Tyrodal NUA gene

LUA in Germany

2012-02-11T14:16:00.004Z

This is the latest LUA Dalmatian Import into Europe.Faith, is owned by Melissa Glasner Germany.Todate we have.... 18 LUA Dalmatians in the UK.3 in France, 1 in Germany. A litter is also on the wayin Germany sired by Merlyn!ALL the 4 litters born in Europe have been BAER tested bilatteral hearing,that is ALL 36 puppies! 4 more litters are planned in the UK for this summer!

2012-01-12T13:56:00.002Z

‎Elizabeth Sampson LUA litter are ALL bilateral hearing! Thats ALL 3 UK litters and the litter in France! So maybe our clubs will suport us now??! Their objection was... "US Dalmatians exhibit a prevalence for bilateral congenital sensoneural deafness of 8%, (for which there is no possible treatment), compared with 5.3% for the UK population It is irresponsible and inappropriate to address a manageable disease of low incidence, by introducing backcross dogs with an unmanageable condition (bilateral deafness) of much higher prevalence." The clubs issued this statement to the KC, even though they were informed that the LUA project NEVER used blue eyed dogs or uni's in their breeding program!!!

AKC Registration Procedure for LUA Dalmatians

2011-10-18T12:45:00.001+01:00

10/17/2011EXECUTIVE SECRETARY'S REPORTDalmatian Registration ProceduresFollowing a motion by Dr. Davies, seconded by Dr. Battaglia, it was VOTED(unanimously) toadopt the following procedures to be used for registration of Dalmatiansdescended from"Stocklore Stipples" known as LUA (low uric acid) Dalmatians, effectiveNovember 1, 2011.REGISTRATION PROCEDURES1) An Open Registration application is required:a) Include pedigree for the dog. While application only calls for athreegenerationpedigree, the pedigree in this case must go back to and todocument that the dog in questions is a descendent of Stocklore Stipples,NS 601000. All dogs in the pedigree must be AKC registered or AKCregistrable.b) Include photographs of the dog, as required as part of the OpenRegistration process.2) Application is reviewed and pedigree researched by AKC staff.3) The dog must be tested for the normal SLC2A9 gene.4) Only dogs tested as homozygous or heterozygous for the normal SLC2A9gene will be registered under this program (see 6 below). The test resultswill berecorded by OFA, with OFA covering the cost of this recording for one year,andthe DCA covering the next two years. The results must accompany the OpenRegistration application.5) Applicants that qualify will be registered with an "NY" prefix. The same"NY"would also appear as a registration prefix for all of their descendants.6) Any descendants of Stocklore Stipples that do not test as homozygous orheterozygous for the normal SLC2A9 gene would not be eligible under thisprogram to receive the "NY" prefix directly as the whole purpose of the OpenRegistration was to introduce the normal gene into breeding programs at theoption of the breeders. Such dogs, which only carry the same mutated gene asinpresently registered Dalmatians, would be eligible to apply for AKCregistration,which would include the NY designation, provided both parents are AKCregistered dogs, at least one of which carries the NY designation. Suchregistration of these dogs during the Open Registration period can only beaccomplished as a member of a registrable litter.7) If it comes to AKC's attention that any imported dog is a descendent ofStocklore Stipples, that dog would receive the "NY" prefix. Each applicationisresearched and handled on a case-by-case basis.8) The Open Registration period will be for three years (November 1, 2011through November 1, 2014). However, the policy on imported dog will remainineffect indefinitely.9) Frozen Semen may be registered only if the dog that produced it isdeceased,and if it meets the requirements above. Any living dog must meet the OpenRegistration procedure, after which its frozen semen may be used to produceanAKC registrable litter.10) Once a dog is registered under this procedure, any descendants may beregistered under regular AKC registration procedures. This would include anylitter whelped prior to the dog's registration. As prior registrations ofsuch litterswas previously prohibited by AKC, any late penalty would be waived.

The First NUA litters

2011-10-07T15:38:00.000+01:00

The UK's first 3 litters of LUA pups are on the way!Amanda Watson will be the breeder of the first litter, due October in Gloucestershire.Sired by LUA Merlin. Contact... Liz or Amanda, 011844 273744 or 07796 13900to be considered for the waiting list for these very special puppies.

LUA litter in France!

2011-09-13T22:58:00.002+01:00

Dominique Vincent's LUA bitch has given birth to8 puppies!

2011-08-23T09:57:00.001+01:00

I am so grateful to you all for the good wishes many of you have sent to Fiona and me
On her CC award.

