DOBERMAN PINSCHER OWNERS:

*December 13, 2010*
>
>
>
> Dr. Mark Neff, Program Director with the Van Andel Research Institute and
> featured health night speaker at National this year, is currently
> following
> genetic leads in the areas of Doberman liver disease, wobblers, and dings
> using cheek swab and blood specimens submitted by owners in recent
> months.
> As many will recall, his Program for Canine Health and Performance
> team is
> actively studying the genetics of the Doberman Pinscher. They are very
> interested in expanding their studies, and research is at a point where
> large numbers of specimens are needed NOW from *healthy* Dobermans for
> the
> *fine mapping* parts of the studies. Their goal is to collect *hundreds,
> ideally thousands, of cheek swab specimens* as quickly as possible.
>
> These projects are completely driven by owner-donated samples, so we need
> the Doberman community to step up and donate in large numbers. In
> order to
> expedite the collection of a large number of samples within weeks, and to
> control shipping costs (Very necessary for such a large effort),
> researchers are requesting that we please batch together as many
> specimens
> as possible. Suggestions for doing this (other ideas anyone?) include:
>
> 1. Breeders, or other owners of many Dobermans, order an appropriate
> number
> of kits and return ship them all together.
>
> 2. Chapter clubs identify the total number of members' Dobes available to
> submit and do likewise.
>
> 3. Rescue organizations with numerous (purebred) Dobermans do likewise.
>
> 4. Dobe owning friends in the same geographical region coordinate a
> similar
> effort. One person might act as the area liaison, identify the total
> number
> of kits needed for that area, order them, distribute/re-collect and ship
> them back all together.
>
> ***Individuals or groups with 6 or more Dobermans available to provide
> cheek swabs, please email Elissa directly as soon as possible to order
> your
> kits at Elissa.Boguslawski@vai.org
>      (not clickable, please type in).
>
> ***Individuals or groups with 5 or fewer Dobermans, please go to the
> website www.tgen.org/doberman    and
> order your cheek swab kits there asap.
>
> As before, this is Free- no cost to you, painless, and takes only a few
> minutes to do in the privacy of your home. Specimen IDs are converted to
> code upon arrival at the lab so it is also Completely CONFIDENTIAL.
>
> Remember, we are blessed to have the interest of a phenomenal, top notch
> researcher, WITH FUNDING (that will NOT be there forever) dedicated
> NOW to
> studying and identifying markers for genetic diseases that kill
> Dobermans.
> Please let's JUMP ON THIS opportunity and respond to this request with
> great haste. I know its the holidays, but make this your Christmas
> gift to
> Dobermans! If you don't celebrate Christmas, please do it in honor of a
> beloved Doberman or human friend.
>
> Dr. Neff and his team have been very impressed with the manner in
> which the
> Doberman community responded to initial requests for samples from
> affected
> dogs. This next step is an essential part of his research, so let's show
> him how much we REALLY mean business when it comes to helping our beloved
> breed!
>
> Thank you very much, and please be in touch with any questions. PLEASE
> CROSSPOST.
> Kathy Davieds DVM
>
> FAQs:
>
> 1. My dog was recently diagnosed with (wobblers, liver disease, etc.). Do
> they still want more samples from affected dogs?
> YES.
>
> 2. Does my dog have to be proclaimed free of these conditions by a vet in
> order to submit as a *healthy* sample?
> NO. You just note your dog does not have symptoms of and has not been
> diagnosed with these conditions at the time of submission.
>
> 3. Can my dog be affected with other health condition(s) besides
> wobblers,
> liver disease or dings and still submit?
> YES. Your dog can have DCM, or any other condition- allergies, etc. etc.
> etc. you should simply note these conditions on the submission form.
>
> ***PLEASE CROSSPOST***
>
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>
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