Health Testing Gift Certificates for the breeder in you life!!! Great Idea!

What a GREAT idea!!!

This morning I was looking up information on heath tests and VetGen offers the opportunity to purchase Gift Certificates . If you are ever thinking you would like to say Thank you to a dog (or cat) breeder- give them a Gift Certificate for future health testing. You will know that it will be used to improve their breeding program, and they will be very thankful for the assistance.

For Shelties, VetGen is the place to send DNA samples for the disease Von Willebrand's disease (vWD). vWD is a serious blood clotting disorder that can be fatal at times of trauma or surgery. This is particularly important since most dogs are spayed or neutered. Although it is becoming more rare (only 0.3% of TESTED dogs are affected, 9.4% are carriers), we can actually eliminate it from our breed through genetic testing. Unlike eye and hip tests, the test for vWD is a genetic test which lets a breeder know if that dog carries the gene for this disease.

If a breeder is doing the testing just for their own information, so they know they are breeding healthy dogs, they can take the sample themselves at home (it is an easy cheek swab- not drawing blood) and submit the sample to VetGen. The test price from VetGen is $140 for the first test - the price goes down per dog as you go up in the tests submitted together, but you spend more upfront to get the discount. If you want to have this test listed on OFA's website and counted towards a CHIC number, you have to pay OFA another $$7.50-15.00 (depending on who submits it) to list it, and also either have a licensed vet to do the collection and submission, or have VetGen "positively identify" the dog by doing a DNA Profile ($40). If you go the Vet route, they will charge you a minimum of an office fee, plus shipping the sample to VetGen. My Vet charged me $80- so one vWD test cost me $235.00 (sadly- if I had done it at home, it would have cost $187.50 and a lot less time!).

The great thing about genetic tests, if you breed two dogs who are "clear" together, all of the offspring are "clear by parentage"- but if you want that listed on the OFA site, or you need VetGen to verify this, each dog (both parents and the one you are attempting to get the new certificate) HAS to have a DNA Profile and then they charge you $50.00 to "verify" that what you claim is true and issue a "Clear by parentage" certificate.

Now, I think tests that are based on genes are really worth that price, but you can see how a gift certificate (in ANY amount) would really help.

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MDR-1 Genotype Results

Multiple Drug Sensitivity (MDR1 gene) DNA Test –
This DNA test identifies dogs that are sensitive to several medications. Shelties, Collies, Australian Shepherds, and Border Collies are a few of the breeds with this genetic mutation. Several commonly used drugs, ex. antiparasitic drugs (some used in heartworm preventatives), tranquilizers (acepromazine), and anti-diarrheal drugs (Imodium®) are a few of the drugs that may affect dogs with this genetic mutation. This test would provide useful, practical knowledge for every Sheltie owner, since knowing the status of each dog as clear, carrier, or affected would help a veterinarian determine which drugs to use or avoid in a particular dog.
As of March, 2008, 448 Shelties have been tested (Washington State University) with 11% being heterozygous (carriers) for the MDR1 mutation, and 1 % homozygous for the MDR1 mutation. Heterozygous dogs (carriers) exhibit sensitivity to drugs that is similar to or less than that of homozygous (affected) dogs. A complete list of drugs that may affect dogs with the MDR1 gene can be found at the following link: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/drugs.aspx. More information on the topic can be found at: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/ and http://www.ashgi.org/articles/mdr1.htm.
The test can be performed using DNA from cheek brush collection that can be mailed-in by the owner.
Explanation of test results:
Normal/Normal- These dogs do not carry the mutation, and will not pass on the mutation to their offspring. These dogs would not be expected to experience unexpected adverse drug reactions to normal doses of ivermectin, loperamide (Imodium®), and some anticancer drugs.

I just tested the following dogs and here are the results (from Washington State University)
Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, RA, NA, NAJ Normal/Normal (MDR1-12080)
Ch. Acadia It's My Treat Normal/Normal (MDR1-12081)
Acadia On My Mind Normal/Normal (MDR1-12082)
Acadia Sunburst Merry and Bright Normal/Normal (MDR1- 12083)
Acadia Sweet Home Arizona Normal/Normal (MDR1 - 12084)

Acadia Sweet Emotion, AXJ,OA, OAF, PT was tested Normal/Normal a year ago and Heart Lake Acadia Le Roi de Cour is Normal/Normal by parentage.

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"Normal"- Valerie's results for Multi-Drug Sensitivity

A new DNA test is on the market for a mutant gene that causes some breeds of dogs to have sensitivity to certain drugs. For years Vets have known that Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, and other breeds had some level of sensitivity to the following drugs:
Ivermectin (Antiparasitic agent)
Loperamide (Imodium(r); over-the-counter antidiarrheal agent)
Doxorubicin (Anticancer agent)
Vincristine (Anticancer agent)
Vinblastine (Anticancer agent)
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory University of California at Davis has found the gene and Acadia Sweet Emotion (aka Valerie) was tested while out visiting Auntie Pam in Calf. (actually- it sounds like Valerie may have been part of the study.) Her results were:

Normal/Normal- These dogs do not carry the mutation, and will not passon the mutation to their offspring. These dogs would not be expected to experience unexpected adverse drug reactions to normal doses ofivermectin, loperamide (Imodium(r)), and some anticancer drugs.

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