Di's English Sunshine

For the Love of Sunshine.......

This is my beautiful Sunshine's story 

        (Di's English Sunshine- registered name)

In my quest to find the perfect English Cream Dachshund, I came across a beautiful cream boy that had import parents.  Both parents were imported from Japan & the lines trace back to England.  The lines also had Champion Kizzhar Kalvacade (an original cream producer) in them.  I thought, Wow!  What a dog.  Second generation import from Japan.   His mom is a beautiful cream & his dad a gorgeous black & cream. 

I looked up his lineage on the internet & found a brother that is just gorgeous.  I contacted the brother's owner & asked if there were any problems with his eyesight or any problems with the line.  The brother's owner said his sight was fine & no known problems.

Then I contacted the original importer of Sunshine's parents.  I contacted him in June 2008 before I purchased Sunshine.  I asked the same questions about eyesight & problems in the lines.  His answer was no & he assured me it was a good line with small dogs.  He said he kept back 2  of Sunshine's brothers (probably different litters) & they were small and had no problems.

At the end of April & early May 2008, I found out about the test for PRA & I tested all my dogs for Cord1PRA (Cone-Rod form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy) with a DNA test.  The test required a blood sample & to overnight the package to the University of MO. By the end of May, they only needed a cheek DNA sample.  Most of my dogs were clear (All the American lines) or carriers, but unfortunately 2 tested Affected.  I retested them because I wanted to be sure of the results.  I was also hoping a mistake was made somewhere & they were clear, but that did not happen. 

Being Affected means they are at risk for developing this form of PRA at some time in their life & may or may not go blind.  The Cord1 PRA is supposed to be an early onset form. My 2 dogs have been CERF tested (Canine Eye Registration Foundation-an extensive eye exam.  Usually preformed by an Ophthalmologist) & they presently do not have any physical signs of PRA. We hope they never do.They are both 3-4 years of age, so passed the early onset stage.   I want my two to always stay with me as I love them so much. They will continue to enjoy their lives here with us & our crew.

Back to Sunshine...  Well, by this time I knew to test Sunshine before I purchased him.  But in my haste & going by the word of his parents' importer, I decided I would get Sunshine & then test him.  Sunshine arrived in the middle of June & I immediately did the cheek swab & tested him through the Univ of MO.  To my dismay, he tested Affected.  I was blown away by the results & could not believe it.

I did some research & a fellow breeder led me to a Dachshund breeder that used to own Sunshine's mother.  I contacted her & she told me Sunshine's mother & brother had already gone blind.  And every pup his parents produced had gone blind.  She also told me she gave Sunshine's Dad back to the original importer because of this & that he had knowledge of the mother's blindness & both producing blind dogs.  This happened about 3-4 years ago.  So in essence, when I spoke to the importer, he was aware of the problems with this line.  I believe he should have stopped the line back then.  This testing for PRA is new & maybe wasn't around  then, but when someone tells you the line produces blind pups, I think that should be enough to stop the line.

I took Sunshine to an eye specialist & had him CERF tested.  The CERF test is the eye exam that can tell if he physically has or shows signs of PRA.  Again, another disappointment.  The results showed he has PRA.  The test showed that his night vision is almost gone & his day vision was at a decreased level.  I even had an ERG (Electroretinography, which measures electric impulses within the retina) done on Sunshine.  The results were a bit inconclusive because he was not put under.  But it showed the rods which control the night vision were almost gone.  But the cones that control the day vision were still there.  The specialist recommended putting him on a vitamin supplement.  We are hoping the supplement will prevent future vision loss.  If we can save whatever day vision (or night vision if there is any) he has then he will not go completely blind.  I haven't found any other solution except these vitamins.

This DNA test for Dachshunds is for Cord1 PRA.  This particular PRA is supposed to affect the cones (daytime vison) then the rods (night time vision).  The ERG done on Sunshine was inconclusive as it showed the opposite results plus he was not put under to get a better reading.  I will have a more extensive ERG done on Sunshine so we can better determine is vision or lack of at this time.  I want to try to understand what he sees.  There is also a doctor working on finding other forms of PRA in Dachshunds & I am participating in that study & trying to get Sunshine's parents & siblings to participate as well.  The doctor seems to think Sunshine has something else that is affecting his vision & not just the Cord1 PRA.  Sunshine may have another form of PRA that has not been identified yet.  This doctor may be able to determine if there are other factors involved in Sunshine's case when I submit the results of the new ERG.  But, the hope is to someday find a cure.

Sunshine is neutered & has never sired a litter for us.  Sunshine will continue to live with me & my other babies.  He comes from an outside setting with little human contact.  His previous owner had no idea he was going blind. But now he is an indoor baby that gets loved on constantly.  He doesn't enjoy all the attention yet.  He doesn't even give kisses yet.  But we are hoping that one day he will give us kisses & enjoy all the love we have for him.  Some days he seems to not even recognize me.  Other days he is very responsive to me & my voice.  I feel I was destined to have Sunshine in our lives, so he could live out his life as a spoiled baby instead of being sold again & again because of his issues.  He now spends most nights on the couch filled with Doxies, me & my family.

We love you Sunshine......

 

I have shared my experience with many Dachshund breeders in hope that we can eliminate the Cord1 PRA within our breed.  So, please do your homework on your next puppy or dog.  I don't want anyone to go through what I have & what Sunshine is going through.  Just the thought of producing or having a puppy that is affected with Cord1 PRA is overwhelming to say the least.  We can now eliminate this form of PRA in our beloved Dachshunds by breeding responsibly.  Be a responsible breeder.  Remember we are supposed to be bettering the breed.  

I am an advocate of both DNA testing & CERF testing. DNA testing is just as important as CERF testing because even though the CERF test shows us what is happening now, the DNA test is an invaluable tool for breeders to breed responsibly & prevent PRA in our Dachshunds. It is also a tool for owners so they can be aware of the possibility of blindness in their dog & look for the signs or symptoms & be able to accomodate for the changes in their dog's sight. 
 

 

 

 

Please see my page on PRA for more information.