The Southern Dachshund Association is organising the Dachshund breed booths at this year's
If dogs are your passion, there are plenty of doggy related activities at the show and lots of different breeds who will be excited to see you in the Discover Dogs area. Attend a packed programme of fun activities all day long in the Kennel Club Dog Activity Ring including Heelwork to Music, Agility, Obedience displays and the fast-paced game of flyball. Plus, see grooming demos, attend doggy talks for the latest advice and buy the latest goodies and gadgets for your dog.
Dr. Dan O’Neill and the VetCompass team continue to analyse the database of records from first referral veterinary practices and recently published a paper (*) summarising their findings on the health of the UK dog population.
If you’ve not heard of VetCompass before, it’s a project being run by the Royal Veterinary College which now has first referral practices providing data on their consultations so it can be pooled and analysed in order to understand more fully the prevalence of health issues in dogs, cats and other small animals. There are nearly 400,000 dogs now in the database.
The latest paper concludes “The most prevalent disorders recorded in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England were otitis externa, periodontal disease and anal sac impaction. The study identified some evidence that purebred dogs had higher disorder prevalence compared with crossbred dogs. Substantial variation was shown across breeds in their prevalence of common disorders. These results suggest that breeding reforms should target commonly diagnosed complex disorders that are amenable to genetic improvement on a breed-by-breed basis for the greatest population impact.”
A previous VetCompass report on longevity of UK dogs found Miniature Dachshunds to be in the top 5 longest-lived pedigree breeds with a median age of death of 13.5 years. You can find our own Breed Survey data on age of death here.
Ask your vet if your practice is participating in the VetCompass project.
(*) Prevalence of Disorders Recorded in Dogs Attending Primary-Care Veterinary Practices in England Dan G. O'Neill1, David B. Church, Paul D. McGreevy, Peter C. Thomson, Dave C. Brodbelt
Participate in our Mini Wire Lafora Progression Survey
We are working in conjunction with Dr Clare Rusbridge, one of the Veterinary Neurologists who first recognized Lafora symptoms in Mini Wires, to gather more information about the onset and progression of the condition, and the level of veterinary knowledge/awareness, an area of particular concern given the very low diagnosis rate in affected dogs identified by the first survey conducted in 2012.
To take part, please complete the new LAFORA SURVEY for each of your dogs that may be or is definitely affected. You will also be asked whether you would be prepared to complete the survey again periodically, which will be invaluable in monitoring and identifying progression patterns. Thank you so much in anticipation. PLEASE NOTE, ONLY COMPLETE THIS SURVEY IF:
- YOU ARE IN THE UK OR YOUR DOG IS FROM UK BREEDING
- YOU HAVE A CONFIRMED DNA TESTED RESULT SHOWN ON THE WHDC DATABASE OR:
- YOUR DOG HAS BEEN TESTED BY ANOTHER PROVEN RELIABLE DNA TEST
- OR: YOUR DOG FITS CATEGORY 1, IS A MINI WIRE, NOT TESTED BUT SHOWING DEFINITE SYMPTOMS OF LAFORA
If your dog falls into either category 3 or 4, we will be in touch to ask for further details. Your information is vital to help inform the research but may also be used for some data analysis. IF YOU ARE NOT UK BASED BUT WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION OR TO GET INVOLVED, PLEASE CONTACT laforadogs@btinternet.com.
"My pet has a Heart Murmur" - webinar recording
A free webinar by theveterinaryexpert.com
Presenter: Nuala Summerfield BSc BVM&S DipACVIM(Cardiology) DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology) MRCVS
European and American Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology
About The Webinar
It is always a very worrying time when a heart condition is diagnosed in a pet. A better understanding of what is going on and demystifying some of the technical jargon can be extremely helpful for us coming to terms with the problem and planning how best we can help. In this fascinating presentation, Cardiologist Nuala Summerfield uses heart sound recordings, xrays, ECGs and heart scans to explain what heart murmurs are, what can cause them and how these associated conditions are diagnosed and treated.
A volunteer's experience of the latest RVC IVDD Research Project
Mandy Dance has written with a short summary of her experience of participating in the
RVC's latest research into IVDD, which we publicised previously.
Today involved all the dogs, from Pringle at 14 down to Astral at almost 1 and the other 4 in between. The criteria were that they were to be healthy with no neurological problems or previous back problems. They must be able to be handled by strangers and be happy to be put through their paces on various equipment ranging from a treadmill, a wobble board and a stair case.
The dogs are fitted with sensors on their necks, backs and thighs and these are fitted to a computer in order for data to be collected.
Prior to all this the dogs are inspected for health and heart, weighed and measured and generally given a full health check.
Apparently [we are not in with them when the tests are being run, hence the sound temperaments] Riley was top of the class for all exercises closely followed by Rova and the girls all had varying degrees of obedience. Pringle refused the stairs even when offered biscuits as she just couldn’t see the point of them although she managed the rest of it really well, which given her age is good I think.
Rowena Packer and Myfanwy Hill, the RVC researchers, said everyone has excellent strong sound movement and once they have done their calibrations they will let me know their findings.
