AKC Canine Health Foundation Alert

American Kennel Club and AKC Canine Health Foundation Release Podcast on Canine Reproduction [Thursday, June 19, 2008]

The American Kennel Club and the AKC Canine Health Foundation are pleased to release the next podcast in the series. In this podcast, Dr. Lin Kauffman, BS, DVM, a reproductive specialist at Iowa State University, discusses the reasons for using artificial insemination when breeding, and also some of the pitfalls of performing Ceasarean sections.

Recorded at the Iowa State University Breeders' Symposium, a program sponsored by both the American Kennel Club and the AKC Canine Health Foundation, this podcast can be accessed from either the American Kennel Club website at www.akc.org or the AKC Canine Health Foundation website at www.akcchf.org - click on "Podcasts." It is also available on Apple's iTunes® or directly at www.akc-akcchf.libsyn.com. Individuals who access the podcast through iTunes® are encouraged to submit reviews.

Clubs are encouraged to add the Genome Barks Podcast link to their home pages. Contact the AKC Canine Health Foundation to obtain graphics and links.

Upcoming Breeders' Symposia are scheduled for June 28-29 at Purdue Univeristy and August 2-3 in Syracuse, New York.

Click here to listen to the podcasts.

Click here for more information.

Click here to support important research at the AKC Canine Health Foundation and please consider a recurring gift.

Contact:
Erica Kitchen
Acting Director of Development
AKC Canine Health Foundation
919-334-4010
888-682-9696
www.akcchf.org

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AKC CHF Call for Participation

Research Area: Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease
Breeds: All
Date Request Posted: May 8, 2008
Chronic degenerative valve disease is the most common heart disease that affects dogs. To date, the cause of this disease has remained elusive. It is known that the collagen that provides much of the support in the valve is damaged in diseased valves. One popular theory is the existence of an imbalance between the proteins that break down collagen and those that prevent collagen breakdown. The proposed study will determine the difference in the balance between these proteins in normal cultured valve cells and valve cells cultured from diseased leaflets. Differences that exist between normal and diseased valve cells will help target future research projects and aid in determining the cause of this prevalent disease process.

We are requesting mitral valve tissue from dogs that have died or have been euthanized that have significant degenerative mitral valve disease. This valve tissue will be used to culture cells from the tissue in order for us to study this disease from a cell culture perspective. For inclusion in the study, dogs need to have a diagnosis of degenerative mitral valve disease from their veterinarian (if echocardiography findings are available, those should be provided as well) and the owner needs to be willing to let their referring veterinarian remove the mitral valve from the dog after it dies or is euthanized. The tissue should be removed within 2 hours of death or euthanasia.

At this point we are not studying a specific breed so any dog diagnosed with mitral valve disease is qualified to enter the study.

We are requesting the anterior mitral valve leaflet (the larger leaflet most associated with the septum and aorta) but if there is any confusion the entire mitral valve can be shipped and we can collect the anterior mitral valve leaflet once it arrives here. The sample should be shipped in phosphate buffered saline. If needed, we can ship tubes of phosphate buffered saline for sample collection. The sample should be shipped on ice overnight to the address below. Please contact Dr. Heaney if you need additional information.

Allison M. Heaney, DVM
Marsha Robertson, Research Technician
Washington State University
100 Dairy Road
Pullman, WA 99164 - 1120
Tel: 509-335-0711
Fax: 509-335-0880

Research Area: Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Breeds: Any breed, but particularly Golden Retriever, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan terriers, Lhasa Apsos
Researchers at the Animal Health Trust require DNA samples from affected dogs and their close relatives (siblings, parents and grandparents, affected or unaffected). The DNA can be submitted as a 5ml EDTA blood sample or as a cheek swab and be accompanied by a 5-generation pedigree and any relevant health certificates / veterinary diagnoses.

For additional information contact:
Cathryn Mellersh PhD
Animal Health Trust
Lanwades Park
Kentford
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7UU
U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)1638 750659
Fax: +44 (0)1638 750794
Email: cathryn.mellersh@aht.org.uk

Recruitment of Epileptic Dogs for Seizure Drug Study Continues -- All Breeds The clinical trial demonstrating the possible effectiveness of the pharmaceutical drug Keppra as an additional therapy in the treatment of canine epilepsy aims to recruit 10-15 more dogs to complete this important study in canine epilepsy. Dr. Karen Munana, principal investigator of the study notes that initial results demonstrate that this drug may be effective controlling seizures in some dogs with
epilepsy. By adding 10-15 more dogs to this study base, statistical
summaries will provide additional information to firm up this claim. The study is multi-institutional study, with veterinary neurologists from North Carolina State University, the University of Tennessee, and Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine participating.

If additional information is needed for interested referring veterinarians and/or owners please contact study research technician,
julie_osborne@ncsu.edu, or fax inquiries to 919-513-6830.

Dogs with Oral Melanoma -- All Breeds
Dogs with oral melanoma are being recruited for a study of a novel
vaccine developed by Merial Limited, an animal pharmaceutical
company, to determine if this vaccine can help to prolong the
survival time in dogs with oral melanoma. Dogs enrolled in the study
will receive the melanoma vaccine and associated exams and labwork
and radiographs which will be subsidized by the study.

For more information on this study email: paul_hess@ncsu.edu or
julie_osborne@ncsu.edu or call 919-513-6812.

Contribute to this and other education programs funded by the AKC
Canine Health Foundation.

Contact:
Jeff Sossamon
Director of Development & Communications
AKC Canine Health Foundation
PO Box 37941
Raleigh, NC 27627-7941
(919) 334-4015 (b)
(919) 334-4011 (f)
(888) 682-9696 (toll free)
jds@akcchf.org
www.akcchf.org