2015 Nationals DNA Collection: Interest in eliminating genetic disease must be
accompanied by the DNA to test for it. Here’s your chance to help! Please provide your
German Wirehaired Pointers’ DNA for research purposes. Normally, there is a $20
processing fee to extract and store DNA, but at a Nationals event, OFA pays for half so
your cost will be $10 per dog. If you plan to attend 2015 Nationals and have not donated
your dogs’ blood to the DNA Repository, please contact me if you are willing to
participate. Multi-generation families of dogs are ideal for research purposes. I will
collect one tube of blood and have the necessary paper work for you to fill out at the
time of the DNA collection.
Current research involving GWP’s
CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL DYSTROPHY (CED).
This disease occurs when the corneal endothelial cells, which pump fluid out of the
cornea (outer, transparent portion of the eye) prematurely degenerate. Corneal
endothelial dystrophy can result in blindness and be painful. At UC Davis, they are
hoping to identify the underlying cause as well as develop new treatments and a genetic
test for this disease. In order to do this, they are looking to enroll both affected and
normal German Wirehaired Pointers in the study. If you live in northern California, they
would like to examine your dog to determine whether or not your dog has the disease. If
you live outside northern California, you can still participate by sending blood samples if
your dog meets the criteria below.
To Participate in the study:
Patients that meet the following criteria may be eligible:
1. German Wirehaired Pointers with CED of any age (affected)- diagnosed by a
veterinary ophthalmologist
2. German Wirehaired Pointers 9 years of age or older (control)- Normal OFA ocular
examination in the last year
Please contact Dr. Sara Thomasy (smthomasy@ucdavis.edu or 530-752-1770) if you
are interested in sending blood samples or to participate with the diagnostic tests or
imaging. If you are able to travel to UC Davis, they are currently looking for both CEDaffected and control German Wirehaired Pointers to participate in this study. The
participants would receive a detailed eye examination (including a free OFA
examination if you like) and a test to confirm whether or not your dog has CED. Here is
a link to the clinical trials website which also has detailed information regarding this
study:
www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/clinicaltrials/current_trials/by_service/ophthalmology.cfm
Interesting statistics for our GWP’s
Thyroid disease- Rank #11- 547 evaluations from January 1974 to December 2014
76.2% Normal 9.1% Thyroiditis 13.9% Equivocal .7% Idiopathic hypothyroidism
Hip Dysplasia- Rank #112-4376 evaluations January 1974-December 2014
16.7% Excellent 8.9% Dysplastic
2006-2010- 550 evaluations **20.9% Excellent 6.4% Dysplastic
We should be proud as we breed better hips! Should we be doing more to prevent
thyroid disease in our dogs?
Please contact Robin K Nelson, DVM @ gwpoint@aol.com or 402-290-0585 if you are
willing to contribute to the CHIC Repository DNA collection at 2015 Nationals or if you
have questions regarding the corneal endothelial dystrophy study