Dear German Pinscher Owners,

I'm a Canine Geneticist working at UC Davis. I'm writing to you to
ask you to consider assisting our efforts in understanding the
genetic basis of Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) in dogs.

As you probably know, the Dachshund has a pronounced susceptibility
to IVDD. Because of this, we know there is a genetic component to
the disease. However, the incidence is so high in the Dachshund that
the breed may contain few clear individuals. Other breeds are more
likely to 'segregate' a causal gene, improving the chances for
detection through gene mapping.

We have identified a half dozen breeds, including the German
Pinscher, that develop IVDD occasionally. This gives us some measure
of confidence that there may be a genetic risk factor that varies
within these breed populations.

The German Pinscher is of particular interest because it does not
share the "long-backed, short-legged" conformation of many of the
other predisposed breeds. This also is a uncommon problem within the
German Pinscher breed, leaving a large clear control group.

We feel that a real breakthrough could be achieved by looking at your
breed. You could greatly support this research by submitting cheek
swab DNA samples from your dogs. There's no cost to participate, and
all results and information are held in strict confidence. We hope to
recruit samples from 3 classes of dogs:

1. Dogs that are affected with IVDD or "back problems"
2. Relatives of dogs with IVDD or "back problems"
3. Healthy dogs over five years old that can serve as controls

If we are successful in identifying genetic risk factors for IVDD, we
will translate this knowledge into a DNA test that will enable
selective breeding to eliminate or reduce genetic risk to
bloodlines. It is our belief that genes for IVDD are shared among
affected breeds, such that a mapping success in your breed will
improve our understanding of the disease in all breeds.

If you would be willing to participate, please reply to this e-mail
or request kits online at:

http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/cghg/kitreq.php

Best regards,
Katy



Katy Robertson
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory
University of California at Davis
(530) 752-3864
krrobertson@...
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/research/canine/