Research Projects and Silken Windhound Health Issues
There are few things more beautiful than the vision of a healthy sight hound coursing after the lure, running freely, or merely seeming to pose for the simple delight of the observer.
Silken Windhounds are in the minority of dog breeds in that they are a remarkably healthy breed. The life expectancy of a typical Silken Windhound can easily extend into their late teens while experiencing fewer health issues than are typically found in their foundation breeds.
Diligent selective breeding from the inception of the breed along with DNA parental marker verification of all Silken Windhounds in the breeding pool have aided in maintaining the overall health of the breed. We were surprised to discover that this breeding philosophy has brought Silken Windhounds to the attention of the scientific community. Genetic confirmation extending back many generations and providing a totally confirmed genealogy is a fact no other dog breed can duplicate. Another fact that interests researchers is the scientifically forward-thinking and cooperative breeder and owner family.
Silken Windhounds are not yet the perfect breed and do have a couple of health issues actively being researched by notable veterinary schools. Breeders and owners of Silken Windhounds are proud to have been approached by researchers in their efforts to learn more about not only canine genome, but also the association of that research as it relates to humans.
DRUG SENSITIVITY – MDR1:
One health issue found in some Silken Windhounds is sensitivity to the Ivermectin family of drugs; a trait shared with eight other dog breeds. When it was realized that some dog breeds had a portion of their population with adverse reactions to these drugs, it was not known why some animals were sensitive and others not. Washington State University located the gene responsible for adverse reaction in several dog breeds. As stated in the WSU web pages, "The problem is due to a mutation in the multi-drug resistance gene (mdr1). This gene encodes a protein, P-glycoprotein, that is responsible for pumping many drugs and other toxins out of the brain. Dogs with the mutant gene can not pump some drugs out of the brain as a normal dog would, which may result in abnormal neurologic signs. The result may be an illness requiring an extended hospital stay—or even death."
WSU has developed in a simple cheek swab test that can be administered by the pet owner or veterinarian then sent to them for processing. When test results are known, it will permit veterinarians to administer alternative drugs to affected dogs rather than completely avoiding suspect drugs in susceptible breeds.
Through the cooperation of two dedicated research facilities, University of California – Davis identified breed distribution and prevalence for Ivermectin sensitivity (mdr1 mutation) using the test developed by WSU.
More information on MDR1 and testing:
The published study showing results of this research can be seen here.
Washington State University test request page:
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/test.aspx
To see University of California – Davis breed distribution information:
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/cghg/mdr1b.php
A list of drug sensitivities for dogs that carry the MDR1 mutation:
PHENOME-GENOME RESEARCH
An unexpected result for Silken Windhounds from the University of California – Davis Ivermectin prevalence research is another project – mapping the entirety of the Silken Windhound phenome and genome to aid science in discovering exactly what all the genetic markers in the dog genome mean. This will be the first "total mapping" of a dog breed.
The UC Davis page addressing this new study can be seen at the
following link (use keyword 'windhound'):http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/dogprojects/index.jsp
FADS
Many species of animals have known the heartbreak of babies being stillborn or not surviving more than a few hours. Some of these babies share a similar physical appearance; the hind limbs are tucked and folded under the belly and the front limbs are stretched underneath the chest with the wrists touching. The back may or may not be twisted (scoliosis) and the baby may or may not have trouble breathing. Some may not show signs of "deformed" joints, but may only have trouble breathing. Common to all affected babies is the lack of vigorous movement.
In the Silken Windhound breed, we have termed this occasional birth defect "lotus syndrome". The appearance of the hind limbs often appears to be in the yoga "lotus" position. Siblings of pups with this syndrome, who do not show signs of "lotus", live normal lives with no related health issues. Lotus syndrome can show up in just one puppy in a litter, more than one, or most frequently, none at all.
University of Pennsylvania researchers believe that the "lotus syndrome" found in our Silken Windhound population (as well as that of many other dog breeds) is the same disorder as "fetal akinesia deformation sequence" (FADS) in humans. Children with FADS show the same clinical features as the lotus pups, including the inability to breathe properly. While the exact cause for this disease is unknown at this time, several mechanisms have been proposed. We are willing to look at all of them in Silken Windhounds.
University of Pennsylvania has received a grant to study this disorder in humans. The University of Pennsylvania is excited to lead the research for a genetic marker for this disorder. With our DNA tested and cooperative breeder and owner population, U of Penn has found a willing research partner in the Silken Windhound breed.
Through the partnership of Silken Windhound breeders and owners with University of Pennsylvania, it is hoped that this "health issue" project currently being researched will eventually help scores of human children, other breeds of dog, as well as the Silken Windhound breed to test for, and gradually remove the trait from, our total population with no loss to the genetic diversity in the breed.
We, the Silken Windhound community, are proud to be in the forefront of cutting edge scientific research benefiting human children, other dog breeds, and our own Silken Windhounds to find revolutionary solutions to age old problems.