However I am truly saddened by the few 'hate' mail I have also received. Dog World

phoned me this morning to tell me they had also received similar regarding Fiona,

they told me one even said she "moves like a pointer" I am appalled by some of

the people we have in our breed!!!! Fiona will continue to speak for herself!

If Fi moved like a pointer, she would not have been able to have done the miles & miles of road & mountain work she as been doing with our horses! (she's a natural by the way) and is obviouse by her fitness, compared to the bitches in the ring with NO second thigh!!

Up-date

2011-08-22T18:23:00.005+01:00

Sally and Merlin have just recently been hip and elbow scored.

their registration is being processed, they have both now been assessed

by 2 championship judges & deemed typical of the breed.

Merlin will be shown by Liz Sampson.

Sally (pictured) however is a little small for our showring! She is very much

American in type. So she is busy just enjoying life! but you can see

her on Liz's website.

AT LAST! AKC WILL REGISTER NUA DALMATIANS

2011-07-13T23:57:00.001+01:00

At the AKC Board meeting this week, the AKC unanimously decided to
authorize AKC Staff to develop, in consultation with DCA, procedures for
the registration of the LUA Dalmatians. These dogs will have a letter
indicator as part of the registration number. There will be more
details available later, and the official AKC minutes will be published
in about a week

AKC Registration vote!

2011-06-01T16:42:00.001+01:00

As many of you know, the DCA has mailed out ballots to its members asking for a "yes" or "no" vote on supporting AKC registration of the Low Uric Acid Dalmatians (descendants of the Backcross Project). We know that there are still some questions that people have and that there are some misconceptions about the LUA Dals. For some good up-to date information on the important issues and answers to questions that have been asked, please take a look at the "Frequently Asked Questions" that have just been posted to the LUA Webpage. Two ways to get there:
www.luadalmatians.com
This is the website developed to provide information on the Low Uric Acid Dalmatian program. A wealth of information is provided along with photos and pedigrees. From that homepage, you can click on the flashing "New FAQ" button.
www.luadalmatians.com/REGISTRATIONFAQ.html
This will take you directly to the FAQ's

Permission to Cross-post.

DCA give inaccurate info to it's members!

2011-05-28T15:25:00.000+01:00

I read the Con Introductory Statement on the DCA website with interest. The
following statement, however, puzzled me:

"The backcross experiment proved only that the Dalmatians that received the
gene for typical canine-uric acid metabolism do convert uric acid to
allantoin before excretion. At the time of the original experiment, it was
commonly assumed that uric acid was the cause or at least the primary cause
of urate stone formation. The leading US canine stone experts, Drs. Bartges
and Osborne, do not support that view. . . ."

This is in conflict with what Drs. Osborne, Bartges, Lulich, Unger,
Thumchai, Koehler, Bird, and Felice wrote:

"Regardless of the theory proposed for nucleation and nidus formation, an
essential requirement is supersaturation of urine with a urolith-forming
crystalloid. A crystal nidus cannot be formed if urine is undersaturated
with the crystalloid in question." from CANINE and FELINE NEPHROLOGY and
UROLOGY, Carl A. Osborne and Delmar R. Finco, editors --Williams & Wilkins,
1995, Chapter 41 -- Canine and Feline Urolithiasis: Relationship of
Etiopathogenesis to Treatment and Prevention (Carl A. Osborne, Jody P.
Lulich, Joseph W. Bartges, Lisa K. Unger, Rosama Thumchai, Lori A. Koehler,
Kathleen A. Bird, Lawrence J. Felice -- Page 809 -

So, according to Osborne, et al, without urine supersaturated with uric
acid, urate stones cannot form. The chapter quoted above does say
elsewhere that other factors may influence the size of the stones, but only
if the stones first form in supersaturated urine.

As the Cons agree with the Pros, the Dalmatians that receive the gene for
typical canine-uric acid metabolism do convert uric acid to harmless
allantoin. This prevents uric acid levels from reaching a state of
supersaturation (except in cases of liver shunts--not common in Dals--or
reaction to medication). No stones can, therefore, start to form. Any
other factors that might affect the size or tendency to block have nothing
to work on.

Yes, other factors may play a part in whether or not a dog might actually
block, but when will they be identified? Will they involve one gene or a
number of genes? Can they be bred out? Not everything can. One genetic
factor that strongly influences whether or not a Dalmatian will block with
stones is whether it is a dog or a bitch. Try breeding away from that one!

We have identified one gene, mutated in the breed, that can be replaced by a
working version. Everyone agrees that doing so does effectively lower the
levels of uric acid. This will avoid the state of supersaturation that
expert opinion says is essential to the formation of urate stones and
crystals.

