· Notice on Genetic Diseases in Shelties

Concerned breeders of Shetland Sheepdogs are striving to breed healthy Shelties and decrease the incidence of heritable diseases in the breed. Hip Dysplasia, thyroid disease, eye diseases, Dermatomyositis (Sheltie Skin Syndrome), von Willebrand’s disease (vWD), and epilepsy are some of the known health problems of the breed. Although these problems are NOT COMMON in the breed, the Board of Directors of the American Shetland Sheepdog Association recommends that questions about the health of the dog and its relatives be asked when inquiring about the purchasing of a puppy or adult, use of a stud dog and/or the acceptance of a brood bitch.

Does the dog and its relatives have CERF and OFA or PennHip numbers or an exam form signed by a qualified veterinarian for these tests? Does the Sheltie (adult or puppy) or its relatives have any of the above mentioned problems? Questions should also be asked about abnormal tooth alignment or missing teeth and crypt-orchidism (retained testicle).

The American Shetland Sheepdog Association (ASSA) is NOT advising you not to buy a puppy or breed to a stud dog if these conditions exist, but wants puppy buyers and breeders to be aware of genetic problems in the breed so that informed decisions can be make when buying or planning a breeding.

AKC-Canine Health Foundation-ASSA Donor Advised Fund

The ASSA is very actively involved in building our health research program. In order to do this we have tried to find the best way to invest our money and support projects that will (hopefully) give all Sheltie breeders and owners practical and timely information. The two main obstacles to supporting research projects are funding and the expertise to evaluate the proposals. To help overcome these obstacles, at the September 1998 Board of Directors meeting we voted to establish a donor advised fund with the AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC-CHF). This, in conjunction with the Parent Club Partnership program offers us many benefits. These include a fund where donations are tax deductible, interest is earned, and funds can remain in the account from year to year to accumulate until an appropriate research project is approved. The AKC-CHF provides matching funds to the Parent Clubs for projects approved by the AKC-CHF. This benefit is very important since the cost of research is so high. Funding for the first year of a project can easily start around $60,000 dollars and can go up each year after. That figure is not for the entire project but for each year of the proposed project. The ASSA has not had those kind of funds available and so has been limited to contributing relatively small amounts to research projects who had major funding from other sources. This fact alone limits us in our ability to attract proposals from top researchers. By pooling resources, we can offer more support to viable projects. The AKC-CHF functions to pool the resources and solicit support from many different parent clubs. The AKC-CHF sends out requests for research proposals to all the major research centers each year. These requests are based on the input of the parent clubs as to what are the important health issues in each breed.

The second important aspect to any research project is evaluation of the researcher's protocol. The best way to maximize your chances of success is to have proposals reviewed by experts, in the field of study involved who can properly evaluate the proposed materials and methods. This is what the AKC-CHF does. Three experts who work actively in the area of the research review each proposal submitted to The AKC-CHF. These reviewers report on the technical merit of the proposal. Even this does not guarantee the project will produce an answer, but is does greatly increase the chances of success. The importance of this function cannot be overestimated. We simply do not have the expertise to evaluate proposals from a wide variety of fields of study. There are many clubs who have been able to raise large amounts of money to support research that has not been productive. This can result from projects being supported based on emotional decisions rather than on the actual merits of the project. The AKC-CHF will not support any project that does not pass its review process. We have chosen to use this expertise for ourselves. The AKC-CHF also provides a monitoring of ongoing research projects they have funded. Researchers are required to report to the Foundation and the Parent Club on the progress of the project. This helps to avoid the problems of projects just "fading away," or after the money is donated, the clubs have difficulty contacting the researchers and being unable to obtain information on how the project is progressing.

The ASSA donor advised fund has been used to fund its first major project. This is AKC-CHF Grant 1841 to study Dematomyositis in the Shetland Sheepdog. Remember without funds, there is no research. Donations can be sent directly to the AKC-CHF 251 W. Garfield Road Suite 160, Aurora, Ohio 44202. Be sure to designate it for the ASSA Donor Advised Fund. You can also send donations to the ASSA for inclusion in the ASSA Health fund. Funds are needed for both. The donor advised funds can only be released with the O.K. of the ASSA and the AKC CHF. The funds in the ASSA Health fund are controlled by the ASSA only.

