The KC today issued the following Press Release:
The Kennel Club has approved an official DNA testing scheme for Lafora’s Disease (Lafora) in Miniature Wire-Haired Dachshunds following consultation with the breed club.
This test is offered by Dr Berge Minassian (berge.minassian@sickkids.ca) at the Hospital for Sick Children in Canada, with support from the Wire-Haired Dachshund Club (WHDC) and further details can be obtained directly from either Dr Minassian, or the WHDC (www.whdc.co.uk).
Copies of all future test results issued by Dr Minassian will be sent directly to the Kennel Club, where the test result will be added to the dog’s registration details which will trigger the publication of the test result in the next available Breed Records Supplement. The result will appear on any new registration certificate issued for the dog, on the registration certificates of any future progeny of the dog, and also on the Health Test Results Finder on the Kennel Club website.
Results for dogs already tested can also be recorded, but owners will need to submit copies of the DNA certificates themselves. As many of the results previous to this official DNA testing scheme were submitted via an intermediary, any results submitted by an owner will be monitored to ensure accuracy in publication. If any owners have any concerns about their own results, they should have their dog(s) re-tested.
If the owner includes the original registration certificate for the dog (not a copy) then a new registration certificate will be issued, with the DNA result on it, free of charge. Please send any DNA test certificates to Health & Breeder Services, The Kennel Club, 1 – 5 Clarges Street, Piccadilly, London W1J 8AB, or scan and email copies of the certificates to hbs@thekennelclub.org.uk.
Lafora’s Disease is an autosomal recessive condition. This means that a dog must inherit two copies of the abnormal gene (one from the mother and one from the father) before its health is affected. A dog that inherits only one copy of the abnormal gene (from its mother or its father) will have no signs of the disease, but will be a carrier and may pass the gene on to any offspring.
However, by testing all breeding dogs for this condition, responsible breeders can safely use all dogs not suffering from this condition, to eliminate this condition over time to protect the diversity of the breed, without producing affected dogs. For more information on how to use DNA tests, please visitwww.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/324433/breeding_from_your_dna_tested_dog_web.pdf.
The Kennel Club continues to work alongside breed clubs and breed health coordinators, in a collaborative effort to improve the health of pedigree dogs. The Kennel Club is happy to consider a club’s request to add a new DNA test to its lists and would normally need a formal request from the breed’s health coordinator or a majority request from the breed clubs.
ENDS
3rd March 2014
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The Dachshund Breed Council UK 