C.I.M.D.A have funded and are circulating a survey undertaken by Sara M Gould BVetMed, CertSAM, MRCVS at The Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital , University of Cambridge. This survey is to investigate possible genetic susceptibility and possible triggering factors to auto-immune diseases in dogs. The more common examples (but still rare) are:

• ADDISON’S DISEASE
• AUTO-IMMUNE HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA
• IMMUNE-MEDIATED THROMBOCYTOPENIA
• HYPOTHYROIDISM
• IMMUNE-MEDIATED POLYARTHRITIS
• AUTO-IMMUNE SKIN DISEASES
• EXOCRINE PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY(EPI)

 

If your dog has suffered or is suffering from any auto-immune disease and you wish to help with this important survey or if you wish to know more about auto-immune diseases please contact C.I.M.DA, 73 Osidge Lane, Southgate, London N14 5JL. E-mail jo@cimda.fsnet.co.uk It will only cost you the price of a stamp and a little of your time to participate in the Cambridge University survey.

I personally cannot underestimate the suffering by dogs and humans alike that these diseases cause, so please help. There is a print out describing emergency treatment of Addisons Crises/Disease to be applied by vets. This information is supplied by Sara Gould BVetMed, DSAM,MRCVS. For help from other dog owners who have dogs with addisons & Auto-immune problems please e-mail Penel on the following e-mail address. CIMDAsupport-owner@yahoogroups.com

Once Addisons Disease has been diagnosed, treatment is expensive and lifelong. The scientists in America are on the verge of finding the DNA marker for
Addison’s. What the research team require however is more genetic material. This is were anyone with a Bearded Collie or Standard Poodle (Leonbergers,  Portuguese Water Dogs & Westie’s are also required) with known ancestry can help.

The DNA test is taken in the form of 3 cheek swabs. Undertaken by you the owner in the privacy of your own home. Full instructions are given and a very short questionnaire has to be completed. An addressed envelope is provided also for the return of the samples to the USA. All it takes is a little of your time and the cost of postage. Both healthy and Addisons dogs are required for the project. Pedigrees are coded so that researchers do not know the names of affected dogs or those that have produced the disease, so it is confidential.

Please only request a swab kit if you will use it. If you have a Standard Poodle or a Bearded Collie and wish to help then visit the researchers website to
look at the work being undertaken or request a kit directly from them at http://cgap.ucdavis.edu/

The Latest Update From Dr Oberbauer In The US:

Bearded Collies 9.4% of the submitted BCs were addisonian.Hypoadrenocorticism is highly heritable with a heritability estimate of 0.76. Both sexes are affected equally . The statistical evidence does not fully support a single autosomal recessive major locus but the evidence is quite strong.

Standard Poodles 8.6% of the submitted Standard Poodles were Addisonian. Similar to the condition in Bearded Collies, hypoadrenocorticism is highly heritable with a heritability estimate of 0.75. There is no coat color nor sex association with the disorder. There is strong statistical evidence that the disorder is regulated by a single autosomal recessive locus but the definitive affected to affected breeding hasn’t been reported.