We can return an unmutated form of this gene to our Dals without losing
breed type--witness Fiona's success in Britain where she can compete on
equal terms with other Dals! I hope the members of the DCA will agree that
type should be determined in the breed ring where everyone can see it.

Sarah Morgan

STONE FORMERS

2011-05-20T23:59:00.001+01:00

ANOTHER TWO STONE FORMERS ON THE BDC FORUM!

Gosh it's so rare isent it!!!!!! (I think not)

See us on Facebook

2011-04-22T18:58:00.000+01:00

Dalmatians with the low uric acid gene

Promote your Page too

ANOTHER STONE FORMER!

2011-03-16T14:00:00.003Z

Another stone former this time on dalnet list!
How sad that our clubs refuse to acknowledge
just how prevalent this health problem is!

Bringing in problems!?

2011-03-16T12:48:00.003Z

A close friend said to me at Crufts "Do you no you could be introducing HD into our breed! Pointer have terrible hip problems!"
Another case of myth!!!

THIS IS FROM THE BVA WEBSITE.

The Breed Mean Score (BMS) represents a global mean of the scores of all dogs of that breed that have been through the Hip Dysplasia Scheme up until 31st October
2010. The Breed Median Score has been calculated from data recorded on the Kennel Club’s electronic registration database, up until 31st October 2010. The 5-year mean is the mean of all hip scores recorded on the Kennel Club’s registration
database between 1st November 2005 and 31st October 2010.

Pointer Breed mean score 11. Median 9. 5 year Median 11.

Dalmatian Breed mean score 11. Median 10. 5 year Median 11.

Seems the pointer fairs a little better than the Dals!!!

So what is the problem???

Wendy (in France) will be mated June 2011

2011-03-16T11:38:00.002Z

Wendy - STOCKLORE FORREST WINDSONG [Uu] (Sire: UKC CH Stocklore Top Spot X Dam: CH Stocklore Vilia Forrest.
Will be mated JUNE 2011 :-)
The puppies will be FCI reg.
Please contact:
Dominique Vincent at dpvincent@orange.fr
or visit his website at:
http://www.dalmatien-mon-ami.fr/

ANOTHER STONE FORMER!

2011-01-26T00:01:00.003Z

Oh dear! the month is not out yet, and there is ANOTHER stone former
reported on the British Dalmatian Club Forum!!!

This is so much more common than even I thought, and I did my research!
Its time we woke up and smelt the coffee! We can not allow this suffering of
of dogs within our breed, we MUST put it right!!! We must prove we care about
ALL members of our breed and reincorporate the normal gene that is lost from the
Dalmatian genetic make up. Its only right that we do. We caused the problem, while
selectively breeding, we as custodians MUST now put right the health problem we caused!

New boy on the block!

2011-01-22T21:44:00.006Z

This lovely little boy is Stocklore Wizard of the Forrest (Merlin) at 5 1/2 months.

He is presently in Italy with he's co owners Barbara & Leonardo.

Merlin is due to come to the UK in July to live with he's other co owner Liz Sampson.

Merlin carries the Gene for Normal Uric Acid and will be at Stud both here and in Italy

To approved Hearing tested, Hipscored bitches.

Crufts qualified 2012 too!

2011-01-10T13:31:00.002Z

Fiona won 2nd Limit bitch at Boston championship!

I would like to thank my friend Liz Sampson for coming

to ALL Fiona's shows and recording all of her achievements

with her supper dooper camera!

Coventry Premier Open Show

2011-01-04T16:08:00.003Z

Fiona was Res BOB at Coventry Premier Open Show held on New Years Day.

Only beaten by the LKA BOB!

And Another!

2011-01-02T14:40:00.002Z

Yet ANOTHER stone former reported on BDC forum!!

Another stone Former!

2010-12-14T00:06:00.002Z

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!

LKA

2010-12-13T22:50:00.004Z

This is Fiona being shown at LKA championship show, she was placed 5th in a class of 17 (limit)

Crufts Qaulified

2010-12-06T11:53:00.005Z

Click on picture for bigger version

At 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.

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.

The AKC Canine Health & Welfare Advisory Committee Recommendations

2010-12-01T21:35:00.010Z

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.

BUBA. LKA

2010-12-01T14:37:00.004Z

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!

Another Win!

2010-11-21T20:25:00.003Z

Fiona was BOB and Utility group winner
today at Manchester open show!

Way to go Fiona!