It was a really interesting day and something worthwhile to offer back to Dachshunds, and we are looking forward to doing the other study in July and will let you know more about that when it happens.
The Research:
The Royal Veterinary College is recruiting dachshunds for a study of how they move over a series of natural obstacles they encounter in day to day life, and on a treadmill. They are looking for miniature dachshunds of a variety of back lengths, including those that conform to Kennel Club and FCI breed standards to take part in the study. The study is very simple; the researchers just secure small sensors to the dogs' bodies that are easily removed without damaging the coat or skin. Only one visit to the RVC's Hertfordshire campus will be required to take part.
Who can be involved?
- Miniature dachshunds
- Those with both longer and shorter back lengths
- Dogs with NO history of neurological disease
- Dogs with NO history of orthopaedic disease
- Dogs who are fit and healthy
If you’re interested in taking part in the study please contact Myfanwy Hill at: myhill@rvc.ac.uk
Breed Seminar: Derbyshire - 19th July
The Dachshund Club will be holding a Breed Seminar and A2 Assessment on Saturday 19th July 2014. The Assessment is fully booked, but you can still apply to attend the seminar part of the day.
The Seminar aims to provide an opportunity to learn about Dachshunds, whatever your current knowledge and experience. The speakers will be Jeff Crawford (Voryn) and Jeff Horswell (Drakesleat) who will talk about the Breed Standard and act as assessors.
All participants can choose to sit the Breed Council's Written Assessment Paper which forms part of the A2 approval criteria. The Written Paper will be available during the afternoon and there is a Pass mark of 70%.
The venue is Overseal Village Hall, Overseal, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 6NF. This is easy to find, just off the M42/A42 and is a venue already used for dog club events.
Download a Booking Form here.
Importing and exporting: Do we understand the health consequences?
Over many years, UK breeders have established a reputation for exporting good quality dogs overseas. Many go on to become Show Champions, often to a new career as a stud dog or breeding bitch. Some overseas kennels proudly advertise that they have imported UK-bred stock to improve their line.
There is a similar story with imports; importing new bloodlines has long been a valuable way in which breeders and exhibitors can improve the quality of their stock, as well as adding to the diversity of the UK gene pool.
As well as exporting or importing desirable traits and genes, there is also the risk of exporting or importing undesirable ones. The fact that we now have a variety of clinical and DNA tests available for a range of conditions means responsible breeders can reduce the risks and share the knowledge about potentially dangerous mutations with breeders outside the UK.
Lafora Disease in Mini Wires serves as a particularly current example. Whilst Lafora can occur naturally in any breed, it is known to affect around 10% of the UK Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund population and they may go on to develop debilitating epilepsy, blindness and dementia in later years. As many as 40% of UK Miniature Wires carry a single Lafora gene, inherited from one parent (i.e. they are Carriers). Whilst the dog itself won’t show any symptoms, it can pass that gene on to future progeny. Over the last few years a number of Miniature Wire-haired Dachshunds have been exported to, or spent time, overseas for show and/or breeding purposes. Some Mini Wires that have been exported have been known to be Lafora carriers, and in one instance, as affected.
Last year, the WHDC wrote to a number of overseas Breed Clubs to advise that dogs exported from the UK over the last few years may have carried the Lafora gene, which means that no breeder should assume that it is safe to breed from any dog with UK genes without first Lafora testing. We hope that information and advice for overseas breeders has been passed on by those Breed Clubs to their members. Anyone mating a Lafora Affected dog
will be introducing the mutation into their country’s population and there’s a
1 in 4 chance that anyone breeding from a Carrier will be doing the same.
DNA testing for the cord1 PRA mutation in all three varieties of Miniature Dachshund has been widely adopted by UK breeders and the mutation frequency is much lower than with Lafora disease, but nevertheless we do also risk exporting this condition. Most overseas breeders will probably wish to have any dog they are importing clinically eye-tested via the KC/BVA/ISDS Scheme, which is able to pick up other inherited eye conditions such as Distichiasis, Ectropion and Entropion.
Those people importing dogs to the UK would be well-advised to ask about health tests that are routinely carried out in the dog’s home country. For example, many of the Scandinavian countries conduct X-ray screening for IVDD calcifications. Any Wire or Mini Wire imported from Scandinavia should also be DNA tested for the NPHP4 form of Day Blindness PRA. A research report published in 2013 made us aware that there are high mutation frequencies of Brittle Bone Disease in Standard Dachshunds from some European countries. A DNA test is available and Wires appear to be most affected.
Anyone who sends dogs overseas has a moral responsibility to ensure that the new owners are made aware of any potential inherited problems that might emerge in future litters from that dog, whatever breed or variety. There are identical responsibilities if you are importing a dog. If you are in this situation, you can contact the
Dachshund Breed Council’s Health Sub-committee for confidential advice on the potential risks and available screening tests.
On the internet
Does your dog know what sex you are?
Why your dog is smarter than my baby
A dog's attention changes throughout its life
Your dog loves you for the way you smell!
Do you need to get a cat? [video]
KC Code of best practice for judges and stewards [pdf]
