There
are 20 volunteer GSD, from 20 different owner/breeders, male &
female, of various ages. The volunteers cover a variety of
bloodlines, including lines implicated in several affected litters
in recent years. The JRD-DNA Test packs will be distributed
to the 20 volunteers next week and I anticipate their return within
7 days. They will then be forwarded on to DOGenes Inc. in
Canada for analysis. When complete a report will be produced, based
on the JRD-DNA results. If as expected JRD is identified in this JRD
GSD Study, a JRD-DNA test will be set up for GSD by DOGenes Inc. of
Canada for any GSD owner/breeders to use for their GSD. Such a
scheme will enable everyone who uses the scheme to make informed
decisions regarding JRD in their breeding programme, It will also
inform owners if their GSD is a JRD carrier or not, and if they are,
and therefore potentially affected by this disease, which means
their kidneys will be impaired to some degree, they may make
dietary, medication and other decisions for their GSD, following
consultation with their Vets, on an informed basis. There can be no
doubting the value to our breed of such a DNA test, and I hope that
if JRD is identified within our breed, ALL GSD Breeders will make
full use of it. Failure to do so, could almost certainly lead our
breed into a serious JRD genetic bottleneck. Several other breeds
are experiencing this already, and it appears that other breeds are
plunging towards a JRD genetic bottleneck with an entrenched
attitude of 'denial' regarding JRD.
For
further information on Juvenile Renal Dysplasia visit
http://www.videxgsd.com/juvenile_renal_dysplasia.htm
http://www.videxgsd.com/juvenile_renal_dysplasia_DNA_test.htm
http://www.videxgsd.com/renal_dysplasia_in_shih_tzu_dogs.htm
http://www.videxgsd.com/J_R_D_in_Shih_Tzu.htm
Best regards
David Payne
VIDEX GSD
:
+44 (0)1905 830900
