FAQs

There is no guarantee that your dog will benefit from its participation in this study. However, such participation may provide veterinarians and researchers with additional information and a better understanding of canine diseases, which could ultimately influence the course of treatment or genetic testing to help your dog and other animals in the future.

3. How much does it cost to participate in the study?

There is no fee for participating in this study. However, to submit blood samples, there may be a fee charged by your veterinarian for the collection and shipping of the blood sample (some vets may waive the fee if the sample is for research purposes). If your dog’s sample is directly used in the development of a genetic test associated with this disorder, upon your written request after the test becomes commercially available, the results of the test for this dog will be provided to you at no cost.

4. How do I submit DNA from my dog?

There are two ways: a blood sample or a buccal swab sample.

For the blood sample, the veterinarian of your choice will collect the blood from your dog which you submit along with the downloadable form (Download Blood Submission Instructions and Questionnaire). Please note, CGAP is not responsible for costs incurred for blood collection and shipping. We require 3-5 cc of whole blood in purple-topped (EDTA) blood tubes. Some veterinarians may collect and ship samples at no charge for research purposes – please check with your veterinarian.

For a buccal swab sample, when you request a kit (Request a Buccal Swab Kit), we send you a swab kit that includes detailed instructions. Briefly, you place the swab on the inside of the dog’s cheek and swirl vigorously and then mail the swabs and questionnaire back to us.

5. How do I submit a health update for my dog?

Please click here to submit a health update. We ask that you update the health information of your dog annually even if it is just to let us know your dog is still healthy.

6. Why do you need a blood sample from my dog?

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 need samples from dogs over the age of 7 years that are free from the disease.

7. Are there risks associated with collecting blood from my dog?

The risk involved in drawing blood is minimal. However, your dog may experience mild redness or bruising at the collection site. Additionally, the veterinarian you have chosen to do this procedure may clip the hair to facilitate visualization of the vein. The veterinarian who will be performing this procedure is the veterinarian of your choice, and the University of California Davis is not responsible for any complications associated with drawing the blood.

8. Is there an age requirement for sampling my dog?

For these initial studies, we prefer affected dogs of any age and unaffected older dogs (over 7 years old). If the health status of the dog changes after you have sent in the DNA sample, we ask that you please submit a health update annually even if the dog is still healthy. Please click here to submit a health update.

9. Do submitted dogs need to be related?

For the initial approach we are taking, blood samples from unrelated dogs affected and unaffected dogs are the best. We ask for the pedigrees so we can ensure the dogs are not related to one another at the grandparent/great grandparent level. However, the next step of evaluating transmission of the trait through the generations, requires related dogs; for those transmission studies buccal swab samples are sufficient, but a blood sample would still be preferred.

10. May I submit a sample from my mixed breed or purebred rescue dog?

We are only collecting samples from purebred registered dogs of the breeds listed below.

If your dog is a purebred rescue and you do not have any pedigree information on the dog, we appreciate your interest, but for this study, we need samples from dogs with known parentage.

For Addison's disease: Bearded Collie, Great Dane, Leonberger, Portuguese Water Dog, Standard Poodle and West Highland Terrier

For Epilepsy disease: Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Giant Schnauzer, Mastiff, Miniature Poodle, Standard Poodle, and Toy Poodle

11. My dog has one of the diseases you are studying, but is not a breed listed, may I still request a kit?

Sorry, we are collecting samples ONLY from the breeds indicated at this time.

These breeds include:

For Addison's disease: Bearded Collie, Great Dane, Leonberger, Portuguese Water Dog, Standard Poodle and West Highland Terrier

For Epilepsy disease: Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Giant Schnauzer, Mastiff, Miniature Poodle, Standard Poodle, and Toy Poodle

12. My dog does not have any of these diseases or disorders, should I still request a kit/send samples?

Yes! We need samples from both affected AND unaffected dogs. We are asking for affected dogs with veterinary diagnosis of any age. For unaffected dogs, we need samples from dogs over the age of 7 years old that are free from the disease.

13. Do I need to include a copy of my dog's pedigree with the samples?

Yes. A pedigree is very helpful in the collection of information for the database. Send a copy of the pedigree to: CGAP, Department of Animal Science, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8521

14. What if I don’t have a pedigree at the time I’m sending my samples in?

Please include as much information as you have on your dog’s relatives. The sire and dam names are required on the information sheet.

You may send a copy of the pedigree at a later time – include your contact information on the pedigree. Send to: CGAP, Department of Animal Science, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8521

15. Will you send me individual results for my dog?

Individual results will not be available. A summary report on the research findings will be available at the conclusion of the study.

If a diagnostic test is developed and you have submitted a DNA sample and your dog was directly used in the development of the test, we will send you the results of that dog at no charge upon your written request following announcement of the test.

16. What is included in the buccal swab kit?

The kit includes an information sheet for owner/dog information, sample collection instructions, 3 swabs (cytology brushes) and an SASE (stamped for U.S. residents only).

17. Do the swabs cause any discomfort to my dog?

The bristles on the swab are soft and should not cause any discomfort to the dog.

18. I dropped one of the swabs on the ground, should I still use it or should I request another one?

No, do not use the swab. The swabs are sterile and should be treated carefully.

You do not need to request another swab, we can still collect DNA from the other two swabs.

19. The swab broke or my dog chewed it during sampling, should I still send it?

Yes, as long as the bristles are intact.

20. The swab package says, “Do not use on pregnant patients”.

The swabs that we use are multi-purpose and the pregnancy disclaimer is for human patients only. You may still use the swabs on your pregnant bitch.

21. What should I do with the swabs when I’m done sampling?

Once you have sampled your dog, place each brush back into it’s own wrapper, write the dog’s name on each wrapper, and seal it with a paperclip or staple – do not tape it or place it in a Ziploc^® bag. If you are sampling more than one dog, sample one dog at a time so samples do not get mixed up. Send the samples and all of the necessary information back in the enclosed SASE.

22. Should I submit samples even if my dog is spayed or neutered?

Yes.

23. I’m going to a dog show, may I distribute buccal swab kits?

Yes. You may request kits and distribute them.

24. Is this an international study?

Yes. We send kits all over the world, however, we cannot provide return postage outside of the U.S.

25. It’s been longer than 10 - 14 days and I haven’t received my kit yet.

If there are many requests, it may take longer than 10 - 14 business days for you to receive your kit(s). Sometimes we are backordered, but we will post this on the website if that is the case.

26. Whom do I contact if I have a question?

amoberbauer@ucdavis.edu

27. Are there other ways to request a kit besides the website?

Yes. You may e-mail a request to amoberbauer@ucdavis.edu or mail a request to

CGAP, Department of Animal Science, University of California,

One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8521

28. How long will this research take?

As long as it takes to collect samples and then analyze them.

29. Who is funding these projects?

Projects are funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, Poodle Club of America, Seizures Disorder Committee of the Mastiff Club of America and various breed clubs and foundations.

30. How can I donate money to the project?

We appreciate your generosity. You can make donations through the Animal Science Department at http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/alumni/donations.htm. You can donate by check or credit card - please indicate the code initials [OTH] and specify OBERBAUER as the faculty member you wish your gift to benefit.