Lethal guinea pigs discussion

[Cavie Cove]

Then one of her oldest daughters, four dals with crests and no lethals!The other litter contained two dals and a Lethal boar with a crest!

Em please correct me if I'm wrong but I though that any kind of dalmation or roan carried a lethal gean(sorry don't know the propper spelling) and you can't just say or see it has or hasn't got the jean.
And also when people say "lethal" doesn't that mean they are realating to the gean and not the breed? I'm a little confused here could someone please tell me if I got it right or not? I think I got it wrong but I'm not sure.
I would just like to know if I understand it right.
Thanks Kirsty

[C&K]

Well, I am out of this, we will just let the mods make any call on this. I probably should not have said anything. But as I mentioned, I don't think many are going to be interested in talking genetics and reading through all this stuff about guineas being accidently bred on purpose is hurting my poor "plonker" head.

I don't think I am a Birk. But if I am, I am proud to be one. Please don't go insulting me.

I think it is a little ignorant that you brought up a thread that details the struggles that other members on this forum are experiancing with lethals, and the last few posts served as a good bye, just for the purpose of going into a rather lengthly depiction of your own ignorance and brothers intentional breeding.

No one here is interested in how to breed Dalmations using lethals on purpose. I stand by thinking that the very thought of it is repugnant.

My son is up from a nap.
Have a nice day!

[dalmatian_fan]

Fine i wont insult you if you dont insult me and my intelligence. how do you know that no one is interested in breeding Lethals? I know it is a vulgar thought but there are vulgar people out there. I personally think it is interesting that a litter with a Lethal parent will contain all dals or all roans no matter what.
cavie cove, im not sure wheter it is the breed of the gene but ive adopted a lethal abby and a lethal rex so I think it is the gene.

[Cavie Cove]

cavie cove, im not sure wheter it is the breed of the gene but ive adopted a lethal abby and a lethal rex so I think it is the gene

how do you know you have a lethal aby and rex?

[salana]

how do you know that no one is interested in breeding Lethals?

If they are, they're not welcome here.

Discussion of genetics is allowed, and I for one am interested in genetics, but this veers a little too close to a "how-to". Yes, we know lethal x normal will give you 100% dal. That's why breeders (sometimes) keep lethals alive.

I'm more interested in how long your lethals lived, dalmatian_fan, than who you bred to who.

how do you know you have a lethal aby and rex?

Hair type (abyssinian, teddy, peruvian, satin) is entirely independent of the roan gene.

[salana]

On the subject of lethals, Einstein lost another molar last Wednesday at the vet. He's down to 14 teeth. He seems to have trouble with his vitamin C chewables, so we're chopping them up into smaller pieces now.

His favorite pellet mash flavors now include peaches, applesauce, mangoes, and combinations of the above, and apricot+pear+apple. He really likes Beech-Nut Mango Dessert. I'm trying this applesauce-mango-kiwi organic Tender Harvest baby food now, so I'll see how he likes kiwi-flavored pellet mash.

[dalmatian_fan]

Before I answer any questions I have to apologize about the wastful posts I left on this board this morning. I should have just left it alone.

As for my Lethals. I have a normal smooth coated one, a crested, a rex and an abby. They are all blind, with the abby being deaf also, and have aweful teeth that sometimes fall out and are crooked. The rex also looses handfulls of fur sometimes although I, and my vet, are unsure if this has anything to do with his genes.

As for how long my Lethals live. I got Elmo when he was 6 months old and have had him for a while, about two years. So he's about 2 and a half. The Lethal abby belonged to an elderly lady who had him for two years before I got him and he's about 3 and a half. Big Bird, the crested, is one and a half and the little rex is nearing one year. I feel really bad for her because she has the worst teeth of the lot and she hadn't been handled before I got her and is scared of humans so it's difficult to feed her. I've only had her for a month so shes warming up to me.

[dalmatian_fan]

I'm sorry to hear about Einstein. My little Rex, Sultana, she hasn't lost any teeth yet and she's very difficult to feed so Einstein must be having a tough time. My pigs are lucky in that they only have poor teeth, or are blind or deaf. Pooe little things. I can't imagine how it can be legal for these little guys to be bred. It's so sad and cruel.

[C&K]

Originally Posted by dalmatian_fan

I can't imagine how it can be legal for these little guys to be bred. It's so sad and cruel.

I am not trying to pick a fight, however from my understanding, as long as breeders are breeding dalmations and roans on purpose, and this gene is being encouraged as opposed to being eliminated, leathals will continue to be born. That is why many on this board are not to thrilled with the deliberate breeding for these particular breeds and would rather live without.

[C&K]

Originally Posted by salana

On the subject of lethals, Einstein lost another molar last Wednesday at the vet. He's down to 14 teeth. He seems to have trouble with his vitamin C chewables, so we're chopping them up into smaller pieces now.

Poor baby. I read over your history with him on the GL forums. I am in awe of your level of dedication to his care. You truely are an insperation.

[dalmatian_fan]

"I am not trying to pick a fight, however from my understanding, as long as breeders are breeding dalmations and roans on purpose, and this gene is being encouraged as opposed to being eliminated, leathals will continue to be born. That is why many on this board are not to thrilled with the deliberate breeding for these particular breeds and would rather live without."

I'm confused by this. I don't think that people should be able to breed Dal x Dal or roan x roan on purpose. I think they are beautiful breeds, but those breeders who do breed dal x dal are evil. If they have to breed then they should breed dal x black or whatever other colour they want.

[C&K]

Well then, let me enlighten you. In a perfect world, dal's would only be crossed with true selfs. And Roan's would only be crossed with true Selfs. And the babies would have a 50% chance of being a dal or roan, or a 50% chance of being normal.

However, pigs can carry the gene and show no obvious signs of it. So, that pig you think is only a black, really has the dal gene, and now we are talking about a 25% chance of being a lethal.

In a perfect world, breeders would only breed dals or roans with those that they truely understand the pedigree with. But this is not likely to happen, and indeed, it happens all the time in Dal and Roan breeding that mistakes are made. It is not on purpose, but is it worth the risk? I personally don't think so.

[Alanas]

Hi people! Symphony (My Leathal sow) is still going strong. She 1! Happy Birthday Symphony. One thing that has happened with her though, is her eyes have become very droopy and one of them is disappearing, the skin around the eye is growning over the eye and her eye lids seem to be closing permanently as a result. This is most probably because she is blind and her eyes are not used. I was just wondering if this has happened to anyone else.

[salana]

I've never heard of that before, but lethals are so strange that it doesn't exactly surprise me. I would watch and make sure no infection grows under the eyelids.

[Alanas]

Salana, I have taken some pictures of both of her eyes. Let me know what you think.

[Alanas]

Sorry they are both of her left eye. pfft. here we go this is her right eye.

[Erin8607]

Has a vet seen that? I'd be inclined to try some eye drops or BNP just in case it's some sort of infected conjunctiva.