In the US Fiona is no stranger to taking top honours!
She is a UKC Grand Champion and Multi Breed Best in Show Winner!
and Speciality best in show winner!

Fiona's win

2010-11-14T22:51:00.001Z

Now the immediate flurry of Fiona's BOB win is over
and on reflection it was wonderful, she won fare and square!
But now in the cold light of day reality kicks in and I realise
that now everyone will know her on sight, she may never be judged
so fairly again! She is a world class Dalmatian but prejudice runs
high & judges integrity may not be quite so elevated!
But I will show Fiona with GREAT pride, just so that others can see her! not only is she a beautiful Dalmatian
She can do so much to help our breed, BUT only if breeders want to help our breed!
I will now only ever breed for the Normal Uric Acid gene!

Fiona's first UK show - Best of Breed

2010-11-09T12:05:00.000Z

Best of Breed

2010-11-07T22:59:00.003Z

Fiona's first UK show (Coventry open)

Best of Breed!

NUA male

2010-10-29T15:44:00.003+01:00

Great news! A male NUA Dalmatian puppy will be joining the 3 bitches
that are already here in Europe!
More details soon.

Model

2010-10-25T20:21:00.002+01:00

Fiona was a model for Frank Kane at a seminar for conformation and
movement!

2010-10-06T14:57:00.007+01:00

Another stone former on the British Dalmatian Club forum - and they say its
not a problem!!! The poor dog! How can anyone allow this to continue when the solution is Fiona & Sally!!!????

Post operative pictures

IT IS NOT OK FOR DALMATIANS TO SUFFER LIKE THIS

Sally

2010-09-22T22:18:00.003+01:00

Sally is 'away' visiting friends and spreading the 'word'
that quality, type and 'Normal Uric Acid' is combined
to benefit Dalmatians WORLD WIDE!

Here is a great article about the political hold up to US registration

2010-09-19T12:44:00.007+01:00

Here is a great article about the political hold up to
NUA Dalmatian registration in the US... All About The Spots.
The Canine Chronicle
Click on September issue & go to page 180. Its an American online mag!
The journalist gives an easy to understand independent view of the
current state of affairs!

Fiona checking out her land!

2010-09-05T17:21:00.003+01:00

Click on picture for bigger view.
Fiona is a special Dalmatian, she carries the healthy U gene!

Our first meeting with the girls!

2010-08-31T23:19:00.003+01:00

Sally & Fiona

2010-08-24T22:14:00.002+01:00

We now have Sally & Fiona home!
We are so lucky to have been sent two such lovely Dalmatian bitches!
Sally is still a baby, Fiona is a fabulous adult bitch,
with outstanding construction and movement.

2010-08-19T12:34:00.004+01:00

Sally and Fiona will arrive at Heathrow on Saturday 21/8/10
After a huge expence in shipping cost - not to mention the time
it as all taken! I will be working a long time to pay for all this
but the health of our breed is worth every penny.

Sally will stay but Fiona is only here for a year,
Kindly sent to us on loan, by Carol Healy.

I cant wait to collect them!

US Registration - The FACTS

2010-06-10T15:46:00.011+01:00

Here is more fact instead of fiction! A genuine interested club member asked me why The American Kennel Club have not recognised the NUA Dalmatians. Please read on for the TRUE facts....

At it's Febuary 10,1981 meeting the board of directors of The American Kennel Club APPROVED the registration of 2 NUA Dalmatians.

By the 5th generation in 1981 they were typical of the Dalmatian breed, Dr Schaible convinced the American Kennel Club to allow registration of a dog & bitch.
The then Amercan Kennel Club president, William f. Stifel stated that "If there is logical, scientific way to correct genetic health problems associated with certain breeds traits and still preserve the integrity of the breed standard, it is incumbent upon The American Kennel Club to lead the way." The Dalmatian Club of America's (DCA) board of directors, supported this decision, however it quickly became highly controversial among the club members, causing the AKC to put the registration on 'hold' and this is how it still stands today! So because of all the politics involved in the US, it is OUR Kennel Club and the French Kennel Club that as ACTUALLY lead the way!
(If you think That the Dalmatian club of America knows best.
Then you should also know that this same club upholds the right of it's members to breed from unilaterally deaf dogs & blue eyes!?) Both of which, have NEVER been used in NUA breeding!

"(The Backcross Project in the Dalmatian breed was an excellent example of a
breed outcross well-purposed and superbly integrated; but the reaction of the
breed club was deplorable.)"

