FantasmicFrigg
Frigg the beautiful
HEALTH ISSUES IN THE STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is by nature a robust and healthy breed. However there are a couple of hereditary health issues which you need to be aware of if you are considering buying a new puppy or planning to breed from your bitch.
Proposed Genetic Study At Animal Health Trust To Find Gene Responsible For PHPV Read More..
Update from BC Genetic Research sub committee 30.09.06 Click Here
Animal Health Trust no longer accepting swabs for L-2-HGA / HC tests with immediate effect (17 August 2006). Read more....
1. L-2-HGA Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria
In the past few years a small number of Staffords have been diagnosed with a metabolic disorder, its clinical name is L2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria or L-2-HGA. This condition manifests itself in varied ways with affected dogs displaying behavioural changes and dementia, anxiety attacks, having full blown seizures, as well as exercise intolerance and ataxia (unsteady gait), tremors and muscular stiffness. Dogs from totally different bloodlines have been found to be sufferers and the number of affected dogs diagnosed has risen. The disorder (and a similar linked disorder D-2 HGA) is found in humans, again very rare, but nevertheless devastating for those families affected by it. The disorder has an autosomal recessive method of inheritance, which means that both parents must be carriers of the affected gene to produce affected offspring.
Through excessive hard work not only on behalf of the Animal Health Trust at Newmarket and by people submitting blood and urine samples from the families of affected animals a genetic test has been determined to identify the carriers of the gene which causes L-2-HGA.
IT IS THEREFORE ADVISABLE THAT ALL BREEDING STOCK BE SCREENED IN ORDER TO ERADICATE THIS CONDITION IN THE FUTURE.
This can be done by submitting a blood sample to the AHT at Newmarket. For instructions on sample collection please download request for DNA testing form HERE
TESTING CAN TAKE UP TO 6 WEEKS FOR RESULTS SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THIS DONE IN PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE YOUR PLANNED MATING.
2. HC – HEREDITARY CATARACTS.
It is known that HC is inherited by and automal recessive path (i.e. both parents must be carriers of the defective gene to produce and affected offspring). HC is a progressive condition and this means that although a puppy is not born with cataracts they will start to develop at a juvenile age. (maybe from 8 months onwards), and will progress until the dog is totally blind. This condition is bilateral which means is affects both eyes equally. Thanks to the tireless research by the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket there is a now a DNA Test for Hereditary Cataracts.
For instructions on sample collection please download request for DNA testing form HERE
3. PHPV – PERSITENT HYPERPLASTIC PRIMARY VITREOUS
The mode of inheritance of PHPV is not so clear, but it is known that it is a congenital condition (present at birth) and that it is not progressive. This means that if a puppy is born with PHPV it can be detected by ophthalmic screening from 6 weeks of age and if it is affected, whatever the condition of the problem at that stage it will not change throughout the dogs life.
Either of the above conditions can be operated on, but it is a serious operation and can be traumatic and very expensive. It is not always covered by insurance due to the hereditary nature.
Even though the genetic test is now available for Hereditary Cataracts it is still important to screen for PHPV.
4. PPSC – POSTERIOR POLAR SUBCAPSULAR CATARACT.
This type of cataracts is found in other breeds, particularly the Labrador and Golden Retriever.
It usually remains as a small, punctuate cataract and doesn’t usually lead to sight problems in these two breeds. It has been placed on schedule 3 of the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme because a number of Staffords that have been through the Scheme have been found to have this type of cataract. This type of cataract cannot be detected through litter screening. The mode of inheritance is unknown and has a variable age of onset. BREEDING STOCK SHOULD BE TESTED ANNUALLY TO DETERMINE THAT THE DOG IS CERTIFIED CLEAR AT THE TIME OF MATING. Eye Testing Clinics
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L2-hga er en genetisk sygdom, der angriber hjernen. Mange flere hunde en man har anet, er bærer af genet. Hvis man parrer en hund der er bærer med en anden bærer, vil de få 25pct PÅVIRKEDE hvalpe - 25% som er raske & 50 bærere. En bærer parret med en hund der ikke har genet - får INGEN påvirkede hvalpe - men 50 % bærere & 50 % der ikke har genet. Det ser sådan ud; CLEAR ; hunden har to kopier af det normale gen, og vil ikke udvikle eller videregive L2-hga genet til nogen af dens afkom. CARRIER ; hunden har en kopi af det normale gen og en kopi af det mutante gen, der forårsager L2-hga.Hunden vil ikke udvikle L2-hga – men vil vidregive genet til 50 % af dets afkom. AFFECTED ; hunden har to kopier af det mutante gen L2-hga, og er påvirket af L2-hga. Den vil blive påvirket af det i nogle stadier, i løbet af livet, hvis den i givet fald, lever til en passende alder. I de seneste år, har få Staffordshire Bull Terriers fået diagnosen Metabolic Disorder - den kliniske betegnelse er L2-HGA Sygdommen manifesterer sig på forskellige måder; hunden udviser en anden adfærd & får en demenslignende adfærd( sidder og stirre ind i væggen - sidder klinet i hjørner eller under bordet - mister sine lydighedsfærdigheder - og bliver urenlig), nervøsitet, får anfald, kan ikke motionere, får en usikker gang, ryster & skælver & får muskel stivhed. Man har fundet staffords fra forskellige blodlinier der lider af det , og antallet af staffords der er diagnostificeret er stigende; der er også hunde i Norden, der er testet L2-hga AFFECTED . En meget lignende sygdom findes også hos mennesker(D2-HGA) - meget sjælden - men i høj grad ødelæggende for de familie der er påvirket af det. Problemet er, at idet der vil bliver flere og flere bærere - vil der også komme flere og flere hunde der er angrebet. Pt. er man i England ved at etablere en database, med de testede staffer - for at man kan værne om racen. De engelske kenneler, er i gang med at få testet deres hunde, for at sikre deres videre avl - og racen. Man kan via det angivne link, rekvirere en formular, som man kan tage med til sin dyrlæge, og få taget en blodprøve, til at sende til England, hvis man ønsker at få testet sine hunde. De engelske opdrættere & staff folk i almindelighed, er meget oprørte & bekymrede - idet der viser sig åbenbart bærere i et større omfang end forventet. Der findes en database, hvor man kan gå ind og se , hvilke dyr der er testet – og om de er cler/carrier/affected – desværre, er det ikke allle , der vælger at give deres samtykke til at , deres testede hunde står der – så hunde der er testet AFFECTED – vil stadig være at finde, uden at de er i databasen. Her er linket til test formularen, de skal bringes til dyrlægen. Prisen for testen( 60£) skal betales til dem på formularen nævnte. http://www.aht.org.uk/pdf/sbtL2HGAwithHCform.pdf HD / Hoftedysplasi Information om HD ( Hoftedysplasi ) Han finde her på www.netdyredoktor.dk eller på DKK´s hjemmeside her; http://www.dansk-kennel-klub.dk/501 Øjensygdomme Info kan findes på DKK`s hjemmeside, også angående kollektive øjenslysninger. http://www.dansk-kennel-klub.dk/502 Vær opmærksom på, at når du får taget en blodprøve til test for L2-hga - kan du i samme moment for yderligere 40 pund, få testet for øjensygdommen HC - via blodet. |
