genetic illness, or carry the illness themselves - if one believes a disease has a genetic basis (may not be the whole cause, but a contributing factor), the most prudent thing to do until more information is known, is to not breed from affected dogs. The breed is healthy compared to many others, and in order to make sure that this will continue to be the case, we can only say YES to breeding from healthy dogs. How many more dogs will be born carrying this gene before breeders take responsibility?
It would be senseless to vilify anyone, or any lines per se (because of the history of the Vizsla lines are all mixed up with each other), and the intention is the opposite - to ask for more transparency and debate. Anyone who breeds pedigree dogs will have a problem at one point, that is unavoidable (and all respect to those who are open about these). Still, everyone who breeds must take responsibility as a dog is for life, not just for showing...
A website containing all the articles and research on this illness is http://www.vizslahealth.net/
Please see what this illness does to dogs on: http://vizslamyositis.blogspot.com/
and read more about it here: http://vetneuromuscular.ucsd.edu/cases/2007/Sept07.html
and in a few simple steps you can cross check any Vizsla's (and other breeds') pedigree lineage on: http://www.worldpedigrees.com/
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