J. Jeffrey Bragg Author of Principles for Breed Conservation

Most recent correspondence

2010-06-07T10:36:00.003+01:00

Dear miss Evans, I am a vet and proud owner of two dalmatians. I want to let you know that I really appreciate your hard work to introduce the U gene in Europe. For me it's hard to understand that a lot of breeders totally ignore this project. It's a shame that they only breed for showring.Keep up the good work! with kind regards,Dorothea Pronk from the Netherlands.

Thank you Dorothea & thank you for permission to post!

Thanks

2010-05-30T16:47:00.000+01:00

It's time for me to express my sincere thanks gratitude but, I hope I am in order in saying NOT surprise, in all the supporting correspondent I have received in my determination to restore the 'normal' gene to our beloved breed the Dalmatian.

I have had letters of support from not only other Dalmatianists, but people in other breeds, geneticists, members of the veterinary profession, dog journalists and not least the general public! So many have been able to see the absolute sense in this project and I thank you for all your support.

DNA Test Results of UK Dalmatians

2010-05-26T22:58:00.006+01:00

From Animal Health Trust.
The results show that each of your dalmatians carries two copies of the mutant hyperuricosuria gene. You may be interested to know that all of the sample of 50 Dalmatians tested produced this same result.The Kennel Club Charitable Trust kindly made a grant towards the costs of this screening programme and intends to publish the overall result in the KennelGazette and on its website.Individual results will not be published.The Joint Dalmatian Clubs would like to express their thanks to you once again for agreeing to participate in this programme.

Followed by a certificate for each dog with an explanation saying the following...This dog has 2 copies of the gene HYPERURICOSURIA mutation causing high uric acid levels which may lead to URATE STONE DISORDER.

This gives a total of 55 uk Dals tested.

2010-02-11T11:17:00.003Z

Its strange to think now, but I had thought the clubs would have wanted to be apart of this new breeding line, and I did publicly say so on several occasions, but I have to bear in mind that their statement is just that
*their* 'the committee's' statement, there as been no input by the membership at all. (& we thought it was our club).

2010-02-10T15:49:00.004Z

On reflection of the clubs joint statement.
I am having a hard time taking in that our clubs
are just as good at misleading people on HUA
as some at the DCA. that statement was truly
full of misleading information.
I would have had more respect for them if they had just
said, 'sorry we don't agree with registering NUA Dals'
But to jump on the band waggon of using unrealistic statistics
and saying things that are just not true! is very sad for
the membership & even more sad for our breed.

It is summed up well in this..."Truth is the first casualty of war"

www.nuadalseurope.co.UK

2010-02-05T10:11:00.002Z

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COPY OR PUBLISH THE STATMENTS BELOW ANYWERE!

www.nuadalseurope.co.UK

Our Response to the clubs inaccurate statement

2010-02-05T09:50:00.009Z

To prevent any further misinformation from the clubs committee... Its a shame that the clubs have not paid attention to all the Facts First they say no photo's of the 3 (UU) have been made available, yet
Photo's of the only 3 (UU) are on at least 3 information websites, Sally, one of my girls is even from one of these NUA/NUA matings! I have carried around with me to EVERY dog event (including the joint clubs meeting) ALL the information including photo's of the said dogs! With full hearing results of ALL the NUA progeny since hearing testing became available. Unlike US AKC reg litters & even some UK litters, unilateral or blue eyes have NEVER been used in this breeding program! The last 4 NUA litters have ALL been bilateral hearing!

as these are supposed to be my words I give myself permission to print.

"The Breed Clubs are equally confused as to how, or whether or not, Mrs Evans will pursue the registration with the stated conditions, since as recently as 09 January 2010, she published the statement that ‘The KC offered me the 3 (sic) judge assessment to get my NUA’s registered! but I refused to do it that way. I wanted them recognised as NUA’s! with nothing to hide’. Does Mrs Evans’ position change, because only 2, not 3, judges are required first to assess the dogs? If so, what has really changed?"

I find this statement particularly Confusing! I stated at the clubs meeting for all to hear that
I was offered the option to have my NUA Dalmatian assessed by the 2 or 3, I find the number irrelevant, championship show judges, and if found to be exceptable as representative of the breed, could be registered as 'pedigree unknown' this of cause would mean that know one would have been aware that they were NUA or backcross Dalmatians ! However I wanted to be 'honest' about what I was doing, I wanted to register these Dalmatians as NUA with pedigrees & therefore EVERYONE to know their heritage
allowing breeders to make use of the healthy gene or to avoid using a dog with them in their pedigree, which of cause resulted in a formal application to the KC. The judging assessment is still a valid part of the KC's exceptance anyway. Is this so difficult to understand?
And as for "if Mrs Evans will still pursue registration"
What part of "The KC is GOING TO EXCEPT FOR REGISTRATION"
do they not understand!!
Julie.

