Sadly another stone former is reported on the British dalmatian Club forum
today! they seem to work out at about one a month reported on this forum!
The Internet as proved this to be very much more of a problem than some would
have you believe!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Crufts Qaulified
Click on picture for bigger versionAt her first UK Championship show,
UKC grand Ch. Fiacres First and Foremost, Qualified for Crufts!
Even some complements from the ring side on what a lovely
Dalmatian she is...thank you.
I have to say, I had a lot of respect for the people who came over
to our bench to see Fiona first hand.
At least they proved they have a REAL interest in what is going on in the breed.
UKC grand Ch. Fiacres First and Foremost, Qualified for Crufts!
Even some complements from the ring side on what a lovely
Dalmatian she is...thank you.
I have to say, I had a lot of respect for the people who came over
to our bench to see Fiona first hand.
At least they proved they have a REAL interest in what is going on in the breed.
My favourite question of the day was.....which one is she! (out of the 2 I had on the bench) Say's it all really.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The AKC Canine Health & Welfare Advisory Committee Recommendations
The AKC Canine Health & Welfare Advisory Committee(Sandra Barker, PhD; Jerold Bell, DVM; Eddie Dziuk, MBA; John Hamil, DVM; Joan Hendricks, VMD, PhD; Linda Lord, DVM, PhD; Colleen O’Keefe, DVM, MS; Patricia Olson, DVM, PhD; Elaine Ostrander, PhD; Frances Smith, DVM, PhD, DACT)
Executive Summary & Recommendation – LUA Dalmatians
On October 30, 2009, the Canine Health & Welfare Advisory Committee received email communications from Jim Crowley seeking the Committee’s input on the request to register a group of Dalmatians commonly referred to as the Back Cross or LUA (low uric acid) Dalmatians.
The question of registration of the LUA Dalmatians has been a contentious subject of debate. The committee has attempted to remove itself from any emotionally and politically charged issues, and instead focused purely on the following basic questions:
• Should these descendants be considered purebred Dalmatians?
• What is known about Dalmatians and high uric acid?
• Are urate uroliths a significant health issue in Dalmatians?
• Are high levels of uric acid a predisposing factor to urate uroliths?
• Could selective introduction of the LUA Dalmatians into the AKC Dalmatian gene pool have a positive impact on the health and welfare of the breed? Are the dogs in question purebred Dalmatians?
In the research phase identifying the single gene responsible for the uric acid defect, retrospective analysis of the LUA dog’s pedigree and parentage data, along with correlation to spot urine testing records, revealed that zero mistakes had been made in the record keeping. The DNA test results confirmed a 100% accuracy of the pedigree and urine testing records.
With over twelve reported subsequent generations from the single cross breeding in the early 70’s, today’s descendants should be more than 99.97% pure Dalmatian. Surely this level of purity should pass a litmus test of being purebred.
What is known about Dalmatians and high uric acid?
The Dalmatian breed is known to be fixed for a medical condition which causes a metabolic abnormality in which uric acid is not efficiently converted to allontoin. As a result, abnormally high levels of uric acid are secreted in the urine of all purebred AKC Dalmatians (hyperuricosuria), which in turn often leads to crystallization of uric acid salts and/or stone formation (uroliths). This metabolic defect was shown to be inherited as a simple autosomal recessive trait by early investigators, and in the early 1970’s a singlePointer/Dalmatian cross breeding was done by Robert Schaible, PhD in an attempt to introduce a normal copy of the gene. Subsequent research has shown that the inability to properly convert and reabsorb uric acid is the result of a mutation in the SLC2A9 gene, a gene since widely documented to be influential in uric acid transport. All AKC Dalmatians are homozygous for the SLC2A9 mutation.
Are urate uroliths a significant health issue in Dalmatians?
Studies at the urolith laboratories at the University of Minnesota, UC Davis, and the University of Guelph have all shown that Dalmatians have a significantly higher odds ratio of urate stones than any other breed, and male Dalmatians have an exponentially higher incidence than female Dalmatians. While the exact frequency of urate stones in Dalmatians is unknown, based on the published data, the frequency of stone formation in male Dalmatians has been reported in peer reviewed scientific journals between 13.8% and 34.3%. In a twenty year survey of the Minnesota Urolith Laboratory, 9,095 Dalmatians were diagnosed with urate stones. This represents almost 500 Dalmatians a year from this center alone.
Are high levels of uric acid a predisposing factor to urate uroliths?
It is true that while all purebred AKC Dalmatians exhibit high levels of uric acid; not all of them form stones, not all stone formers block, and not all dogs with blockages require surgical intervention. Continued research is warranted to determine what additional genes or environmental factors may influence the actual formation of stones. However, given the genetically fixed condition of hyperuricosuria in Dalmatians, and the data regarding urate stone frequency compared to other breeds, there is no question that high levels of uric acid are a significant predisposing factor.
