Gerry we are not disagreeing, just see it differently.
Actually, Demi, I don't even think we see it very differently 
I think we both realize we can't ignore the whole thing. We both realize that we need to proceed with caution as we try to get better answers.
I do not belive it is as simple as it is being presented.
I do know that is a dog has high pressure, as in people, they go blind.
That it is inherited. People and dogs. Glaucoma, cateracts, rods, all are similar.
That there are vets "in the real world" that question if the prcd/prcd breedings indeed cause blindness. That there is another issue in most dogs cases. Not saying it is not true, but questioning.
And I totally agree that we should make sure we are getting the best possible dx's. I think that most ACVOs want the same ... but it wouldn't be the first time I was naive.
Is there anything else in Daphne's background to hasten the process? Pressures? Lymes, any tick or auto immune disease?
Mardi would be best to answer this. I do remember that she had Lyme disease. But, then again, the tick diseases are probably now a way of life for our dogs
I do not believe we will run into the EIC/CMN issues, as we retire and don't breed or run dogs that collapse-the labs are overall tougher and there are a lot more in those lines bred. In the "TRUE" field world the worst, which is bad enough, we have seen are seizures.
I didn't mean to imply that the diseases we might face would be the same diseases that the Labs deal with. But if they come up with a DNA test for pigmentary uveitis that could impact a large portion of the conformation gene pool, and whatever we learn now will better prepare us for making decisions about a PU test (God willing they get one).
The more knowledge we gather, and the more our communication is enhanced with the internet, it is likely that we will become aware of more genetic diseases over time.
And I personally don't know if a male FT dog who has those issues that is running now.There may be, but since I have heard so many other rumors, think that one would have surfaced by now.
I no longer take anything for granted.
Don't pay any attention to the females. I am hoping the ones that had those issues are slowly leaving the gene pool.
It would be great if they are. From discussions I've had with others with experience with seizures & pedigree study on it, it's incredibly puzzling. Like studying pedigrees for cancer, sometimes you think you can predict it, but other times it seems "out of the blue".
Back to this-Carol L wrote about how unlucky she has been in the current GRNews, but also how lucky with no known affected. Then I have another friend who has NONE in her lines, except when she bred to two "new" dogs.
We want answers that can only become available from affected dogs. Finding those dogs, getting clearer answers to our questions will, perhaps, make it easier for us. We forget to downright rejoice that we don't have more blind dogs. It leaves us with more uncertainty in making our breeding decisions. For the dogs who are not blind, and never will be ... YIPPEE!
So, while I would love to have a marker for Lymphoma, I also don't think we should just "trust the test" to make major decisions.
Probably have to better define "major". Culling ever carrier would be major in my book. I simply would not do it or recommend it to anyone.
Culling one carrier here and there ... we cull all the time, deciding who's worth breeding and who's not.
prcd-PRA has not disappeared, and made it down the lines to the major carriers we are finding now-it did not spontaneously appear.
That's the way it looks.
We will never know if the dogs in the 70's and 80's had THIS PRA, just know they had PRA-
Absolutely true. However, if I find a prcd-carrier today, and I know of an ancestor who had PRA of unknown type, there would be reasonable suspicion that the ancestor also had prcd. However, it really doesn't matter ... it's really about starting where we are now & going forward.
I am not sure how I feel about this. I agree we need to do more, but at 200 a test at a place that will do no more, I do not believe that is the answer. I am not sure the average person can do more, and I do believe out breed club needs to do more.
It all starts at the grass roots. People with pigmentary uveitis might feel the breed club should do more for that. Others may feel that cancer deserves more attention.
There are ways to minimize the costs of the test, as with the clinic at the National this year. This is a trial balloon for Optigen, giving a larger discount for a larger clinic. GRF is providing blood draw and shipping at no charge. A 20-dog clinic brings the price down to about $146. A local club could, perhaps, underwrite the cost of the draw and shipping, especially at one of the club clinics where blood is also drawn for heartworm check or TBD. When I had my first test done, the vet drew one tube then split it, one for heartworm & one for Optigen.
Just plain old physical eye exams are the first line of defense. I encourage all my petowners to do that just as a wellness check. Affecteds that turn up get the test for free. If they are neutered pets, only the physical exam is of any importance.
Not all breeds are alike, as one breed the PRA is cause by an odd rod issue, and their club is investing millions to figure it out. Becomes a question of priorities.
From a reliable source, I was told that it cost at least over $2 million to come up with the original prcd marker test. When we talk of funding research, we often don't realize just how big those numbers can get.
Because the dog may have something to offer-great temperament, pretty, marks like a dream, good hips,eyes, likes the water-how many dogs are out there that have those attributes. Let see, Push, Maverick, Beau, Paws, Snapper,Jimmy .....see what I mean. And they lived past 6. To me that makes a difference. So, yes, I will consider breeding to a carrier if the female is clear. And I hope by then it does not matter.