This section is written by one of our team members (scientist)
I have just read the Dalmatian Clubs' submission to the general committee, and it is now quite clear to me why the Kennel Club ignored the Dalmatian Clubs. In terms of scientific content the article is a travesty - it is packed with contradictions, half truths and in some cases outright lies! The data has been manipulated so that it is biased towards their argument (and even then they got the numbers wrong!), and the overall argument that they are making is based on a double standard. It shocks me to see the complete lack of scientific understanding in this article, especially given that in the accompanying document they claim to have "spent considerable time in compiling factual data and analysis in respect of what they consider to be an extremely important subject". Right now I will focus on the abuse of hearing statistics in the article, which are used as the main argument against the registration of the NUA Dalmatians. The argument that Dalmatians from the Backcross Project have worse hearing stats than the average UK Dalmatian population is of course absurd. The statistics are (or at least should be) based on an average of the Dalmatian population, which is made up of many excellent lines with good hearing stats and many poor lines with bad hearing stats. The poor lines will of course contain the majority of the deaf Dalmatians and will increase the average deafness rate to well above that found in well bred lines of Dalmatians. The breeders in the Backcross Project have made it known publicly that all of the Dalmatians used were bilaterally hearing and that blue eyed Dalmatians have never been used. This has led to litters in recent generations where all of the offspring have bilateral hearing (as discussed above by Julie). The Dalmatians from the Backcross Project will have hearing stats equivalent to (if not better than) many of the best UK Dalmatian lines. The NUA Dalmatians really are the pick of the crop in terms of health, and it is simply not acceptable to claim that a small group of well bred Dalmatians have the same hearing stats as the national average - I am certain that many of the UK Dalmatian breeders would take great offence if one accused their lines of having a deafness rate as high as the national average! I will discuss some of the other erroneous comments made in the article at a later date (if they are not all covered in the mean time by other people).

From Dr S Morgans.. (another team member)
The Joint Dalmatian Clubs issued a statement to accompany the on-line publication of their Submission to the KC regarding the registration of NUA Dalmatians. In it they claim that they “spent considerable time in compiling factual data and analysis in respect of what they consider to be an extremely important subject.” Nonetheless, their submission needs correction.Their main objection is that the Dals of the Backcross Project will introduce American levels of deafness into Britain, where lower levels prevail. The AKC’s registration of blue-eyed Dalmatians and certain American breeders’ persistence in using unilaterally deaf Dalmatians in breeding has indeed resulted in a higher incidence of deafness in American Dals. But the Backcross Project has insisted that all Dals used have had bilateral hearing and fully pigmented (brown) eyes. In doing so, they have adhered to the same standards as those espoused by the Joint Dalmatian Clubs.
This objection is inconsistent in that the Joint Dalmatian Clubs do not object to the KC’s accepting AKC-registered Dals who really do have a higher incidence of deafness.
The Clubs’ assessment of the level of obstruction by urate stones and crystals in UK Dalmatians is based on an inappropriate use of the KC/BSAVA 2004 Health Survey. They have used the survey as an accurate representation of disease frequency in UK Dalmatians as a whole. In doing so, they have ignored the statement that appears in the breed survey results: “Warning: The results of this survey and particularly the breed-specific analyses should be interpreted with caution. The overall response rate was only 24% with breed-specific response rates from 4.5% to 64.7%.” The Dalmatian response rate was 30.6% of those who received a questionnaire.
You cannot extrapolate this to represent Dalmatians as a whole. In the first place, the survey was sent only to members of the British Dalmatian Club. People who join a breed club show a strong interest in learning more about their dogs. They are kept advised on health issues and how to deal with them. They are far more likely than the average pet owner to be knowledgeable about special diets, drinking schedules, etc., etc. that could help prevent obstruction from stones and crystals.
Then, out of this already select group, those who took the time and effort to complete the survey showed an active interest in the health issues that affect Dalmatians. This further differentiates them from the Dalmatian-owning population as a whole.
We know that, for anatomical reasons, obstructing Dals are almost all male. Yet bitches far outnumber dogs in this sample—289 to 154. That’s only 154 Dals from which the 8 cases of obstruction were likely to come. 154 Dals owned by people actively concerned with Dalmatian health issues and exposed to information regarding the prevention of urate stones and crystals. Even this select group could not prevent about 5% of their dogs from obstructing.
When you consider that the vast majority of Dalmatian owners have never heard of urate stones or purines and so cannot take preventive measures, you understand that the estimate of 2% made by the Joint Clubs is far too low. For the sake of our dogs, we have to recognise that the numbers who do obstruct are likely to be much higher than this.
Whatever the percentage, it is higher than it needs to be. Nor does the Dalmatian have to remain a breed whose health depends on special diets and other husbandry measures that most owners never hear about even from their vets.
The search goes on (and must continue) for other factors in the formation of urate stones and crystals, but the simple fact remains that they cannot form in the absence of hyperuricosuria. The NUA Dals carry the gene that can prevent that. Yes, it will take decades to spread through the Dalmatian population and its presence may never be universal, but that’s no reason not to start the project now.
As for there being no photos of the three clear Dalmatians publicly available, please go to http://normaldals.blogspot.com/ . You’ll have to scroll down a good bit to get to them, but you’ll get to see many other NUA Dalmatians along the way. We want you to see these photos! That’s why they are on the internet, the most public place in the world

