DNA test for DM - Page 1

Pedigree Database

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by Blitzen on 24 September 2011 - 12:09

Since 2008 approximately 1,144 GSD's have been DNA tested for DM with the OFA sponsored protocol. 704 (60%) are clear; 223 carriers (20%); 165 listed at risk (20%). There are about 52 dogs whose status was not reported so it is assumed they were at risks and their owners did not want their information to go into the website internet database. All results other that the at risks are automatically added to the database by OFA. OFA  no longer lists the results of the GSD's that were tested using Clemmon's Flash Test; there are other dogs that were tested that are not recognized by OFA.

The tested dogs represent a very small sampling of American and German showlines and working lines. No one line or pedigree looks to be more or less affected or involved. One tested dog is described as a GSD mix. Some of the dogs tested at risk were showing symptoms of the disease and the test was used to confirm the diagnosis. OFA says every dog  tested that was symptomatic for DM has been at risk. Some of the dogs tested are not identified with registered names or parentage; many of those dogs tested at risk.

The complete list and forms to order test  is on on the OFFA.ORG database.




starrchar

by starrchar on 24 September 2011 - 15:09

Thank you Blitzen. Breeders- please test your dogs! It is easy to do and the cost is reasonable.

Kelly M Shaw

by Kelly M Shaw on 24 September 2011 - 17:09

We are testing all of our dogs for DM through OFA. There are a lot of breeders doing this now, but there are also a lot of breeders that do not believe in the results of the testing, etc.
Kel
Boeselager Kennel

Smiley

by Smiley on 24 September 2011 - 19:09

I just sent my kit back and am waiting for results.

It was pretty easy....jsut swab inside of cheek to get DNA cells and put on a special card they give you. My pup is 4 months old but better to know now than later.... 

I signed the thing that said they can submit results connected to her name even if it comes back as a bad result.

I also submitted her DNA to the CHIC repository for future research. That involved 4 swabs (brush-like) and you just put them back in containers and mail back.

I can't do cardiac or thyroid until age 1 so this was all I could do, health-wise, at this time.

When she is 2 and I can do hips and elbows and penn-hip (I know penn-hip can be done early but most people I have talked too said to wait), I will put the results up on OFA-good or bad.  I feel other breeders need to know if anything is found in her bloodlines.  I am sad that breeders do not submit bad results. We should all be working toegther to help educate ourselves on the gentics of disease and not trying to be so secretive and hide results. It will hurt the breed in the long run...

I also think just because an animal has a bad result doesn't mean they should be eliminated from the genepool.  It just means that breeders have to be selective in using that animal to make sure you are not doubling up on the issue.

I remember when a top, top Arabian stallion was found to be a SCID carrier (short story- a genetic thing that is really bad).  Well, we all didn't know too much about genetics then and people wanted to eliminate him from genepool.  But, what people didn't realize was that so many animals were effected (based on same bloodlines and not just him) that you could not eliminate them all.  So, we all just educated ourselves and TESTED our mares.  The owners of the stallion were cool to publish the results knowing it would crush his value (he was getting one of the highest stud fees at that time) but improve the breed. They continued to allow mares to breed to him but required that the mare owner could prove the mare was SCID clear.

But, I don't know anything about anything and this is just my opinion......

by Blitzen on 24 September 2011 - 19:09

Smiley, I think you are better informed and not quite as naive as you want us to think you are LOL. Your post was excellent.  

This test is not intended to eliminate any dogs from breeding programs. Breed worthy carriers  and at risks can still be used and the resulting puppies DNA'd as young as 4 weeks of age. At risk to clear = all carriers. In this case there would be no need to DNA the puppies.  Carrier to clear = 50% clear, 50% carriers, must DNA the puppies and retain only the clears for breeder. Then..... clear to clear = 100% clear.  Any GSD with DM must have inherited it from both parents.






leoetta

by leoetta on 24 September 2011 - 19:09

I have 7 dogs I have tested, my male is clear and I have 5 clear females, and one carrier female, who obviously will only be bred to my clear male. All are from German Showlines. I tested them all through the Vet DNA Center, only my male Zamp was registered with OFA after the testing, now you can only test through OFA if you want them in their database, kinda lame but oh well. I like to use the Vet DNA Center because I test for the long coat gene at the same time, I have three females that do not carry the long coat gene. Just wanted to share to add some into the original posters numbers

I too have heard of a handful of breeders talking about how they wont test because they don't believe in the results, personally I think it is out of fear. My belief is that you need to think of the dogs you are producing and the families that will potentially go through a horrible heartache because you were to afraid to test.

Barbie
West Coast German Shepherds

CMills

by CMills on 24 September 2011 - 20:09

www.animalgenetics.us also does this test for $45

by Blitzen on 24 September 2011 - 20:09

Barbie, does the Vet DNA center offer a database of the dogs that have been tested? Do they issue certificates and numbers like OFA does? I think it's the same DNA test, so I'm not sure why OFA won't list those results. It puts more of a burden on those who are using Vet DNA to provide copies of the results if asked.

Do you remember when GSD breeders didn't believe that xraying hips and elbows would benefit the breed? Sometimes peer pressure and educated buyers cause some to re-think their breeding practices. The day may come when it will be hard to sell a puppy out of untested parents, to get stud services on an untested bitch or to get any interest in stud services from an untested male. It's not rocket science to study the OFA database and conclude which dogs have produced at risks. It may be better to test than to have one's dog/s the subject of speculation.

by Blitzen on 24 September 2011 - 20:09

There's no information on the animal genetics test yet. I hope that there ends up to be  some sort of central reporting database for listing the results. 

leoetta

by leoetta on 24 September 2011 - 21:09


Here is the certificate that I receive from the Vet DNA Center. They do list a DNA Id number, but they don't have a database on their website. I used them to test Zamp and was able to send their results and a $15 fee to OFA to add him to their database. When I went to send the second dog to OFA after I received the results, they said they will only list the ones run through them at the University of Missouri. I called the DDC Veterinary and asked if they knew why OFA said this and they were unaware until I told them that OFA had said this. I think it's a $$ issue with OFA, they probably make more than $15 from the tests going through them to the University. He said there is no difference in the test and he did not understand why they changed, but agreed with me that it was likely a $$ making issue. I will continue to use DDC Veterinary though as I like to test for the Long Coat gene as well and it is only an additional $20 when you are running another test. They are super fast and email the results as well as sending out the signed letter. I put a link to a copy of each of my dogs certificates on my website on each dogs individual page as well as a copy of their hip and elbow certifications and the long coat test results for those that are clear. I only test for long coat because I like to be able to tell my clients ahead of time if we can expect any or not, I keep a waiting list for each litter and will tell each customer what to expect and can point those interested in a long coat specifically to the litters that may have one or two in them.

Regarding the breeders that had argued hips and elbows, unfortunately there are still breeders out there not testing elbows or hips and those that test for them both, yet lie about their results just for the almighty dollar and breed bad elbows and hips anyways, they hold no regard for the breed, the dogs, or the customers as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully someday someone will really start to give a damn and require all of these things before being allowed papers of any kind. I for one would be happy to have one registry for the German Shepherd here in the US, like the SV, and no not UScA (too much crap happening there) that would require it and get rid of AKC all together, a neutral organization specifically put together for the health of the dogs and the keeping of the pedigree records, all AKC is doing is assisting in wrecking this breed and many others by handing papers out like candy! Unfortunately the AKC is so ingrained in the minds of the general public we would likely have to dual register our dogs to keep Joe Q Public happy with his AKC papers!!

Barbie





 


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