Name of the dog: HYLOWE’S COSMIC TYGRE (White factored)
She produced three champion White Shepherds and there were three champion grandkids

Sire: Amherst’s Lake Dallas    

Dam: Moonshadow’s Petra Von Hylowe

Owner: Brad and Julie Hansen      

Breeder:
 

Checklist of common diseases:

  Yes No
Cancer
          Mammary
          Hemangiosarcoma
          Other
X

 

X
X
Digestive system
          EPI
          IBD
          Perianal fistulas		  
X
X
X
Endocrine System
          Addison's disease
          Hypothyroidism

 
X
X
Heart and Vascular system diseases   X
Immune system diseases   X
Skin diseases   X
Liver/Pancreatic   X
Skeletal diseases
           Elbow dysplasia
          Hip dysplasia
          Intervertebral disc disease
          Lumbosacral stenosis
          Panosteitis
          Spondylosis

X



 
X

X
X
X
X
Neurological conditions
           GSD degenerative myelopathy		  
X
Ocular diseases
          Cataracts
          Pannus
          Corneal dystrophy		  
X
X
X
Non-genetic symptoms/side effects of other conditions
          Arthritis (DJD)
          Bladder atony
          Megacolon


 

X
X
X

NECROPSY REPORT

Tygre was in a bitch fight that she couldn’t recover from.  Brad had always said that when the time came, she would have a necropsy.  Her sire, Dallas, was affected with Lumbosacral Stenosis and since Tygre had a dead tail for a couple of years prior to her death, this was a primary focus for the necropsy.  Dead tails are often associated with Lumbosacral Stenosis.  However, this was not the case with Tygre.  There was no evidence of any problem with the spine.

In fact, the only two things checked off for Tygre were mammary cancer and Hip Dysplasia.  Neither diagnosis was a surprise.  Tygre had a prior history of the cancer but was clear of it at the time of death.  Cysts were also found on her ovaries. 

I’ve contacted the Iowa State University to speak to the pathologist who performed the necropsy.  I learned recently that osseous metaplasia in the dura mater could cause a dead tail (said in English, a bony covering of the spinal cord, a formation of bone, mineral changes of dura—and this is not uncommon in aging dogs).  

When Michigan State University does a necropsy, they provide a detailed report usually five pages long which is very helpful.  Iowa provided very little detail so I’ve requested the complete report, in addition to the checklist they filled out for us. 

It would be so helpful if White Shepherd owners near any of the major universities could establish contact with their pathology department to set up a protocol for White Shepherds brought in for necropsy.  MSU has had so many now that they know what to look for and what we want.  We need other universities to work with us as well as MSU does

Brad and Julie Hansen are owed a debt of gratitude for undertaking this difficult process.  Most of our people who have used MSU for necropsy are less than or a little over an hour away.  People who have taken their dogs to Iowa, Missouri, and Minnesota, have a long drive there and back and it is not easy on them.

As Brad said, “I don’t know if I should be delighted she was basically as healthy as a 12 year old should be or disappointed we never found a reason for her dead tail she has had the last couple of years.  I guess that’s the price a person pays for learning.”  Brad, I think we are all delighted that a dog can reach the age of 12 and be as healthy as Tygre was.

One other important point to remember when you read these necropsy reports is that anything that is checked off “NO” on the report means it was examined and that this dog was found free of:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Perianal Fistulas

Addison’s Disease

Hypothyroidism

Heart and Vascular diseases

Immune system diseases

Skin diseases

Liver-pancreas diseases

Skeletal diseases like:

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • Lumbosacral Stenosis
  • Spondylosis

Degenerative Myelopathy

Arthritis

Megacolon

Eyes weren’t examined.

Brad, it was definitely worth doing.
Judy