This is the responsible thing to do, right?

[Flashy]

I just need reassurance I'm doing the responsible thing here.

I have two intact males who I had earmarked for breeding in a couple of years (i.e. when my numbers had diminished somewhat).

Both of those guys have always been healthy.

Until now.

Angel has just started showing signs of spurs and on vet inspection, yep, spurs. So, I've booked him in for a dental and neuter next week.

It's the responsible thing to do not to breed from him right? Because even though I would be keeping any babies, I wouldn't want to produce another generation with dental problems intentionally.

 

[mardigraskisses]

I definitely think you're doing the right thing. :biggrin2:

 

[gingers_giants]

That is a very wise thing to do.

 

[BlueGiants]

If you don't know the background of Angel (like did his parents/siblings have trouble with spurs), yes, you are being responsible to not use him for breeding. I'm sorry he developed this problem.

 

[Flashy]

Angel is one of the ones bred here-One of Flash's grandchildren.

Unfortunately, Angel's mum developed spurs age three (we bred her at one and she had no problems then, and obviously she had no problems for another two years after)), and 4 of her children (of which one is Angel) have the same problem she does.

 

[BlueGiants]

That makes your decision easier... you know where it came from...

 

[Flashy]

Dare I ask, and I'm not sure I should be doing this, but from those who show no signs, is it ok to breed, or is it definitely not sensible?

I think I know the answer, it just makes me sad.

 

[BlueGiants]

Personally speaking, I wouldn't breed either of them. I had a gorgeous Mini Rex doe (paid a LOT of money for her from one of the top breeders in the country.) Her teeth were perfect (so was the rest of her!) But bred to one of our boys, in her first litter, 9 out of 9 babies all showed moderate to severe malocclusion by 10 weeks of age. I know for a fact that my buck didn't carry that problem. I couldn't take a chance breeding her again. And it was a real shame.

Don't take a chance... enjoy them and love them...

 

[Flashy]

I thought that was the case. Just means that finally I have to face losing Flash. I've been delaying for a long time.

 

[BlueGiants]

You will never "lose" Flash! You know he is still with you and always will be. It's wonderful to have his grandsons... but Flash never left you.

And I'm sure he has a hand in every bunny that comes to you. He knows who needs you. And look at all you've learned because of him.

You are really wonderful to do what's right instead of what you want...

 

[Sabine]

Are spurs always genetic though, I wonder. I always thought it was diet related? (sorry for hijacking)

 

[Flashy]

There is both a genetic (either an inherited problem, or the parents not being compatible) and dietary element. In the case of these and their mum, they all have exactly the same problem in the same place, so it is genetic, its not like random spurs all over, which could be dietary.

In terms of Flash, I swore I would always have a part of him with me, which is now going to prove difficult, lol. I would seek a Flash relative, but that's not possible because the breeder no longer breeds or even seems to be on the face of this planet. Its just another blow, I think. Sad times, but hey ho.

 

[Sabine]

Oh that's so sad. Is there any way it can be bred out of the line, or is it a trait that will always be there underlying?

 

[polly]

I'm so sorry trace nethies are so prone because of their head shape which makes it a nitemare.
Thing is flash continues on inall the help and knowledge you have to help your buns and the RSPCA buns. And also the love you have for rabbits. Big hugs I know how hard this is for you xx

 

[TinysMom]

I thought that for problems like this - both parents had to be carriers? So if the rabbit was bred to a non-related doe - it might not produce offspring with the same problem...am I wrong?

 

[BlueGiants]

The key word there is "might"... (After my experiences, I'd hesitate to try. But my experiences were with frontal malocclusion, not spurs).

Flash's daughter and one grandson have already shown symptoms. And it's a symptom that doesn't show until 3 years of age. That's a long time to wait and see if it inherited a problem... but still young enough to cause problems for the rest of it's life.

If the second grandson doesn't show symptoms within the year, a breeding could be attempted, to a totally unrelated doe. But there is no guarantee that the buck doesn't carry the gene recessively. And since Does are too old to breed for the first time when symptoms do present, only future bucks that don't develop spurs should be considered for breeding. (and assuming that none of the young are given away to home not prepared to deal with a possible problem.)

 

[Flashy]

Ironically its not Flash's line that is the problem, it was the additional doe I brought in, from a breeder, to breed with Sky-Flash's son. But yes, everything else was correct.

I would need to breed Lightning to a completely unrelated doe, but presumably only after he passed the age that Sandy showed signs of problems.

My question would then be, is it fair to do that? And to me, the answer would be no because whilst I never rehome any babies born here, and whilst I can cope with dentals, etc, is it fair to knowingly and willingly breed a faulty gene pool and potentially predispose those rabbits for problems, potentially worse problems than what mine have. I just am not sure it is fair.

 

[BlueGiants]

I didn't mean specifically that Flash was the carrier... just that it was offspring out of his line that showed symptoms... (or his son's offspring.)

You can certainly try... You have all the information you need, you know what to look for and how to treat it. If Lightening doesn't show spurs within the year, (and looks clean on an xray) and you have an unrelated doe (with no teeth problems...) and you're going to keep all of the offspring... give it a try. And you'll have Flash's great grandkids!

 

[Sabine]

:yeahthat:

 

[DeniseJP]

BlueGiants wrote:

That makes your decision easier... you know where it came from...

I agree.



Denise