GSMDCA HF Supported Research Projects
Working for better health in the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
After 6 years of carefully analyzing levels of genetic variation and inbreeding in 46 different purebred dog breeds, as well as their health concerns and breeding success, we can see some general trends, trends which are well supported in the large body of scientific literature regarding closed populations and genetic diversity. How healthy and functional a modern purebred dog breed is depends on several factors:
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the number of founders
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the health of those founders
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the historical events or conditions that may have affected the breed
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breeder culture and habits in breeding
GSMDCA initiated a targeted study of the Swissy breed in 2021. To learn more about this important research and the implications for the future of the GSMD click here.
GSMDCA and its Health Committee through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) has conducted several rounds of a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed health surveys (most recently, 2012 and 2020). The latest version of the survey was available for completion on the OFA website for 15 months, from September 3, 2019 until December 31, 2020. As of the closing date, 726 respondents participated as compared to 1,223 participants in our last survey in 2012.
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To learn more about the findings of the 2020 survey, click here.
Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common chronic nervous system disorder of dogs. Its cause is poorly understood, but is believed to involve genetic and environmental factors. Treatment with anti-seizure drugs remains the standard of care. However, approximately one-third of dogs fail to achieve satisfactory seizure control, highlighting the need to investigate factors that may influence disease course. An association between epilepsy and inflammatory gastrointestinal disease is well documented in humans, and several other nervous system disorders have been linked to alterations in gut microbial populations, with considerable attention focused on the bacteria Helicobacter and Lactobacilli. The aim of this study is to determine whether dogs with idiopathic epilepsy have shifts in the gastrointestinal environment that may influence disease course. Click here to read more.
Cancer is the leading cause of death in adult dogs, with hemangiosarcoma (HSA) being the most common tumor of the spleen. Affecting predominantly large-breed dogs, HSA is associated with a nearly 100% death rate with most dogs surviving 3-6 months with treatment. Other splenic masses occur in dogs which may have better prognoses; however, there are not currently available methods to accurately differentiate HSA from other masses of the spleen prior to surgery and histopathology. There is a critical need to identify the presence of HSA earlier than is currently possible. MicroRNA are short segments of RNA that control gene expression and have been shown to be involved in cancer progression. Studies have shown that microRNA present in dogs with HSA are different than those present in normal dogs and dogs with other tumors. The objectives of this study are to identify microRNA present in the blood of dogs with HSA before and after removal of the spleen, and to determine a panel of microRNA that can discriminate dogs with HSA from dogs with other masses of the spleen. This will allow for earlier diagnosis, leading to improved prognosis, and also assist with more accurate monitoring for disease recurrence/progression. Click here to read more.
Principal Investigator: Gilad Segev, DVM; The Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Principal Investigator: Gilad Segev, DVM and Hilla Chen, DVM; The Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with decreased kidney function and accumulation of toxins in the body. The irreversible disease is common in dogs and progressive in nature. Due to its rapid progression, the disease ultimately becomes fatal. Progression is associated with
reduced quality of life and longevity. As CKD is incurable, slowing down its progression rate and delaying the onset of clinical signs is the most important therapeutic target. Currently, few
interventions are known to effectively attenuate CKD progression, and treatment is mostly aimed at controlling clinical signs and complications; however, when these are present, quality of life has already been affected and the life expectancy is short.
Previous studies demonstrated that animals with an apparently stable CKD have active-ongoing kidney damage, which can be measured using novel biomarkers. This active damage is associated with disease progression. Utilizing novel kidney markers, rather than using the traditional markers of kidney function, provides a major advantage, as they provide an opportunity to assess therapeutic interventions in real-time, as opposed to kidney function markers, which are slow to change.
Oxidative damage is a contributing factor to progression. This study evaluates the effect of
antioxidant treatment on active damage and CKD progression. Dogs with stable CKD will be enrolled and oxidative stress markers will be measured before, during, and after antioxidants supplementation. Investigators anticipate a reduction in oxidative-stress potentially reducing ongoing kidney damage and slowing down the progression rate of CKD.
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) Tick-Borne Disease Research Initiative was created in 2016 to address the growing threat of tick-borne disease to canine and human health. Disease occurs when ticks infected with a pathogen directly bites a dog or human and transmit the pathogen into the body. Many tick-borne pathogens infect dogs and can also infect humans. The geographic distribution of ticks is spreading and can change yearly by season and region of the United States. CHF is taking a One Health action to address the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of tick-borne disease. The most important tick-borne diseases of dogs are Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Hepatozoonosis, Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, Hemotropic Mycoplasmosis, and Lyme disease. All can have serious health consequences, and infection rates have been on the rise over the past five years. The feeding time required for disease transmission from a tick to a dog or person can be as little as 3 – 6 hours!
Since 1995, CHF and its donors have invested more than $1.1M in 16 grants to study tick-borne disease. Current grants explore better methods to detect tick-borne diseases and recognize new pathogens, plus improve our understanding of how ticks locate dog hosts and how the canine immune system responds to tick-borne infections. Click here to read more.