ASSA DNA BANK

GeneSearch LLC

Dr. Mary Whiteley, Coordinator

DNA Banking is a way to collect and store DNA samples from many Shelties with many different problems (and healthy ones too) so that they are available for future research projects. We want to avoid the delay many projects experience trying to collect samples when they are needed. The samples most in demand at this time are ones for those health problems most common in Shelties today and include DM, epilepsy, thyroid disease, hip dysplasia and kidney disease. It is important to have samples from affected dogs and their unaffected relatives. Many of these dogs may not be available at the time a research project develops, but their stored DNA will always be available to researchers. The number and types of samples stored may provide valuable information about the current health status of our breed and can be used to guide us in soliciting and supporting various research projects.

The information we can gather from this source is invaluable to our breed. Samples are needed from both healthy dogs and those with known health problems. When a research project is developed and funded and samples are needed researchers can approach the ASSA for release of a set of samples fitting their research needs, for instance Shelties with allergy problems, or those with arthritis. Release of any sample cannot be done without the approval of the ASSA.

The creation of the "bank" of samples should increase the ease and speed of research, since a ready source of samples will be available when it is needed and the time to solicit collect and process samples eliminated. The DNA bank will also serve to encourage researchers to pursue projects of interest to the Shetland Sheepdog, since a known source of samples is available. There is nothing more frustrating to a researcher than to spend large amounts of time designing a project, writing a proposal and raising the funding for a project only to find that the samples needed for the project cannot be collected in a timely manner. Samples to the DNA bank can come from any Shetland Sheepdog. The owner does not have to be an ASSA member. Please let others know of this project and encourage their participation. The benefits to the Breed are immeasurable but there are also benefits to the individual owner. The DNA samples can be stored for many years. Dr. Whiteley can provide owners with a DNA sample card that can be used for genetic tests as they are developed. This would mean the ability to trace back through your breeding program since the samples will be around even after the dog is gone.

How can I participate? Collection of samples is a simple and inexpensive procedure. The owner requests a sample kit from GeneSearch (there is no cost for the kit). The owner has 2 mls of blood collected into an EDTA (purple top) tube and sent to GeneSearch. A short history form is included with the sample kit. Forms for updating the information on any animal stored in the bank will be sent out periodically to the owners so that information about each animal can reflect different conditions that may arise during the animal's lifetime. The sample, the history form and a pedigree are returned to GeneSearch. Dr. Whiteley will extract the DNA and will store it on sample cards and as frozen samples. The DNA will be cataloged and stored for future research purposes. A duplicate of all samples will be sent to a backup facility for long term storage. This program is entirely confidential; no names of owners, kennels or dogs will be used in any research studies. The cost for each sample processed is $20.00. To encourage the formation of the bank and to help it grow quickly, the ASSA will subsidize the cost of all samples submitted by ASSA members for the first two years of collection. The ASSA will contribute $5.00 dollars so the final cost to each ASSA owner for each sample will be $15.00.

For sample kits contact GeneSearch at: 301-770-6970 or e-mail info@genesearch.net or visit the web page at www.genesearch.net.

