Blood
Submission Instructions and Questionnaire
Belgian Tervuren, Belgian Sheepdog, Giant Schnauzer,
English Mastiff, Miniature Poodle, Standard Poodle & Toy Poodle
CGAP Home FAQs Update Health of Previously Submitted Dogs
A seizure is a convulsion caused by abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain. They may last from seconds to minutes. Some characteristics of seizures will include jerking of the limbs, anxiety, salivation, vocalizing, and loss of bodily functions (urination/defecation). Epilepsy can be caused by metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, brain injury, toxins, or brain tumors. A genetic seizure condition can occur in dogs called idiopathic (of unknown cause) or inherited epilepsy. Since a dog with idiopathic epilepsy shows no recognizable abnormalities, it is assumed to be an inherited condition in most breeds and demonstrated to be heritable in some breeds. Treatment of seizures is usually two-fold which includes treatment of the underlying problem (infection, tumor, injury) and reducing or eliminating the seizure episodes with anticonvulsant medication.
The following link is a video that demonstrates a generalized seizure in an English Mastiff. This generalized seizure exhibits the epileptic phenotype
that we are looking for in the epilepsy breeds under study (Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, English Mastiff, Giant Schnauzer, Standard, Mini and Toy Poodles).
Generalized Seizure Video We thank the owners of the English Mastiff for helping with this research. We know it is difficult to witness but their commitment to health is remarkable.
For detailed information about canine epilepsy and seizures, please visit the following link to Understanding Your Pet’s Epilepsy
from Dr. Dennis O’Brien at the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine:
http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/BASICS/basics_main.html
Call for Blood Samples for Epilepsy Disease
Although we continue to collect DNA from buccal swab samples, newer research technologies require DNA extracted from blood samples. Thus, we are seeking blood samples from affected and unaffected dogs. Affected dogs with veterinary diagnosis can be submitted from dogs of any age. For unaffected dogs, we especially need samples from dogs over the age of 7 years old that are free from the disease.
There is no fee for participating in this study although the owner bears the cost of blood collection and shipping of the sample to the laboratory. Some veterinarians may collect and ship samples at no charge for research purposes – please check with your veterinarian.
In the event that your dog’s DNA from the blood sample is used directly in the development of a commercially available diagnostic test developed by this laboratory, the results of the test for that dog will be provided at no cost upon your written request following the availability of that commercial test.
We appreciate your continued interest in our study.
Blood
Submission Instructions and Questionnaire
Please note UC DAVIS CAMPUS
HOLIDAYS AND CLOSURES if sending a blood sample
Please avoid the following dates for blood sample submission:
2011
January 17, February 21, March 25, May 30, July 4, September 5, November 11, November 24-25, December 26-27, 30
2012
January 2, January 16, February 20, March 30, May 28, July 4, September 3, November 12, November 22-23, December 24-25, 31
2013
January 1, January 21, February 18, March 29, May 27, July 4, September 2, November 11, November 28-29, December 24-25, 31
The
mode of inheritance has been defined for the Belgian Tervuren and Belgian
Sheepdog. The goal of this aspect
of the AKC Canine Health Foundation funded research study being done in
collaboration with the American Belgian Tervuren Club and the Belgian Sheepdog
Club of America, is to identify and
develop a genetic marker linked to idiopathic epilepsy that will allow breeders
to make more informed breeding decisions. To
this end, we need information on dogs that are affected and
unaffected with the disease. We
thank you in advance for your interest and participation in the study.
Please visit our FAQs
site for additional information concerning
submission of samples or visit the
American Belgian Tervuren website for
specific details about the Belgian Tervuren study.
Funded by AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Seizures Disorder Committee of the Mastiff Club of America. The study is designed to characterize the mode of inheritance of idiopathic Epilepsy in ALL Poodle varieties, Giant Schnauzers and English Mastiffs. If you are willing to participate in this confidential study, please download a blood sample submission form or request a kit that contains a questionnaire on your dog’s health status and swabs for the collection of DNA. We need both affected and unaffected dogs. The FAQs link will answer many of your questions regarding the study. We appreciate your support and interest in the study.
All disease information referenced from the
UC Davis Book of Dogs
UC Davis book of dogs : the complete medical reference guide for dogs and puppies,
by the Faculty and Staff, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis ;
edited by Mordecai Siegal, consulting editor, Jeffrey E. Barlough. 1st ed. New York : HarperCollins Publishers, 1995.