Dear Eurasier owners and breeders,
Some years ago, a French research group published a study of GLAUCOMA in Eurasiers, as there was a small aggregation of such cases in France, and presented their findings at the IFEZ conference that year. If anybody is interested, I am very happy to send them the PDF file. We have, to my present knowledge, only a very small number of cases of this problem in the UK population of well over 1000 dogs, so you will probably all agree that even though it is distressing for any affected dog, we do not need to really consider it a major health issue in our breed at this point. However, it is worth keeping an eye on it in the future. To this effect have I asked my fellow Breed Health Coordinators and other KC representatives and researchers about the situation in their breeds, and this has yielded a wealth of information, which I am planning on writing up in a separate article.
Another, certainly more relevant health
topic, HYPOTHYROIDISM, has drawn the attention of IFEZ (International Federation
for Eurasier Breeding) again, based on a recent article saying that Eurasiers
seem to have lower active thyroxine
levels than other breeds. A team of IFEZ representatives, including
myself, has constructed a form, which has been sent out to all our colleagues
to be filled in, and we are hoping to have some results available by the end of
the year. I will, of course, keep you posted.
When submitting the yearly HEALTH REPORT to
the KC, I have requested the genetic test for Dandy Walker Like Malformation to
be added to the Assured Breeder Scheme and am awaiting further notice on the
matter. I believe most, if not all, Assured Breeders are doing it anyway, but it
will be good to have it down as a recommendation or requirement.
It was very disappointing that neither of the
2 KC registered clubs, UKEC and ESUK have circulated my letter and request for
collaboration and support for a BREED HEALTH SURVEY to their members, which I
sent out last summer. In this context, I would however like to thank the
Southern Eurasier Association committee and members for their continued
support. Because of this situation, I decided
to put a good part of my efforts into the IFEZ thyroid project this year. I do, nevertheless,
plan to undertake a UK Breed Health Survey in the near future with the help of
the KC.
Wishing you and your dog/s much health and
happiness, and please do send me any health results you get for your dog/s,
Dr Brigitte Mordan-Grimm
UK Breed Health Coordinator
alphaeurasier@gmail.com
alphaeurasier@gmail.com