ASSA HEALTH SURVEY RESULTS
2000

We have received a very good response to our Shetland Sheepdog Health Survey. We have received responses from 43 states The District of Columbia, and many parts of Canada. The majority of the people responding have been in the breed 1-5 years with the second largest group of respondents in the 6-10 year category followed by those in 15 or more years and then those in 11-15 years. Primary interests (in descending order) were companion, obedience, agility, conformation, breeder and herding. Many owners responded with interest in more than one category. The large majority of the respondents owned 1-4 Shelties. Others reported from 5 up to 18 dogs. Dermatomyositis and hypothyroidism top the list of reported health problems followed by hip dysplasia, arthritis, kidney failure, seizures, allergies, undefined cancers, and missing teeth. This is very preliminary information. This does give us some important categories for collection of samples for our DNA bank. If you have a Sheltie with any of these (or other) conditions send a blood sample to our DNA bank at GeneSearch LLC. Samples from related healthy individuals are also important. Someday projects will be developed to study these problems and your samples will be very important. Even if the animal is no longer alive at the time of the study his/her DNA can be included in the research. On a very positive note, 44% of our respondents took the time to fill out the information for healthy Shelties with no known health problems. This does not mean that 55% of Shelties have some health problem. The problem list includes everything from missing teeth to poor temperament. Most people I spoke with did not send in the questionnaire for healthy dogs without any known problems. Remember information from ALL Shelties is important. The lifestyles, feeding and vaccination protocols of the healthy dogs may give important information as to why they have no health problems.

ASSA HEALTH FUND SPONSORSHIP

APPLICATION

Our Purpose: To promote the health and well being of the purebred Shetland Sheepdog. We will accomplish this goal through research and public education. We encourage all breeders and owners of Shetland Sheepdogs to be aware of health problems in the breed and to use all resources available to them to ensure the lifelong health and well being of all Shelties in their care. We function as a public resource and clearing house for information related to health concerns as they pertain to the purebred Shetland Sheepdog.

Today, the ASSA is taking a very active role in the health of the Shetland Sheepdog. We support research projects and educational programs, and provide a wide variety of health-related materials to individual Sheltie owners and breeders as well as Sheltie clubs. You can help!!

For more information on ASSA Health Research issues please contact: Mary Mahaffey

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We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the individuals and groups for their contributions to the ASSA Health Fund. All donations go towards research. So to all our donors let me say THANK YOU!

General Health Fund

(Funds available to any research project and our Donor Advised Fund)

Nancy Ager Madeline Aldrich Breeya Barbee

Beverly Miller Al & Liz Bianchi Dixie Bolgiano

Patricia Butler Franki Carothers Susan Christie

Jean Clodwick Barbare Cole Linda Cornella

Mary Couzens Donna Crabtree Cheryl Crawford

Jane Davies Sharleen DeFee-Rubenstein Yvonne DeFreitas

Ginny Dennis Evergreen SSC Anita Frey

Zana Friend Laura Georgi SSC of Georgia

Rebecca & Cary Goldberg Cathi Gorman Mary Gott

Monica Grant Mona Hartwig Sharon Hill

Alice Hoersch Rita Hoffman Phyllis Holst DVM

Jane Howard Carol Howell Julie Iverson DVM

Heidi Jacobson Keith Jones Akira Kanda

Lyn & Robert Krivanek Marlene Kuhn Mayann & Frank Lannon

Janice Leonard Mary Mahaffey DVM Sharon Mauzy

Mid Arizona SSC Deborah & Donald Miller Janice Miller

Laura Morrison Nashville SSC Holly Neal

Northern California SS Herding C Gayle Rizzo Laura Rubin

Beverly Sack Kathleen Schmutz Marilyn Schultz

Pamela Schussel Donna Shade DVM SSC Western New York

Neal Simms Harriet Smith Houston SSC

Anchorage SSC Mary Stuller SSC Tampa Bay Area

Three Rivers SSC Donald and Rose Tomlin Ann Torkelson

Triangle SSC Joseph and Sondra Wich

1) Hargis, A.M., Haupt, K.H., Hegreberg, G.A., Prieur, D.J., and Moore, M.P. (1984)
Familial canine Dermatomyositis. Initial characterization of the cutaneous and muscular lesions. American Journal of Pathology, 116, 234-244.

2) Hargis, A.M.,G.A., Prieur, D.J., Haupt, K.H.and Collier, L.L. (1986a).
Post-mortem findings in a Shetland sheepdog with Dermatomyositis.Veterinary Pathology, 23, 509-511.

3) Hargis, A.M.,G.A., Prieur, D.J., Haupt, K.H., Collier, L.L., Evermann, J.F., and Ladiges, W.C. (1986b). Postmortem findings in four litters of dogs with familial canine Dermatomyositis. American Journal of Pathology, 123, 480-496.