Could selective introduction of the LUA Dalmatians into the AKC Dalmatian gene pool have a positive impact on the health and welfare of the breed?
Urinary obstruction due to uric acid stone formation is also a significant problem in Black Russian Terriers and Bulldogs. Affected dogs in both breeds have been shown to have the exact same SLC2A9 mutation as found in the Dalmatian, though at a much lower frequency. However, since the mutation is not fixed in these breeds, breeders can use the available genetic test to selectively breed away from the mutation – thus preventing the production of dogs liable for uric acid stone formation. This will allow a reduction in thefrequency of the disease over time. Unfortunately, since AKC Dalmatians are 100% homozygous for the mutation, the only way to correct the genetic defect is through the introduction of the normal SLC2A9 gene. The addition of the LUA back cross descendants (those heterozygous or homozygous for the normal SLC2A9 gene) would enable breeders to voluntarily introduce the normal gene into the gene pool, and would yield immediate benefits in reducing uric acid levels and the liability to form urate stones.
Recommendation
Because the introduction of the low uric acid dogs into the AKC registry gives Dalmatian breeders a scientifically sound method of voluntarily reducing the incidence of the condition, this committee strongly recommends some controlled program of acceptance of these dogs. Where the strict health and welfare of the breed is the over-riding concern, no other argument can be made.The only caveat to the reintroduction of the normal functioning SLC2A9 gene is in the rate of reintroduction. Any attempt to rapidly reintroduce a normal functioning SLC2A9 gene will result in a significant population bottleneck and loss of genetic diversity due to the small kindred of Dalmatians carrying the normal gene. A reintroduction program must be conducted slowly, and with a diversity of pedigree background. The breed must avoid popular sire effects that would occur with a rapid reintroduction program. Individual breeders can be free to make their own decisions about incorporating the normal gene. However, it would be a disservice to the health and welfare of the Dalmatian breed to not allow the normal gene to be reintroduced.
Executive Summary & Recommendation – LUA Dalmatians
On October 30, 2009, the Canine Health & Welfare Advisory Committee received email communications from Jim Crowley seeking the Committee’s input on the request to register a group of Dalmatians commonly referred to as the Back Cross or LUA (low uric acid) Dalmatians.
The question of registration of the LUA Dalmatians has been a contentious subject of debate. The committee has attempted to remove itself from any emotionally and politically charged issues, and instead focused purely on the following basic questions:
• Should these descendants be considered purebred Dalmatians?
• What is known about Dalmatians and high uric acid?
• Are urate uroliths a significant health issue in Dalmatians?
• Are high levels of uric acid a predisposing factor to urate uroliths?
• Could selective introduction of the LUA Dalmatians into the AKC Dalmatian gene pool have a positive impact on the health and welfare of the breed? Are the dogs in question purebred Dalmatians?
In the research phase identifying the single gene responsible for the uric acid defect, retrospective analysis of the LUA dog’s pedigree and parentage data, along with correlation to spot urine testing records, revealed that zero mistakes had been made in the record keeping. The DNA test results confirmed a 100% accuracy of the pedigree and urine testing records.
With over twelve reported subsequent generations from the single cross breeding in the early 70’s, today’s descendants should be more than 99.97% pure Dalmatian. Surely this level of purity should pass a litmus test of being purebred.
What is known about Dalmatians and high uric acid?
The Dalmatian breed is known to be fixed for a medical condition which causes a metabolic abnormality in which uric acid is not efficiently converted to allontoin. As a result, abnormally high levels of uric acid are secreted in the urine of all purebred AKC Dalmatians (hyperuricosuria), which in turn often leads to crystallization of uric acid salts and/or stone formation (uroliths). This metabolic defect was shown to be inherited as a simple autosomal recessive trait by early investigators, and in the early 1970’s a singlePointer/Dalmatian cross breeding was done by Robert Schaible, PhD in an attempt to introduce a normal copy of the gene. Subsequent research has shown that the inability to properly convert and reabsorb uric acid is the result of a mutation in the SLC2A9 gene, a gene since widely documented to be influential in uric acid transport. All AKC Dalmatians are homozygous for the SLC2A9 mutation.
Are urate uroliths a significant health issue in Dalmatians?
Studies at the urolith laboratories at the University of Minnesota, UC Davis, and the University of Guelph have all shown that Dalmatians have a significantly higher odds ratio of urate stones than any other breed, and male Dalmatians have an exponentially higher incidence than female Dalmatians. While the exact frequency of urate stones in Dalmatians is unknown, based on the published data, the frequency of stone formation in male Dalmatians has been reported in peer reviewed scientific journals between 13.8% and 34.3%. In a twenty year survey of the Minnesota Urolith Laboratory, 9,095 Dalmatians were diagnosed with urate stones. This represents almost 500 Dalmatians a year from this center alone.
