MARGARET WOODS HEALTH REPORT TO THE BREED COUNCIL 

HEALTH REPORT TO BREED COUNCIL MEETING 8 MAY 2014 (PRECIS VERSION)

Ectopic Ureter

·        A meeting with Cathryn Mellersh was held at AHT on 5th Nov 2013 to discuss progressing the project.

·        80 DNA samples were taken to the AHT and delivered personally to Bryan McLaughlin for

·        profiling.

·        6 "affected" samples have been promised, but as yet have not materialised.

·        Offers of samples from affected have come from Europe & New Zealand, if these materialise we will soon be ready to start the initial screening.

·        Raising funds for this project will start soon.

Epilepsy

·        Progress is slow, and there is a great reluctance to admit there is a problem.

·        Only 15 samples collected so far.

·        Stud dog owners reluctant to cooperate.

·        Breeders are afraid of repercussions from stud dog owners.

·        Of the case reported, it would appear that Golden Retrievers suffer from one of the most

·        serious types of epilepsy, and many are put to sleep at an early age.

Cancers

·        Mike Starkey has sent me a very comprehensive report, which will be circulated, but in

         essence they are still

o       Looking for grade 3 mast cell tumour samples (only 3 samples collected to date).

(Fortunately these seem to be rare in Golden Retrievers)

o       Haemangiosarcoma. The AHT do not have evidence of an increased susceptibility,

this is based on 2002 data.  I believe we need to URGENTIY collect data to show this

is not the case.

MRD

·        There is no way forward at present and we seem to have reached an impasse.

o       Neither the KC & nor the BVA will accept responsibility for the last 16 years' fiasco.

o       The current thinking is that the MRD "folds" are of no major importance and often

disappear.

o       The genetic influence of the "folds" and the "geographical" MRD may differ, and in

fact they may even be two different diseases.

o       There is no way the historic evidence can be used in the project due to

§        Some eye panellists have not differentiated the different forms when completing the eye certificates.

§        The DNA samples submitted cannot be split into the various forms of MRD.

§        Access has been denied to Litter screening forms.

§        There are fewer and fewer DNA samples available to add to the research.

·        Sheila Crispin is in agreement that MRD is low priority when planning a mating. She

         emphasises that conditions that cause pain, discomfort and interfere with quality of life

         should take priority.

o       To this end she has agreed to endorse a statement that breeders could use when

                     breeding from MRD "affected" dogs/bitches

HC

There are fewer HC being diagnosed and until more samples are submitted this project is at a standstill.

Margaret Woods

BC HEALTH CO ORDINATOR  

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