4) Hargis, A.M.,G.A., Prieur, D.J., Haupt, K.H., McDonald, T.L. and Moore, M.P. (1986c). Prospective study of familial canine Dermatomyositis. Correlationof the severity of Dermatomyositis and circulating immune complex levels. American Journal of Pathology, 123, 465-479.

5) Hargis, A.M. and Mundell, A.C. (1992) Familial Canine Dermatomyositis. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian Volume 14, No. 7, July 1992, 855-862.

6) Kunkle, G.A., Chrisman, D.L., Gross, T.L., Fadok, V. and Werner, L.L. (1985) Dermatomyositis in collie dogs. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 7, 185-192.

Three to 5 Shelties are needed for a study to evaluate a new drug, Dapsone, which is an oral medication found to be effective in the treatment of DM in humans. These dogs would be donated to the study and then altered, if needed, and placed in permanent adoptive homes following the drug study. Please see contact information below if you are interested in donating a DM affected Sheltie to the study. It may be altered or intact, with or without registration papers, as long as it is a purebred Sheltie.

Dr. Christine Rees, DVM, DACVD                                      979-845-2351
Texas A&M University                                                CREES@cvm.tamu.edu
Small Animal Clinic
College Station, TX

Sherry Lindsey, RN BSN                                               830-620-6661
PO BOX 310233                                                         shalainetx@aol.com
New Braunfels, TX 78131-0233

* Biopsy specimens: We suggest that DM biopsy specimens be submitted to Dr. Joanne Mansell who is collaborating in the DM research on Shelties. Her dermatohistopathology submission form, complete with mailing address and cost, is on the DM website, http://www.shalaine.com/DM/DM.html , at the "Biopsy Information for Vets" page.

ASSA and the Collie folks received a proposal from Dr. Keith Murphy of Texas A&M regarding the identification of the gene for DM. I will quote a very small portion of the proposal we received from Texas A&M:

"Our laboratory carried out linkage studies in the Shetland Sheepdog and identified a region of canine chromosome 35 (CFA35) that may harbor a locus having an affect on the DM phenotype. We have also generated a gene expression of DM in the Shetland Sheepdog and identified more than 200 genes that are differentially regulated in diseased dogs. We propose to further investigate genes on CFA35, as well as genes of interest identified using the expression data. Our goal is to (1) identify candidate genes for DM and (2) develop a genetic test for early identification of affected dogs."

The Collie folks had already put in half the money to fund the study - roughly $40,000. The ASSA Board looked at pros and cons of this study, including the fact that Texas A&M might find the gene, might only find a likely marker or might not find anything. However, Dr. Murphy's staff has successfully found the genes for other breeds' diseases.

In the end, THE ASSA BOARD VOTED TO SPEND $40,000 TO FUND THE DM STUDY BY TEXAS A&M.

This was the ENTIRE SUM in the health portion of the ASSA Foundation's money. Donations to the ASSA foundation would be greatly appreciated. For more information on the ASSA foundation click here.

"Canine Gene Discovery and Epilepsy Therapy". Dr. George Brewer, VetGen's Scientific Director is the Principal Investigator.

VetGen, the world's leader in veterinary genetic disease research and test development, will focus on discovering new disease genes responsible for hereditary epilepsy in dogs and humans. This research will be funded by a NIH grant entitled "Canine Gene Discovery and Epilepsy Therapy". Dr. George Brewer, VetGen's Scientific Director is the Principal Investigator.

The goal is to develop a linked gene marker to one or more canine epilepsy genes. Developing such linkages is expected to lead to new gene discoveries benefiting both therapy in humans and genetic testing in dogs. VetGen will focus on collecting samples from families of Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs in which hereditary epilepsy has been documented.

Your help is quickly needed to further this research! VetGen will focus on collecting families of Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs in which two or more dogs have been diagnosed with hereditary epilepsy. Informative families of other breeds are also welcome to participate in this research, because similar studies will soon follow in other breeds. To carry out the study we collect samples from affected dogs and their close relatives. Participation in all of VetGen's research is completely free and confidential. Cheek swabs are used to collect DNA samples from the inside of the dog's mouth making participation very easy.

