Dr. Sue Reis DVM, chairperson of the American Rottweiler
Club (ARC) Health Committee and a associate of our RCC Health
Committee attended the American Kennel Club (AKC) second National
Parent Club Health Conference in St. Louis, Missouri on November
2-3, 1997. I have summarized her report for our RCC Newsletter and
Website, and her complete report can be found on the ARC Website at http://www.amrottclub.org/
American Kennel Club Health Conference
To date 86 AKC Parent Clubs now have Health Committees, 22 have sent
out Health Surveys and 15 clubs are presently planning their health
surveys. 26 clubs have established Health Foundations within the last
year, and 1.2 million dollars has been allocated in research funds,
presently funding 28 research projects.
It has become evident to genetic researchers that many canine
disorders/diseases have human counterparts that are widely dispersed
in the human population. This emphasizes the fallacy of any breeder's
knee-jerk comment that a genetic disorder is "not in my
line". Denial will no longer serve to keep a breeder's
reputation intact. Genetic testing will be the ruler in measuring the
health of a breeder's line due in part to increasing public awareness
of many genetic disorders in purebred dogs, medical and genetic
advances which have enhanced the diagnosis of genetic disorders and
increasing breeder and breed club knowledge of health and genetic
issues. Several speakers discussed the progress made thus far on the
canine genome project which is scheduled to be completed well ahead
of schedule in 1998.
One of the most interesting notes, at least to my mind, concerned the
"founder effect"...a product of domestication and selective
breeding of a species or breed, relating to the impact on that
species or breed when an outstanding stud animal is used extensively
in breeding programs throughout a population. Exclusive utilization
of a limited number of stud animals produces a decrease in the amount
of variance in the gene pool, which serves to amplify not only the
desirable traits sought for in breeding, but also the undesirable or
deleterious traits. The result is an increase in health problems seen
within a breed.
Topics noted included comparisons between genetic disorders occurring
in some breeds and the human disease counterparts, as well as
presentations on specific genetic disorders in various breeds and the
work involved in identifying a genetic marker for these problems. Dr.
Larry Glickman from Purdue University discussed his bloat study,
in which, Rottweilers are 23rd in incidence of breeds affected. A
discussion on familial or inherited hypothyroidism was presented by
Dr. Ray Nachreiner from Michigan State University. In a study
performed 3 years ago, 42% of males and 32% of females of one stud's
offspring were affected with autoimmune thyroiditis, demonstrating
the influence of the "founder effect" and showing how
quickly an undetected disease can be desseminated within a breed
population. Dr. George Brewer, also from Michigan State,
discussed dominant vs. recessive genetic conditions and transmission,
amongst other topics. The bottom line in recessive disease
transmission is that identification of carriers is essential in order
to eliminate a genetic disorder. Dr. Brewer has been involved
in attempting to locate the genetic marker for Von Willibrand's
Disease (vWD) in Rottweilers, and stated that researchers now know
that the marker in Rottweilers IS NOT the same as the marker in
Dobermanns, so they will have to start from scratch and study the
entire Rottweiler genome in order to identify the marker...
Genetic testing is needed to allow us as breeders to identify and
remove or control the breeding of a carrier dog, as well as allow us
to identify dogs having the gene to transmit a genetic disease with a
latent onset (one which occurs late in life, likely after dog has
already been bred!).
The formation of a viable Health Foundation lies with the parent
club. We must know our breed's strengths and weaknesses and be
totally committed to dealing responsibly with health issues. Parent
club leadership that passively accepts, denies, or even shields,
health problems is not leadership...it is strictly self-serving and
short-sighted. As examples of some parent club efforts...the Golden
Retriever Club of America uses an advertising policy, Code of Ethics,
nation-wide puppy referral program, internet homepage, and
educational programs at national specialties. The Shar Pei club, a
very small club in numbers, received a large fund raising boost
through the design of a Shar Pei Angel pin, which members receive
when they donate $50.00 to the Shar Pei Health Foundation. The Newfie
Club encourages members to make memorial donations in the pet's
memory and members receive plaques of medallions when they make a
donation...the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club offers gifts
corresponding with various levels of donations...the Boxer Club has
posters, paintings and breed sculptures...
The common thread illustrated here is the parent club leadership
role. In all instances, compliance to the Code of Ethics was
considered the highest priority. Board member compliance is enforced
in a variety of ways, and some clubs acknowledge compliance by
recognition of members, as well as giving awards for health
clearnances. The Portugese Water Dog Club does not allow any member
to become a club board member unless they fully comply with the Code
of Ethics, and advertising is not accepted in the
newsletter/internet/etc unless all health clearances have been passed
and proof provided.
In closing, Sue states that no ethical breeder goes out to breed a
bad dog. Breeders are, in fact, artists, not scientists, and are
trying to find that perfect balance between proper temperament,
conformation, soundness and health. Our health committee role is to
provide breeders with as much factual information as possible. We
need to seek the truth rather then sustain the myth, heresay and/or
innuendo. We owe that to our dogs and ourselves. She closes with a
quote from JFK...
"The greatest enemy of the truth very often is not the
lie-deliberate, contrived, and dishonest-but the myth-persistent,
persuasive, and unrealistic."
Dr. Cathy Priddle