This is from a Dal Club member... (vet nurse)
Just to bring up another point in the submission to the kennel club it states 'This small number of occurrences of the condition are easily managed by diet, and medication if necessary. No deaths have been attributed to the condition' Sorry to disagree but working in veterinary practice I HAVE seen a dalmatian die from complications of surgery after having his penis amputated after total obstruction caused by urate stones, (by a different veterinary practice) and sent for after care and further surgery at my previous practice, just because it is not reported it doesn't mean it doesn't happen!! There is no protocol in veterinary practice for reporting of such matters!!! and then to whom??? would it would be reported???? I have seen this very painful and YES!!!! life threatening problem a number of times, and would advise any owner if they see their dogs or cats straining to pass urine to get it checked out as an emergency!!!!!! RVN.

NUA Dals in Europe

2010-02-04T20:25:00.000Z

www.nuadalseurope.co.UK

Here it is !

WEBSITE

2010-01-29T22:46:00.001Z

New NUA Information site due to go live in 2 days!

Articles brought forward

2010-01-07T13:22:00.004Z

I have brought a few articles forward from other pages on this blog -
due to being asked questions which are answered in some of these previous articles!
So I am sorry if some of you are reading things you have already read.

Forward from October

2010-01-07T12:00:00.005Z

The Dalmatian is the ONLY breed of dog with 2 copies of the mutant genefor HUA - (uu) fixed into ALL Dalmatians (so you cannot breed away from it with in the lines we have).Sally pictured below, is originated from Dr Bob SchaibleBackcross project, started over 35 years ago. using a single Ch pointer now 14 generations away! You will note that Dr. Robert Schaible, is a medical geneticist then at the University of Indiana, this gave us the NORMAL gene(U) so you will see that both GiGi & Sally have 1 copy of the normal gene.We will DNA test all their offspring to enable us to continue to incorporatethe U gene into future breedings! In the US 'some' breeders still use unilateral & blue eyes in their breeding, however the NUA program as NEVER used either of these dogs, so better hearing stats may be expected over most other US Dals!

Forward from October

2010-01-06T22:02:00.002Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-02T16:03:00.000Z

Here's to a better future for Dalmatians!
They are here because of us, whether we work them, show them or have them as pets
If we choose to breed them it MUST be in their best interests too!
No matter how perfect a dog is in the showring, it is worthless to its breeds future
if we ignore health! I hope EVERY future breeder takes advantage of science - hip & elbow score, BAER hearing test (and DO NOT breed from uni's) DNA test as science permits and lets look forward to a bright HEALTHY future for our breed at least!!!

RSPCA

2009-12-31T01:32:00.002Z

The RSPCA report is out on pedigree dog breeding in the UK
Page 22 & 40 mention the Uric Acid problem in Dalmatians
It is all a very interesting read!
http://content.www.rspca.org.uk/cmsprd/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=appl\ication%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobnocache=false&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=123298\8647283&ssbinary=true

2009-11-16T10:22:00.003Z

S R Benedict 1916.
Click on name to read details of how
he used the Dalmatian in his research
for HUA. On the last page you can see
a pic of the Dalmatian bitch & her 2 offspring!

NUA Foundation Board

2009-11-14T14:45:00.000Z

A Foundation Board will shortly be formed
to oversee and safe guard the UK breeding
of the NUA Dalmatians.
In order to make sure all breedings are in
the best interest of the future wellbeing
of this project!