Research participants will receive their dog's results at no charge when a test is developed. Please call Catherine Inosine, VetGen's Research Coordinator at (800) 483-8436 to learn more about participating in this cutting edge canine research project. With the help of breeders, we can identify the gene(s) responsible for this disease and by appropriate breeding, greatly reduce this major health problem.

Announcing the official launch of the Canine Epilepsy Network web site! This site, sponsored by the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, provides a resource for breeders, owners, veterinarians, and researchers concerned with canine epilepsy. The site include basic epilepsy information, an invitation to participate in Canine Health Foundation funded research into the genetics of inherited epilepsy, updates on the research, a discussion panel, and links to additional information. We invite you to visit the site at www.cvm.missouri.edu/cen/ If you need additional information not provided in the site, or have any questions, please contact me. Thank you in advance!

Liz Hansen
Coordinator of Veterinary Info
Dr. Gary Johnson's lab - Dept of Vet. Path.
209A Connaway Hall
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
(573)884-3712 (office)
(573) 884-5414 (department fax)

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) requests for pre-proposals went out in early September. This is the beginning of the process that the CHF uses to find and evaluate research projects. All Parent Clubs are surveyed in the early summer to determine what health priorities each group has. The CHF then compiles these and sends them out to over 2500 research institutions. Interested researchers then send it a pre-proposal outlining their intended projects. After further evaluation requests for full proposals are sent out. Once the full proposals are returned 3 independent experts in the intended area of research evaluate them. The AKC CHF will contact the various Parent Clubs, which may be interested in supporting those projects, which pass the screening process, and give them an opportunity to participate. This year (as has been the case for the previous years) our top priority has been for research into Dermatomyositis. It will still be some time before we know if there are any proposals to do the research but we are hopeful.

In order to be ready for any and all projects that may be proposed we need to continue to collect and store DNA samples from Shelties with any health problems and their unaffected relatives. Right now we are asking for blood samples from any affected Shetland Sheepdogs that have been diagnosed with Dermatomyositis by BIOPSY. The samples should be sent to the ASSA DNA BANK we have with GeneSearch LLC. You can contact GeneSearch by phone at 301 770-6970 or on the web at www.genesearch.net to request sample collection kits. In this particular instance we do not need a pedigree on the affected dog, only a copy of the biopsy report. This means that even rescue dogs can be part of this study collection. Just mark your information sheet as no pedigree provided-rescue dog. BE SURE TO INCLUDE A COPY OF THE BIOPSY REPORT. If you have a pedigree please provide it since it will add to the value of the sample for other projects. We may need these samples very soon so don’t wait. If you have already contributed to the DNA Bank we thank you.

Any samples sent to the ASSA DNA Bank will further the goals of the ASSA Health Committee. Think of the $20.00 submission cost as your contribution to improving the health of all Shelties. Although our current focus is on DM research there are other health issues that affect our breed and will need to be addressed. Any samples sent in are available for many projects even years from now. For more information about the DNA Bank visit the GeneSearch web site and our own web site at www.assa.org.

If you know of someone interested in doing research into any Sheltie health related issues have them contact the AKC-CHF for information on how to submit proposals. We use the expertise of the CHF to help us in our project selection.

In looking for a new Sheltie puppy, I would suggest that you look at the following health criteria. With any health, temperament, or physical attribute it is important that BOTH PARENTS be considered. Both the sire and the dam should have had their hips checked for normal hip conformation. The breeder should be able to provide copies of an OFA certificate or a PennHip evaluation for each parent. It would be nice to see that the hips had been checked for many generations on both sides (OFA # or PennHip #). If the sire or dam is less than 2 years of age a preliminary OFA radiograph should have been done (PennHip can be done as early as 4 months of age). With these younger sires and dams the test status of the grandparents (their parents) becomes much more important. Both the sire and the dam should have their eyes checked yearly by a Board Certified Ophthalmologist. The first one can be done as young as 8 weeks so there is no excuse for a dog of breeding age not to have been checked at least once. This is most commonly done through a CERF examination. The owners should have copies of the exam that was given to them at the time of the exam. Thyroid screens should be available on all sires and dams. Since it is a disease of middle age, one test at less than 2 years of age is not going to give you much reassurance. Again, the thyroid status of the grandparents can give more information with younger sires and dams. Either a DNA test or blood titer levels can screen for Von Willebrands disease. This can be done at any age. If the DNA test is used, a dog would not need to have been tested if both his sire and dam were genetically clear, since the offspring of two genetically clear dogs can only be genetically clear. That’s fine, ask for a copy of the DNA clearances for the parents.

