Has anyone else been as unlucky with their flatcoats? I have recently lost my second flattie (due to torsion) - he would have been 3 years old tomorrow. My first flatcoat died aged 6 due from a tumour. In both cases they were happy healthy much loved pets in their prime full of life and then gone the next leaving a gaping hole. Unfortunately they are an addictive breed and I just cannnot imagine life without one. I've spoken to various flatcoat owners over the years and am aware of the problem with cancer in the breed but how common is it? Is there any research being done? I know many breeds have health problems and we were unlucky with the torsion as I did get Flynn to the vets quickly but I feel very wary about getting another flattie.
Any thoughts from other flattie owners.

very sorry to hear of your lost,i too lost two dogs within two weeks for each other with cancer, one flatcoat age 7 and a gordon setter of 5years old so yes other breeds on get cancer,flatcoats do have this in the breed but the society do run a tumour survey at the royal veterinary college,which if your vet has to do a bisopsy to send it with a covered form,from the society and this will be done free,we are so luck that with this breed we have a health committee,so any problem can be related back to them,has for torsion i do know for a couple that have had it,luckley i did know that setters do get this,so i feed all four of my flatcoat,from a stand that is rised from the round about 18 to 20 inch,plus they are not feed before their walk or run and wait at lease hour after the walk to feed them,i hope the unluck that you have had with the breed will not put you off them,i have 4 of them and would not be with out this breed,as i have had them for 15 years,but i will say i am picking up a spainsh water dog on sunday,but flatcoats will always be in my heart first,if you want to email me you can on andrew.durrant@tinyonline.co.uk which is my husband name,or 01252310267,all the best from terri area rep for flatcoated retriever society

Hello Guest!

I'm so sorry that you've had such a rough ride - our flatcoats mean so much to us, don't they?

As Briedog says, bloat and cancer are by no means confined to Flatcoats, and she has given you some sound advice on management i.e. feeding above ground level, and not for an hour before or after exercise, as you would treat a horse.

The Flatcoated Retriever Society has an excellent health committee, who work hard on these and other issues, and send a report in many of the newsletters that we get. It may be that because our health committee is so consciencious that people reckon that we have major problems health wise - not so - no more than many other breeds.

I do think that there may be a tenuous link between overvaccination and some auto-immune problems, to which flatcoats may be more sensitive, but that's only from personal observation.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I am very sorry to hear your sad news you must be devastated. I know just how you feel, I hate losing mine, but apart from an accident I have always been fortunate enough to have very long lived flatcoats. One was sixteen years and the others have been all around the 15 and a half mark. There are a few things you can do which might help, and these are covered by both Terri and Jo. The health committee collate information given by breeders and owners like yourself. They hope this information will lead to a greater understanding of what affects the breed and hopefully to help to eradicate it. If you wish for further information please email me or telephone 01844 299508 foxpath4@yahoo.com

From Flatcoat Owner/Guest

Otherwise known as Ceri. Thank you so much for your replies. I was aware of the health committee/tumour survey and some of the other issues you mentioned ie. not feeding before exercise - which I've always done as it just seemed like commonsense to me. I did not feed from a special feeding bowl though and a in hindsight maybe I should have spotted some of the sighns - Flynn quite often used to bring up foamy white stuff - not a alot but I will always wonder if I should have been on the look out more. I think to be honest I'm just finding it very very hard to deal with this loss and don't know which way to go. I've become a bit sad surfing the net hoping to find people who have been through this sort of tragedy and perhaps share some of the sadness with them... Lets face it you can't talk to anybody about losing a pet in this way people think you're mad and you should be grateful that you have 3 healthy children. Also why do people in the same breath that you tell them you've just lost your dog ask if you're going to get another one as if its just like buying a new pair of shoes or replacing a plant that has died!!!!

Anyway thanks again for your quick replies - i've been looking into other breeds but they are such a hard act to follow for me, everyone has a breed that is special to them and for me the flattie is everything I could ask for.

Welcome to the forum Ceri :-) Leigh

I was shocked when seeing the advert on TV for one of the Cancer charities, that one in three people will get Cancer at some time!!! I would imagine it is now similar with our dogs, for same reasons as us. Fewer deaths from preventable disease, better feeding, and I suppose a poluted world.

Bloat is often suffered by deep chested breeds, but someone lost one of my breed to this, which is unheard of, so I think you have just been extremely unlucky. Go with your heart and hqave another flatcoat from a long lived family line. If yopur new dogs parents have old parents and granparents alive your chances maybe somewhat better.

My oldes bitches Mum is alive at 13 and her mother was alive this time last year at 15. On the down side her brother died at only 9! and her sire had prostsate cancer and died age 12. what I am trying ineptly to say that despite the majority of the family being long lived, the odd one will die younger.

Its interesting you mention about bloodlines and grandparents. I am not a breeder and having to spoken to some long standing breeders of flatcoats they gave conflicting opinions at to whether the longevity of the grand or great grandparents has anything to do with health of your dog but if you look at humans there is definitely a correlation between the two. There will always be the exceptions but it does sound like commonsense to me.
Thanks for your thoughts.

Ceri - do you live in Wales?

I know it's not much comfort, but I am only just coming to terms with the loss of our old flatcoat Nemo, who died 4 years ago now age 12.5 - just a reflection of the lovely relationship you build up with them. We have two oldies now - 12.5 and 10.5 years, as well as the youngsters, and I dread losing the two together. They've had , and are still having, a lot of pleasure in their lives, but obviously we make a few concessions now - and boy - do they take advantage!! They have pills for 'screwmatics', which do help ease off a few squeaky joints. But I know in my heart of hearts that I will be going through the same emotions that you are before too much longer.

Do have another Flatcoat; choose a long lived line if you can (still no guarantee of course), and enjoy every new moment.

With love
Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Dear Ceri,
I did not have much time to reply when I saw your message, but I agree with Jo and other folk here, go with your love of flatcoats. You really can't be so unlucky three times in a row. As I said, mine apart from one accidental death have always "made it to old bones", 15+ years and 16+ years . There are some real "old boot" lines out there, it doesn't seem to matter what life throws at them they just go on and on. All breeds have their problems, and quite a few have cancer these days, I think you have just been very unfortunate.
I think people say the silly things they do, as they really do not know what to say or how to say it to you. It's like losing a child, and I have experienced both, I can say that the only reason is, they don't really know what to say to you. They may be able to sympathise but thats about it. It feels awful and it is upsetting, I still wish I had been able to save my dog who died in an accident, and it is 16 years since that happened! I am lucky as I have Trefor and Rosebud to keep me company now. Some how I think it is easier to lose an older dog as you do tend to expect it, where as with a young dog you are devastated, it seems so unfair. I usually have two or three dogs here and I get them with a few years between them, for two reasons, 1. I work my dogs, so I like to have one coming up to retirement, one in full time work and one in training to take over in coming years, 2. I have always got a flatcoat to cuddle!
My friend Sue Clarke had a flatcoat which died from addisons disease, at 14 months, her second one is fine and has just won the ProDogs Silver Life Saver Award for saving her grand-daughter from drowning. Sue was really worried when she heard that the sire of her bitch had died aged eight, but dear Skye is fine, and when she mated Skye she went to a line which we know produces "old boot" material, so she now has Hazelnut as well. Hazelnut is like her sire, definately "old boot". We selected the sire carefully for his long living lines.
Do try again, I am sure you cannot possibly be third time unlucky! If you want to ring or email please do so, I am usually about afternoons and evenings. 01844 299508 foxpath4@yahoo.com