Date: Sunday, October 13, 2002 00:35:34
Subject: GDC NewsNote #10
GDC Newsnote #10
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October 12, 2002
Hello, GDC Newsnote readers:
First, the New Hampshire office is up and running, and as you may know, the
Davis, California office is permanently closed. Mail and phone calls are being
forwarded to the NH office.
We are still running the Eye and Tumor registries. I'm working to improve the
usefulness of the Eye registry to breeders, and would welcome any comments or
criticisms you have.
Below is the new address and phone info for GDC.
Note that we have a toll-free line now (1-877-741-2155). Office
hours are 1 pm-5 pm EST, but I'm usually around at other times and will always
pick up if I'm here.
GDC
PO Box 177
Warner, NH 03278
Telephone: 603-456-2350
Toll-Free: FAX: 603-456-2286
EMAIL:
gdc@conknet.com
**********
OFA MERGE
We are still working out the details of merging the GDC database with OFA, and
will be testing the process next week. Information on GDC dogs is not yet
available on the OFA web site.
RESEARCH REQUEST
Dr. Chris Walsh, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, contacted
GDC. He is working on lissencephally and cerebellar hypoplasia in humans, and
because these genetic diseases also appear in some breeds of dogs, he is looking
for information on affected dogs. Lissencephally appears most often in lhasa
apsos, and cerebellar hypoplasia (shaky puppy syndrome) is seen in terrier
breeds and chow chows. If you know of affected dogs, or can help with other
information, please email me at
gdc@conknet.com.
Dr. Walsh's web site is
www.walshlab.org
That's it for now!
George Packard
*******************************************
GDC, P.O. Box 177
Warner, NH 03278
Phone: 603-456-2350 or 1-877-741-2155
website:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/gdc/gdc.htm
email:
gdc@conknet.com
What is GDC?
Open registries and
resources to help
breeders of purebred dogs fight genetic disease
GDC gathers results from
veterinary screenings of individual dogs for genetic diseases and makes that
information available to responsible breeders, owners, veterinarians and
researchers.
In August, 2002, GDC will
merge its database with OFA, and will close all its registries except the Eye
and Tumor Registries. GDC will continue to provide information and resources to
help breeders use shared health information to make good breeding decisions.
Article on the GDC/OFA merge
OFA UPDATE - 7-18-02
Dr Keller FROM
OFA,
reports the following on 4-11-01:
98 French
Bulldogs have been x-rayed for HIPS, since 1974 the first in 1980.
0% Excellent
28.6% Good
33.7% Fair
2% Borderline Dysplasia - great low
numbers
21.4% Mild Dysplasia
10.2% Moderate Dysplasia
4.1% Severe Dysplasia - great low
numbers
35 French Bulldogs have been
x-rayed for Elbows, since 1990
5.7% Dysplaisia-rating of Grade I only -
this is fantastic :)
Now this is where I jump for joy!!!!!!!!
7-18-02 - Over 140
spines have been sent in, by breeders and owners since 12/7/1999.
Thank you, thank you , thank you so much
for caring about these funny little fabulous dogs.
Keep up the great work.
As of June 01, 2001, anyone who sends in
FRENCH BULLDOG SPINESdoes not have to pay the $20.00. Simply mail the
x-rays and they will take the money out of a fund we have set up.
ISN'T THAT GREAT , Do it now before the funds run out.
Constance Parker
Founder of the French Bulldog Spine Research
being conducted at OFA
In 1996 I sent the first x-ray ever to GDC for the French
Bulldog breed, he was and still is Ch Kae-Rae's Andante Misty Morn'g. He
is GDC Good hips and elbows, OFA Good hips and elbows, clear spine, OFA heart
and patella's, Thyroid normal, vWD normal and CERF clear of genetic eye defects.
GDC currently has 158 French Bulldogs on file for
x-rays. That is just right at 5 years testing.
I would like to thank all of you personally for sending
your dogs in for viewing to help make better choices in your breeding programs.
I feel that GDC gives our dogs the real rating at the
time of viewing and sees the x-rays for what they are.
OFA does not have one excellent rated French Bulldog,
and I simply don't understand this. Either there have been no French
Bulldogs submitted with excellent or they are grading them severely.
I have done a lot of x-raying and have gotten very good
and viewing them, but don't see the tiny irregularities such as cartilage
deterioration because I don't have a trained eye, but I see a
super set of femur heads inside the acetabulum sockets.
I would certainly think that all the readers from OFA
and GDC have gone to school and are very qualified to view x-rays as they have
degrees in radiology.
I prefer to view my dogs at 6 months and then at 12
months to certify with GDC as they are 85% they weight and severe problems will
be there at 12 months of age, so one does not have to wait until the canine is 2
years of age to ask for 3 people at OFA to view the x-rays. 3 Radiologist
view the x-rays at 12 months of age with GDC, this works for me.