These are the diseases reputable breeders have a way of screening for in they’re breeding programs. None of these tests (except the vWd genetic test) necessarily guarantee that your puppy will not develop problems since many factors can be involved. I think it is important for a puppy buyer to find a breeder that tests for the common diseases and gives a health guarantee with each puppy they sell.

The funds can either go to the ASSA Health Fund and would be sent to me with the check made out to ASSA Health Fund or they can go directly to the AKC Canine Health Foundation for inclusion in our donor advised fund. That check would be made out the AKC-CHF and would be designated for the ASSA Donor Advised Fund. All donations to either fund collect interest and are tax deductible. Either check should be earmarked for DM Research only. We will be looking once again for matching funds from the AKC-CHF. So, as far as DM research, it does not really matter to which you send the check. Any funds sent to the ASSA Health Fund marked for DM Research will end up going to an AKC-CHF funded program. For the AKC-CHF ASSA Donor Advised Fund you would mail the check to AKC-CHF 251 West Garfield Road Suite 160 Aurora Ohio 44202. Make sure to include a note that it is to go into the ASSA Donor Advised fund and be used to support DM research. (See bottom of this site for mailing information to ASSA.)

Samples are needed from Shelties that are affected with various health conditions including (but not limited to) DM, thyroid disease, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, heart conditions, tumors, cancer, allergies, arthritis, reproductive problems and temperament problems. Some of the conditions may be rare in the breed now but if we have samples stored they can be important to future research even if the animals are no longer alive. Many of the current samples are from Shelties with no known health problems at this time. These samples are very important since these animals are often found in the pedigrees of Shelties that do have a target condition and the differences in the DNA sequences are important to finding a marker for a test. In addition some of these animals may go on to develop conditions as they age. The bank will provide a method for periodic updates of the information for each animal stored. So providing samples from Shelties with no known health problems is important too.

What do I get in return for contributing a sample (and fee) to the ASSA DNA Bank?

We had hoped that the opportunity to help improve the health and well being of the breed would be enough incentive to have people participate. The fee is very small and should be thought of as a contribution to health research in Shelties. Future research will benefit all Sheltie breeders and owners. As an added incentive to get Sheltie people to participate I arranged with Dr. Whitely of GeneSearch to provide extracted DNA to each owner for each animal they submit a sample for. This sample comes on an index card inside a plastic bag. The sample is just raw DNA. You cannot really even see it. It is not sequenced or marked. It will not provide the owner with any immediate information. BUT it can be used by the owner for testing in the future. For example, today the only DNA based test we have in Shelties is for vWD. Let’s say though that in a few years a test becomes available for DM or epilepsy. The owner could then use the DNA card provided to have that animal tested for the new marker. Many of these animals will no longer be alive so it will be the only way to test some of these animals and trace back through the lines. This information should be very important to breeders when evaluating their programs and trying to control or eliminate problems. This "card" has enough DNA on it to be used for multiple tests. No other dog club that has a DNA Bank with GeneSearch provides this perk. Dr. Whiteley at my request graciously agreed to provide this at no additional charge. In addition the frozen DNA sample at GeneSearch is available as long as the ASSA maintains the bank.

There are no immediate rewards (except the knowledge that you have helped) for contributing samples. Some of the samples may never be used because projects will never be developed for them. That doesn't make any sample less important. We need a large number of samples representing a wide range of health problems and family trees if we hope to use the DNA bank to attract top researchers to our breed concerns.