Are high levels of uric acid a predisposing factor to urate uroliths?
It is true that while all purebred AKC Dalmatians exhibit high levels of uric acid; not all of them form stones, not all stone formers block, and not all dogs with blockages require surgical intervention. Continued research is warranted to determine what additional genes or environmental factors may influence the actual formation of stones. However, given the genetically fixed condition of hyperuricosuria in Dalmatians, and the data regarding urate stone frequency compared to other breeds, there is no question that high levels of uric acid are a significant predisposing factor.
Could selective introduction of the LUA Dalmatians into the AKC Dalmatian gene pool have a positive impact on the health and welfare of the breed?
Urinary obstruction due to uric acid stone formation is also a significant problem in Black Russian Terriers and Bulldogs. Affected dogs in both breeds have been shown to have the exact same SLC2A9 mutation as found in the Dalmatian, though at a much lower frequency. However, since the mutation is not fixed in these breeds, breeders can use the available genetic test to selectively breed away from the mutation – thus preventing the production of dogs liable for uric acid stone formation. This will allow a reduction in thefrequency of the disease over time. Unfortunately, since AKC Dalmatians are 100% homozygous for the mutation, the only way to correct the genetic defect is through the introduction of the normal SLC2A9 gene. The addition of the LUA back cross descendants (those heterozygous or homozygous for the normal SLC2A9 gene) would enable breeders to voluntarily introduce the normal gene into the gene pool, and would yield immediate benefits in reducing uric acid levels and the liability to form urate stones.
Recommendation
Because the introduction of the low uric acid dogs into the AKC registry gives Dalmatian breeders a scientifically sound method of voluntarily reducing the incidence of the condition, this committee strongly recommends some controlled program of acceptance of these dogs. Where the strict health and welfare of the breed is the over-riding concern, no other argument can be made.The only caveat to the reintroduction of the normal functioning SLC2A9 gene is in the rate of reintroduction. Any attempt to rapidly reintroduce a normal functioning SLC2A9 gene will result in a significant population bottleneck and loss of genetic diversity due to the small kindred of Dalmatians carrying the normal gene. A reintroduction program must be conducted slowly, and with a diversity of pedigree background. The breed must avoid popular sire effects that would occur with a rapid reintroduction program. Individual breeders can be free to make their own decisions about incorporating the normal gene. However, it would be a disservice to the health and welfare of the Dalmatian breed to not allow the normal gene to be reintroduced.
BUBA. LKA
If you are interested in seeing Fiona, she will be attending BUBA and LKA.
Not that she is special in any way other than she possesses the gene that will
enable our breed to convert uric acid into harmless allantoin which any other breed
of dog can and is meant to do.
Fiona is being shown for the purpose of being seen by all who are interested to see her.
She is just a Dalmatian! But with one difference, she is the start of the 'cure' for our breeds specific health problem! The Clubs don't think it's a problem at all, they don't even take into account all the pet owners who find their way to the BDC forum with stone forming dogs! This is the age of the internet, and through the internet what was once thought to be only a small problem, is indeed a very big problem! It is no help to our breed to bury our heads in the sand while Dalmatians are suffering because Committee members tell us to do so! Look at Fiona she is a lovely Dalmatian that can help prevent MANY of her breed from suffering urate stone disease in the future!
NUA Dalmatians are not going to go away, they are being imported WORLD wide!
UK. France. Italy. Germany.
Don't be afraid of progress in health, it will make sure the Dalmatian continues!
Please come over to the benches to meet Fiona - she will love that!
Those who new Armstrong and Shelley's long battle with stone surgeries will be very sad to here that today, just before Armstrong 7th birthday he was given peace from his suffering.
He was a wonderful Dalmatian!
Not that she is special in any way other than she possesses the gene that will
enable our breed to convert uric acid into harmless allantoin which any other breed
of dog can and is meant to do.
Fiona is being shown for the purpose of being seen by all who are interested to see her.
She is just a Dalmatian! But with one difference, she is the start of the 'cure' for our breeds specific health problem! The Clubs don't think it's a problem at all, they don't even take into account all the pet owners who find their way to the BDC forum with stone forming dogs! This is the age of the internet, and through the internet what was once thought to be only a small problem, is indeed a very big problem! It is no help to our breed to bury our heads in the sand while Dalmatians are suffering because Committee members tell us to do so! Look at Fiona she is a lovely Dalmatian that can help prevent MANY of her breed from suffering urate stone disease in the future!
NUA Dalmatians are not going to go away, they are being imported WORLD wide!
UK. France. Italy. Germany.
Don't be afraid of progress in health, it will make sure the Dalmatian continues!
Please come over to the benches to meet Fiona - she will love that!
Those who new Armstrong and Shelley's long battle with stone surgeries will be very sad to here that today, just before Armstrong 7th birthday he was given peace from his suffering.
He was a wonderful Dalmatian!
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