PLEASE READ THIS SUMMARY BEFORE YOU REVIEW THE UPDATED INFORMATION
THAT FOLLOWS ON THIS SITE.
Universities/Necropsy Resources
These universities/labs/vet’s offices are not in alphabetical order, but rather in the order in which
they were used. All of the dogs that have had a necropsy either in the United States or Canada
as part of the Necropsy Project are listed in the right-hand column with the owner’s name. The
middle column indicates cause of death or symptoms leading to a dog being euthanized.
For those dogs that could not be taken to a university, we list the vets who handled whatever
portion of a necropsy they were qualified to handle and there is a separate page for these
facilities.
There is a separate page for the Canadian dogs paid from WSCC genetics fund.
As you will see, we have added the complete pathology or vet reports that were available for
each dog. Some of these are PDFs from the University. Others were scanned in and converted
to PDF. When there is back-up that we feel is relevant, it is also scanned in. We will continue
to ask Dr. Mary Cardeccia to prepare the summary interpretation of the technical reports
because she is uniquely qualified to identify WS/GSD issues and relationships.
When the initial Health and Genetics Survey was conducted and the results delivered by Dr.
George Padgett, I prepared a results report. In this report, there are 14 systems of the body for
which data was received. Note that of those 14 systems; only four of them are responsible for
cause of death or symptoms leading to death in the first 51 dogs.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS
CANCER
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
CARDIAC SYSTEM
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
SKIN DISEASES—ALLERGIES
LIVER-PANCREAS
MUSCLE DISEASES
NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM
EYES
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
SKELETAL DISEASES
URINARY SYSTEM
Miscellaneous—not included in report
5
19
2
See notes below.
18
7
A fifth system is often thought to be the culprit when it comes to symptoms that look like
Degenerative Myelopathy—the Neurological System. For now, the dogs that were thought to
have DM are included in the Skeletal system since DM results are still in question. In no case
was there a dog that had symptoms that were attributable to just DM though—they were always
a combination of Intervertebral Disc Disease, Spondylosis, Transitional Vertebrae, Lumbosacral
Stenosis, Lumbar Stenosis, and Degenerative Myelopathy.
Of the 51 dogs with necropsy, 18 were skeletal, 19 were cancer, 2 were cardiac, 5 were
digestive, and 7 were miscellaneous. Six dogs were 4 or younger. Four dogs were 5-7 years of
age, 21 dogs were in the 8-10 year old range, and 20 dogs were 11 or older.
Note that for the dogs that have a diagnosis of cancer, all of them except for Teez, Jake, and
Emma had one or more spinal or neurological related issues found at necropsy or before being
euthanized.
Also note in the Necropsy Database there is a new category called Research. The first dog to
be entered is Pam Anderson’s Gypsy. All of our dogs need to be in a DNA Repository. We
don’t have one, but in my opinion, CHIC is our best alternative. With the DM issue and the fact
our dogs might have two forms of DM, DNA is needed to continue research. Gypsy tested
Normal for the OFA DM test and her blood can be used for research. All dogs in the Necropsy
Project will be required to have blood drawn and sent to the University of Missouri.
Judy Huston, President
White Shepherd Genetics Project, LLC
Universities/Necropsy Resources
University
United States:
Info—Primary disease
Necropsies performed for:
Michigan State University
Diagnostic Center for
Population and Animal Health
P.O. Box 30076
Lansing, MI. 48909-7576
Phone: (517) 353-5275
www.animalhealth.msu.edu
Jaz: Reproductive-Uterine Inf.
Ice: Skeletal--Spine
Raja: Cancer--Hemangiosarcoma
Storm: Cancer-Hemangiosarcoma
Jaz – Pam Anderson
Ice – Linda Rosick
Raja – Tiffany King.
