Photo taken in May 2001, winning WB/BOS at 17 months old.

Sire: English and Norwegian CH Redwitch Dancin' in the Dark
Dam: CH Moonlight's Xena of Silver Star

Zesta was born on January 27, 2000, her first show debut was at the 2000 Akita National.  At the national she won Best Puppy in Futurity and Best of Opposite Grand Futurity.  She also placed 2nd in the 9-12 puppy class out of eighteen females.  She won Reserve Winners Bitch at the 2001 ACA Region IV Akita Specialty in Dallas in March of 2001.  She won Best in Sweepstakes at the Rocky Mountain Akita Specialty in June 2001.  

Her show career ended when she started having skin and coat problems in late 2001.   After numerous tests and finally a punch biopsy analyzed by Dr. Robert Dunstan, it was determined she had sebaceous adenitis.  Zesta was put to sleep due to her severe condition on February 9, 2004, as I was unable to manage her numerous and ongoing skin infections, she would actually have areas on her body she would itch or lick raw.  Her bubbly personality will always be remembered in her glory, with hair instead of without.

 
Photo taken in March 2002 (at 2 years old).
Sample of full blown Sebaceous Adenitis (SA). 

Many people might wonder why I have this on my site, as a breeder I realize that not every puppy I produce is going to be perfect or perfectly healthy.  Diseases happen, and unfortunately sometimes they affect the dogs that I bred--not someone else.  I have placed this on my site to educate the public and fellow breeders, that this combination produced one case of SA.  

As breeders, we can only do our best to reduce the incidence of disease and health issues, but until we have a DNA marker on every one of the health issues that affect are breed, we will not be able to totally eliminate them.  We will also not be able to eliminate or reduce these diseases, if breeders continue to bred without care.  We can only make ourselves aware of the different combinations that can potentially create a poor genetic combination; therefore, increasing the chance of more puppies with this or another serious disease.  I personally can't wait for the day that we can DNA test for every potential disease that affects our breed.  

Hopefully, some day will a sebaceous adenitis DNA marker will be developed for the Akita (one has been developed for the Standard Poodle); a few researchers have tried to develop a marker but have been unsuccessful to date.  At that time I will do the DNA test to insure all my breeding stock isn't a carrier of SA, until then I will continue with my program but with more care and consideration to try to stay away from other lines that have had cases of SA diagnosis.   

Proudly bred by: Christina Stanley
Co-bred by: Bruce Dandrew
Loved and owned by: Chris at Moonlight