WHAT’S IN YOUR PEDIGREE, PART 2, PUREBRED DOG

In the last blog entry, the passages center on the pedigree of my parents that leads to yours truly and her 5 siblings. Today I would like to add some “behind the scenes” recollections of the first time my Mom traveled to Kentucky from New York. As she became romantically engaged with my father, she realized his pedigree would not be the mint julep set, the white fences, or the Kentucky Thoroughbred horses grazing serenely in the background. When it came to meet her in-laws, the scenario was quite a “culture shock” way beyond her preconceived notions. Step 1: Uncle Lester came with a tractor to pull my father and mother out of the ditch, beside the dirt road, next to the barb wire fencing. As they sloshed back and forth toward the homestead on the muddy, rutted road, the expectation drops further: outhouse, no indoor plumbing. Step 2: Coming from a masters in human nutrition background at Cornell, the smell of ham hocks and beans cooking in the house was overwhelming.  Step 3: Sleeping on feed sacks and Sears catalog in the outhouse (substituted for toilet paper) she cried herself to sleep and hit the “reset” button of expectations.

Often with acquisitions of new pets, hidden agendas come with the territory of “forever homes."

WHEN ACQUIRING A PUREBRED DOG, WHAT ARE SOME FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED?

There are normally many breeds that will fit close the requirement of a new pet family member. One site to consider by breed is http://ic.upei.ca/cidd/ or http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/breeds.html or http://www.offa.org/breedtests.html?btnSearch=Tests+by+Breed or http://idid.vet.cam.ac.uk/search.php  as a starting point. It is important that when the breed is less populated (and thus has low registration numbers by the AKC, if recognized at all), defects may not be well publicized or known.

HOW DOES A VETERINARIAN OR PET OWNER FIND A LABORATORY THAT PERFORMS SPECIFIC TESTING? What types of tests are available?

DNA testing has an advantage over other biochemical testing as it may be performed at any age, including newborn.   DNA can be extracted from any nucleated cells, e.g., blood, cheek swabs, hair follicle, semen, and even preserved tissue. The biggest reason for these tests is the results are available before placing the puppy in a new home, manifesting signs, or prior to breeding to avoid passing on the defect.

http://www.offa.org/dna_alltest_b.html

http://breedingbetterdogs.com/pdfFiles/articles/genetic.tests.by.breed.2012.pdf

https://www.vetstream.com/canis/corporate/html/Inheriteddiseases/Genetictestsforhereditarydiseases.htm

Inborn errors of metabolism tests, many of which are blood tests,  include all biochemical disorders due to a genetically determined, specific defect in the structure and/or function of a protein molecule within the body.  These defects can lead to bleeding disorders, muscle weakness, heart disease,   and unfortunately, premature death.

The Metabolic Genetic Disease Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania offers such tests http://research.vet.upenn.edu/penngen. Similarly Cornell's Comparative Coagulation Laboratory offers functional testing for many bleeding disorders http://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/ and the Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory makes some functional and mostly histological analysis available for muscle and nerve disorders http://vetneuromuscular.ucsd.edu/.

AS A VETERINARY PRACTITIONER FOR OVER 33 YRS, WHAT IS ONE CONCERN FOR NEW OWNERS OF PUREBRED DOGS?

Many of the more frequently seen health issues: allergies, ear infections, dental disease, arthritis, and irritable bowel/inflammatory bowel disease do not have current, valid genetic testing to screen potential parents that potentiate the risk. Yet, these diseases result in very significant time, emotional, and financial costs for pet owners.

For example, Labrador Retrievers suffer more from debilitating elbow arthritis, dysplasia that hip dysplasia/arthritis, Yet many prospective owners are aware of the hip issues, only.

 TESTING MIXED BREED DOGS? IS THERE A NEED?

This question comes up occasionally in the exam room and was addressed in the previous blog. Having said that, there is no harm except to your wallet (avg. cost is $60 to $100) to obtain a cheek swab (see lab for specific instructions) to see what breeds are in your pet’s background. Remember the validity of the test results, are open to discussion. http://shop.dnamydog.com/ or http://www.wisdompanel.com/

In reality, few medical decisions for mixed breed animals are based on genetic breed screening.

Betsy T. Sigmon DVM, Hospital Director

Creature Comforts Animal Hospital

In memory of Molly, owned by Rick and Chris Vandenberg