Storm – Gloria Erskine
Emma – Joe Jasinski
Kyra – Judy Huston
Chance – Linda May
Luger – Michelle Koons
Quest – Gloria Erskine
Polo – Diana Updike
Misty- Chris Maluzhinsky
Bear – Sgt. Julie Jones
-Arrangements can be made at
the desk for personal cremation
to be paid by the owner
- Drop-off can be arranged on a
weekend, night, or holiday for
extra charge to be paid by
owner
University of Minnesota
Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory
College of Veterinary Medicine
1333 Gortner Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
1-800-605-8787/612-625-8787
Fax: 612-624-8707
www.vdl.umn.edu
University of MissouriColumbia
College of Veterinary Medicine
379 East Campus Drive
Columbia, MO 65211
573-882-7821
Fax: 573-884-7563
Vet Med Diagnostic Lab
573-882-6811
Fax: 573-882-1411
Iowa State University
Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory
College of Veterinary Medicine
Ames, Iowa 500121-1250
515-294-1950
Fax: 515-294-3564
Emma: Cancer --Multiple Myeloma
Kyra: Skeletal/Dig –Spine, IBD
Chance: Skel/Neuro –Spine/DM*
Luger: Cancer-Hemangiosarcoma
Quest: Skeletal – Spine
Polo: Cancer – SquamCellCar
Misty: Cardiac – Heart failure
Bear: Misc -Z-Leptospirosis
Teez: Cancer – Mal. Neoplasia
Shatz: Skel/Neuro—Spine/DM
Van/Hemi: M-Hypomyelination
Magnum: Skel/Neuro—Spine/DM
Zepplin: Cancer – Hemangio.
Nikita: Cancer – Hemangio.
Chance: Skel/Neuro—Spine/DM
Fearghus: Cancer – Undiff. Sar.
Gypsy: Cancer – Diss/Hepatic
Teez – Maurice & Shannon Seeger
Shatz – Nancy Harkness
Vanna-Hemi Puppy – Barbara Hively
Magnum – Pam Anderson
Zepplin – Julie Tittl
Nikita – Melanie Fuellgraf
Chance – Gloria Erskine
Fearghus – Beth Barkley
Gypsy – Pam Anderson
Jake: Cancer - Hemangiosarcoma
Dreamer: Cancer - Hemangio
Mac: Skel/Neuro—Spine/DM*
Daytona: Skeletal--Spine
Frieda – Pat Malinowski
Reka – Judy Grumdahl
Lily – Judy Grumdahl
Jake – Kitty Mohs
Dreamer – Judy Grumdahl
Mac – Pat Malinowski
Daytona – Shawn McGee
Pat: Skeletal --Spine
Pat – Terri Vest
Tygre: Skeletal--Spine
Tygre – Brad Hansen
Frieda: Skeletal - Spine
Reka: Skeletal/Neuro—Spinal Deg.
Lily: Skeletal/Neuro—Spinal Deg..
Oregon State University
Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory
P.O. Box 429
Corvallis, OR 97339-0429
541-737-3261
Fax: 541-737-6817
www.vet.oregonstate.edu
Super: Skeletal –Spine
Maya: Misc — Angiomatosis
Super – Rhonda McMahan
Maya – Oliver Lambert
Diagnostic Laboratory
Colorado State University
300 West Drake
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1644
970-297-1281
Dr. John McGee
Cantik: Misc—Toxicity
Cantik – Esther Cohen &
Avia Klein
University of Idaho
Caine Vet Teaching Center
1020 East Homedale Rd.
Caldwell, ID 83607
208-454-8657
Bear: Cardiac—Hyper Cardio
Bear – Brian & Lori McGeorge
Tufts University
School of Vet Medicine
200 Westboro Rd.
Grafton, MA 01536
508-839-7900
Dylan: Cancer—
Hemangiosarcoma
Dylan – Susan & Jim Ewart
Kansas State
Vet Diagnostic Lab
1800 Denison Ave.
Manhattan, KS 66506-5606
866-512-5650
Dr. Gordan Andrews
Kerstin: Anesthesia
Kenya: Digestive.– Inflammatory
Bowel Disease
Kande: Digestive – Inflammatory
Bowel disease
Kerstin – Alicia Lips
Kenya – Alicia Lips
Kande – Alicia Lips
University of Illinois
College of Vet Medicine
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, IL 61802-6199
217-333-1620
Case Coordinator:
VALLI/AKARB
Buddy: Misc – Toxicity: Renal
Failure
Buddy – Deb & Jim
Zafiratos
Purdue University
Vet Teaching Hospital
Maggie Mae: Cancer – Neuro
Endocrine Carcinoma
Maggie Mae – Susan Mcgrath
& Cindi Walczak
KSU Vet Teaching Hosp – Kande
406 S. University St.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2065
765-494-7440
Dr. Laura Baseler & Steve Lenz
VETERINARY CLINICS
Veterinarians
Winterset Animal Hospital
315 East Madison
Winterset IA, 50273
515-462-2650
Dr. Jim Pottebaum
Info
Necropsies performed for:
Ben: Digestive –
Diaphramatic Hernia
Ben – Michael Wright
IDEXX REF. LAB
Rippowam Animal Hospital 888
High Ridge Rd.
