Health Matters. . . . .
What a winter! I couldn't believe it and certainly I've never seen one like it before. Anyway, here we are again, warm days, long evenings and don't you feel better.
Our first joint schnauzer breeds Health Seminar was held on 8th May 2011 in the new Kennel Club building at Stoneleigh. It was good to see a good turnout representing all three Breed sizes. There were 71 attendees including our speakers and the day and its contents were very well received. The programme for the day was informed by those areas of the 2009 survey where our results were significantly higher than the dog population as a whole in the 2006 KC/BSAVA report. Those areas for Giants were epilepsy, hypothyroidism with 3.68% and cancers with 3.2%. In Schnauzers with 5% were cancers and heart murmours with 3.4%. Miniature Schnauzers top concern were gastrointestinal problems at 4.5%. The programme for the day, therefore had excellent speakers on epilepsy, cancers, an update on where the schnauzer family was with eye problems, research and DNA sampling and breeding for better health.
Dr Fabio Stabile DVM MRCVS PhD and Victoria Doyle (BVetMed DVM DipECVN MRCVS European Specialist in Neurology) started the day with an interesting overview of canine epilepsy. Fabio is more than halfway through a three-year ECVN approved residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery at the AHT where he is undertaking training in clinical neurology, neurosurgery, electrodiagnostics, neuroimaging, neurophysiology and neuropathology. Victoria is a Senior Clinician in Neurology/Neurosurgery having graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2004. Victoria passed the ECVN diploma in 2009and is interested in all aspects of neurology but has a particular interest in epilepsy and inflammatory brain diseases.
Dr Mike Starkey BSc PhD MSc(CCI)(Open) followed on with again an informative and interesting presentation on research in cancers in pedigree dogs. Mike joined the Animal Health Trust in 2004 and leads the Molecular Oncology Group. His Group is endeavouring to develop improved assays that are better able to predict how canine tumours behave and respond to treatment. In order to improve understanding of the mechanisms by which cancers develop, he is also interested in identifying inherited genetic abnormalities which increase the risk of particular pedigree dog breeds developing specific cancers.
For both these conditions it is the start of the process and the three speakers put them both 'on the table' for people to be able to discuss them more freely from now on and if the lunchtime chatter was anything to go on, they certainly had.
Mr Stuart R Ellis BVSc CertVOphthal MRCVS and Panellist BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme where he has been a member of the BVA Eye Panel since 1991 and is a member of the Eye Panel Working Party which manages changes and developments to the Eye Scheme. He has served two terms as Chief Panellist to the Eye Scheme 2001-2007. His interests include ophthalmic photography, hyperlipidaemia, and inherited eye disease. Stuart brought us all up to date with where the schnauzer family were in relation to eye conditions, highlighting how the number of litters presenting for litter screening had increased dramatically over the last two years in particular as had the number of puppies being identified with CHC in miniature schnauzers.
Cathryn Mellersh PhD, Canine Genetics Research Group Leader and Sally Ricketts, PhD, Postdoctoral Research assistant Canine Genetics Research Group went on to inform how important it was to get as many DNA samples from both affected and unaffected puppies to enable their extremely valuable work in identifying the gene that causes the problem in the breed. All eye panelists now, with consent and support from breeders and owners, are taking DNA swabs from litter mates where CHC has been positively identified.
Dr Jeff Sampson BSc DPhil, Animal Health Trust, Genetics consultant to The Kennel Club concluded the day, again with a very enlightening delivery on the work that is being undertaken by the Kennel Club in helping breeders select good, healthy dogs for their breeding programmes. Jeff's research into the canine genome began in the late 1980's and he has been interested in this area of research ever since, concentrating more recently on applying the results of this research in a practical sense to help breeders select against inherited diseases in their breeding programmes.
As I have said before, we are on the start of a journey and I am now encouraging you all to take the time and be part of the Schnauzer Health Survey 2011. The four health representatives have decided to extend the data fields this time and to include data for all schnauzers both dead and alive. This will hopefully expand the depth and quality of data and hopefully allow us to make some informed decisions on the health and welfare of our truly wonderful breed family. The new Survey forms are now available form within this copy as well as on the website which you will be able to download.
And finally, if you have any health issues or health concerns that you would wish me to cover, please let me know and I will endeavour to raise them through the medium of the newsletter. Furthermore, if you have a dog that is affected by any serious health condition, please advise the breeder in the first instance and through myself to the Club. This is the only way that we can positively start to address any health concerns before they are allowed to escalate into a bigger problem in all three sizes of our wonderful Breed for years to come. An open and honest culture is the only positive way forward and a clear message from the seminar was that if breeders produce a 'problem', the best course of action is to be open about it. They aren't responsible for causing it and others should not seek to apportion any 'blame' that way we can all best serve the long term interests of the Schnauzer family for the future.
Chris Ellingworth
E-mail: doncleve@talktalk.net
tel: 01909 591291