PRESIDENT’S REPORT – JUNE 11, 1995
Pamela Donahue
At the June Board Meeting of the SCWTCA, the officers and directors reviewed the Health Committee’s Open Registry Proposal which appears in the report section of WAVELENGTHS. The proposal was developed as the result of numerous consultations with Dr. Shelley Vaden, Dr. Meryl Littman, Dr. Thomas Giger and Dr. Margaret Slater. The Board spent several hours discussing each aspect of the proposal.
It seems imperative that the Open Registry membership be open to members and non-members alike. This should result in the maximum input for our researchers. The support of everyone involved with Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers is critical, whether one has had an affected dog or not. Financing research is expensive. Complaining that “someone” should do something will no longer suffice. You are all the “someones.” Supporting the registry with finances and data will enable everyone to do their share. Membership in the Open Registry will ensure that you receive all the publications. Our target for the first publication is January 1996.
A great deal of time was spent discussing the publication of the names of the sires and dams of affected dogs. Since the mode of inheritance of PLE/PLN is not known at this time, the Board recognizes this is a very sensitive area. However, the fact remains that dogs are dying. Those who choose to bury the facts are a serious part of the problem. At this time the Board has decided to publish the names of sires and dams of affected dogs ONLY if such permission has been received in writing by the Open Registry. If permission is NOT granted, only the offspring’s name and registration number (if available) will be published.
The Health Committee will soon be sending you a packet containing membership materials, protocols for collecting test samples, and a survey from Dr. Vaden relating to the lifestyles of Wheatens who are being screened for or have developed PLE/PLN. Feel free to copy these materials as needed and share them with your pet people and veterinarians.
Disseminating information to veterinarians is a complicated issue. Each of you has a vet whom you have presumably shared the PLE/PLN information published in BENCHMARKS. Obviously, many vets are missed. I encourage local clubs to contact their state vet associations and send information. Internet, Worldwide Web, Prodigy, and VetNet are also ways to alert vets. We will continue to work on this. Ideas are welcome.
We must be careful in educating our vets that the only reason a dog has irregular bloodwork, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and loss of weight will be PLE/PLN. There are numerous problems which can cause such symptoms. Careful workups will usually determine the answer. An example of this has occurred when an owner has convinced a vet that he should be treating for PLE/PLN. The dog died. Sadly, an autopsy confirmed the dog suffered from Addison’s Disease, a treatable malfunction of the adrenal glands for which a specific test is available.
In summary, our Open Registry is in its infancy. It probably will need adjustments as it grows. Our first focus will be PLE/PLN, but materials relating to other problems will be accepted for future use. Support through membership and financial aid is CRITICAL. I urge you all, for the sake of our beloved dogs, to do the right thing!