I know there is a lot of confusion about the DNA Bank and its purpose. I have tried to clarify this as well as stress how important the bank could be to the ASSA Health Research program. There is a description of the DNA bank elsewhere on this web site and the same information has appeared in past Bulletin Boards.

I received DNA cards back from the DNA Bank but they are unmarked. Could you please explain?

We are just one of many DNA Banks stored at GeneSearch for different breed clubs. The original service was just to process and store the DNA from the blood samples submitted. The main purpose of the "bank" is to have DNA samples ready for specific types of research projects when the projects develop and the samples are needed. That is what is offered to the other clubs. At my request Dr. Whitely agreed to provide DNA samples from each individual stored in the DNA Bank to the owner at no charge. This will provide the owner with a way of genetically researching their own pedigrees when future tests become available. I had hoped that this service would encourage more submissions since the $20.00 charge per sample was so inexpensive compared to DNA storage facilities that charge ten times that to store DNA for future use. This will provide a way of testing dogs even after they are gone. Again, the DNA cards are an extra perk provided only to Sheltie owners. The samples are all coded to provide confidentiality. I am sure if you contact GeneSearch (301 770-6970) they will be happy to provide you with the information as to which sample belongs to which dog. I have marked my bags with each dog's name using a permanent Sharpie marker.

I submitted a sample to the DNA bank for my Sheltie. He has since developed a health problem. How do I update his information sheet?

As for updating the information on each animal that is again something unique to the Sheltie Bank. What we (the ASSA Health Committee) plan to do is every 1-2 years we will send a form to all owners who have a sample stored in the DNA bank. The form will be to update the health status of each animal in the bank. They forms will be returned directly to GeneSearch so that confidentiality will be maintained. GeneSearch has graciously agreed to enter and update this information in the database for us. Again, this is different from the other breed club banks and is an additional service provided free of charge. Most DNA Banks are set up to address a specific health problem within a breed for which there is not any current research. We had hope to make our Bank a dynamic ongoing information gathering system which could address many Sheltie health issues overtime. Within our bank many of the samples are static as they come from animals affected with specific health problems but for those dogs with changing health status we feel that this system for information updates will provide the most complete coverage. If we include forms with the initial sample they are many times misplaced, lost or forgotten. The sending out of the forms every 1-2 years will act as a reminder and hopefully aid in keeping our database up to date.

Do ASSA DNA bank contributors get a report back from the DNS extraction process providing them with information about their dog's DNA markers?

The only DNA marker now available for Shelties is for vWD. The DNA Bank does not screen each sample for that gene. VetGen provides that test for Sheltie owners and information on how to get the test can be obtained by contacting either company. As for identification markers such as those used by the AKC those are not breed specific. They are a collection of markers that mean nothing except when compared to other animals to determine relatedness. There is no such thing as "providing markers" in a general sense. Markers are specific. As I said the only marker that is Sheltie specific at this time is the one for vWD.

AKC-Canine Health Foundation-ASSA Donor Advised Fund

ASSA DNA BANK

ASSA HEALTH SURVEY RESULTS
2000

ASSA HEALTH FUND SPONSORSHIP

APPLICATION

Dermatomyositis Research

Friends of Mary Mahaffey DVM in Memory of “Dusty”

ASSA Jane Callaghy Memorial Fund

This Memorial Fund was established to remember Jane Callaghy, a Sheltie lover and Agility competitor and raise funds for research for Dermatomyositis (Sheltie Skin Syndrome)

AKC-Canine Health Foundation-ASSA Donor Advised Fund

ASSA DNA BANK

ASSA HEALTH SURVEY RESULTS 2000

ASSA HEALTH FUND SPONSORSHIP

APPLICATION

Dermatomyositis Research

Friends of Mary Mahaffey DVM in Memory of “Dusty”

ASSA Jane Callaghy Memorial Fund

This Memorial Fund was established to remember Jane Callaghy, a Sheltie lover and Agility competitor and raise funds for research for Dermatomyositis (Sheltie Skin Syndrome)

ASSA HEALTH SURVEY RESULTS
2000