2009-11-03T21:12:00.004Z

THE APGAW Report. (The Future of Pedigree Dogs is Changing For The Better!)
This commission has completed its enquiry!
"A Healthier Future for Pedigree Dogs," 3 November 2009: The APGAW Inquiry into the health and welfare of pedigree dogs has now been published. This report is from a Parliamentary commission established to review the status of the purebred dogs following the video broadcast of Jemima Harrison's "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" on 19 Aug 2008.

The Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding
Another inquiry, the Bateson commission, was established by the KC and Dogs Trust will release its report early next year.

2009-11-02T22:59:00.003Z

WAFDAL.
World Association For Dalmatians
The NUA project in France
WAFDAL NUA

2009-11-01T13:35:00.005Z

Dr Danika Bannasch
Recently (at WAFDAL) tested 20 DNA samples
from Dalmatians in Norway as expected ALL
were (uu) High Uric Acid
Dr Danika Bannasch info

inh_renalcalculi1940.pdf Keeler, C.E. 1940 The Inheritance of predisposition to renal calculi in the Dalmatian. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 96:507-510

2009-10-21T18:44:00.011+01:00

THE KENNEL Club has said it is ‘minded’ to accept registration of my NUA girls from the USA ! Although the breed clubs will be consulted, their views will be sought only on health and welfare aspects of registering the dogs. So what is in the best interests of the health & welfare of Dalmatians could it be to be FREE from a defective gene?
The frequency and severity of urate stone disease, at least in the US there has been enough published research (Dr. Bartges included) to accurately state that approximately 30% of all male Dalmatians (15% of the total Dalmatian population) will have a urate stone episode severe enough to require medical intervention during their lifetime. This is not only extremely painful to the dog, but at times devastatingly costly to the owners.Listen to an interview ....http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/43-dal
In order to correct the health problem's associated with High Uric Acid.
The Dalmatian is the ONLY breed of dog with 2 copies of the mutant gene
for HUA - (uu) (see below) fixed into ALL Dalmatians (so you cannot breed away from it with in the lines we have).
The girls pictured below are originated from Dr Bob Schaible
Backcross project, started over 35 years ago. using a single Ch pointer
now 14 generations away! You will note that Dr. Robert Schaible, is a medical
geneticist then at the University of Indiana, this gave us the NORMAL gene
(U) so you will see that both GiGi & Sally have 1 copy of the normal gene.
We will DNA test all their offspring to enable us to continue to incorporate
the U gene into future breedings! In the US 'some' breeders still use unilateral & blue eyes in their breeding, however the NUA program as
NEVER used either of these dogs, so better hearing stats may be expected over most other US Dals!

Genotype + Enviroment > Phenotype

2009-10-20T20:32:00.002+01:00

In Mendelian genetics, a gene is considered either dominant or recessive, which controls its expression. A dominant gene will be expressed and its corresponding trait will be exhibited, even if it is paired with a recessive gene. A recessive gene will only be visible when paired with another recessive gene.Low uric acid (LUA) is the dominant gene and is typically referred to as normal uric acid for all canine breeds except the Dalmatian.High uric acid (HUA) is the recessive gene and is the major contributing factor in Dalmatian Stone Disease. All Dalmatians have high uric acid except the LUA descendants.When breeding a homozygous LUA Dalmatian (UU) to a homozygous HUA Dalmatian (uu), all progeny will be LUA (Uu). When breeding a heterozygous LUA Dalmatian (Uu) to a HUA Dalmatian (uu), theoretically 50% of the progeny will be LUA (Uu) and 50% will be HUA (uu).When breeding a heterozygous LUA Dalmatian (Uu) to a homozygous LUA Dalmatian (UU), all progeny will be LUA, with theoretically 50% of the progeny being homozygous LUA (UU) and 50% being heterozygous LUA (Uu).When breeding a HUA Dalmatian (uu) to a HUA Dalmatian (uu), 100% of the progeny will be HUA (uu).The results shown are, of course, averages over time, and predictions of what one can expect.

Stocklore's Sally Forth

2009-10-19T10:24:00.007+01:00

This is Sally pictured at 3 months. She has 1 copy of the NUA gene (Uu)

Sally is a great,great, great grand daughter
of Eng.Ch.Buffrey Jobee. sally was bred by
lesia Wood & Dr. Bob Schaible. Being lovingly
fostered by Michael Heflin in Texas
Until she ready to come to Wales!

Aberdeen's Goodness Gracious

2009-10-18T20:59:00.005+01:00

This is GiGi she also carries 1 copy of the Normal Uric Acid Gene (Uu) Bred by Denise Powell

Hearing +/+ Hips Good.