Stamford, CT 06905
203-329-8811
Kelly: Skeletal — Spine
Kelly – Robin Davey
Selah Vet Hospital
151 McGonagle Rd.
Selah, WA 98942
Dr. T. M. Beksinski
509-697-6111
Sadie: Cancer—
Hemangiosarcoma
Sadie – Noel Groves
CANADA:
Edgemont Veterinary Clinic
#12, 34 Edgedale Drive, N.W.
Calgary, Alberta, T3A2R4
403-239-4657
Fax: 403-241-1308
Kayte: Digestive – Mesenteric
Torsion
Blizzard: Cancer - Thynoma
Caprice: Cancer – Squamous
Cell Carcinoma
Kayte – Bette Gordon
Yager-Best Histovet
Histological and Cytological
Services
Suite A210, 49 York Road
Duelph, ON
N1E 6V1
University of Guelph
Animal Laboratory
Guelph, Ontario, N1H GR8
519-824-4120 x 54501
Fax: 519-821-8072
Diva: Digestive – Inflammatory
Bowel Disease
Diva – Debbie Martin (Real)
Lazarus: Skeletal - Hemivertebra
Seara: Cancer-Hemangiosarco.
Star: Cancer – Mammary
Carcinoma
Lazarus – Marion Lopizzo
Seara – Hannah Blacquier
Star – Marion Lopizzo
NSDA Vet Diag. Lab
Dartmouth Vet Hospital
61 Tacoma Dr.
Dartmouth, NS B2W 3E7
Dr. Paul Robb
902-893-6540
Shaely: Skeletal --Spine
Shaely – Trudy Scholfield
Blizzard – Bette Gordon
Caprice – Bette Gordon
The diseases or conditions listed next to the dogs’ names were proven by necropsy OR thought to be
the condition for which the dog was euthanized based on the symptoms. See complete necropsy
reports: http://www.wsgenetics.com/above_and_beyond_9.html
Age Range
Diseases and Conditions
No.
Dogs <1
CANCER
(19 Total Dogs)
Hemangiosarcoma
Other cancers
10
9
SKELETAL
18
1-4
5-7
8-10
>
=11
1
5
4
5
4
6
11
1
NEUROLOGICAL (included with skeletal—5)
CARDIAC
2
DIGESTIVE (5 Total Dogs)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Other
3
2
1
1
1
MISC
(7 Total Dogs)
Anesthesia
Hypomyelination (< normal myelin)
Angiomatosis
Toxic Etiology
Renal Failure
Uterine Infection
Zoonotic - Leptospirosis
TOTALS
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
51
3
3
4
21
20
See details below:
C=Cancers, various:
19 Dogs
DMN—Disseminated malignant neoplasia=1
HAS—Hemangiosarcoma=11
MM—Multiple Myeloma=1
TH—Thyoma=1
SC—Squamous Cell Carcinoma=2
D=Digestive System
5 Dogs
DH—Diaphragmatic hernia=1
MT—Mesentaric Torsion=1
EPI—Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency=1
IBD—Inflammatory Bowel Disease=3
Heart/Cardiac
2 Dogs
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Neurological
Still not definitive/5 overlap with skeletal
DM—Degenerative Myelopathy
S=Skeletal (All are listed as spine because some dogs have all ) 18 Dogs
IVDD—Intervertebral Disc Disease
LS—Lumbosacral Stenosis
Sp—Spondylosis
R—Rear, general issues/old age
Miscellaneous
______
7 Dogs
TE—Consistent with toxic etiology=1
M—Angiomatosis within abdomen=1
Z—Zoonotic—Leptospirosis=1
A—Anesthesia—died while having a surgical procedure=1
H—Hypomyelination of peripheral white matter tracts of spinal cord=1
U-- Uterine infection and Renal failure=2
TOTAL:
Updated August 28, 2012
51 Dogs