Category: Cocker News

Cocker news gathered from the Internet

Hoshi’s DNA profile

Hoshi results are back from embarkvet.com. He had two abnormal results. Chromosome 27 has an abnormality making him a carrier of the bleeding disorder Von Willebrand Disease Type II. He also has an abnormality on chromosome 13 called Alanine Aminotransferase Activity. This will make liver tests appear normal even if disease is present.

Embark says Hoshi is 100% cocker spaniel. You would think somewhere along the line there would be other breeds. After all, cockers are descendants of Springer spaniels.

Embark also generates a report for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). I’m posting Hoshi’s OFA report so you have an idea what they look like (DNA Test Report).  I’m also including a link to Hoshi’s Embark profile.  I can see Hoshi’s relatives when I sign in on Embarkvet.com.  Embark provides lots of genetic results.  I’m having difficulty making sense of it.  my.embarkvet.com/dog/hoshi

Boyfriend slams cocker pup killing it

On April 14, 2018, convenience store surveillance video shows 23-year-old Delos Pierre Gallon physically assaulting his girlfriend. In the process, he snatches the girlfriend’s 4-month-old cocker spaniel puppy and slams it to the ground killing it. Gallon should be considered armed and dangerous. Contact the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 575-4444.

Veterinary technician poisons her cocker spaniel for attention

Bretman appears at court
Georgina Bretman
Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a form of abuse where the caregiver delibrately makes the recipient ill in order to gain sympathy and attention from others. The recipient in this case is a cocker spaniel named Florence. Georgina Bretman was convicted of causing unecessary suffering to Florence–the first case of its kind in Scotland. In 2011, Florence recieved emergency care several times for vomiting and seizures. Veterinarian Lesley Herd became suspicious. “Because of the pattern of collapse and low blood glucose on each occasion, and the fact that the dog was normal between episodes, I was suspicious insulin had been administered to the dog.”

cocker spaniel named Florence
Florence: Bretman’s cocker spaniel

The fact Bretman is a veterinary technician is deeply troubling. She happended to work in the same clinic with Herd. Bretman was fired from her position. Florence was rehomed and is doing well. Bretman returns to court for sentencing this month.