2005 UPDATE ON GERIATRIC DOG STUDY
MORE OLD DOGS SOUGHT FOR DNA SAMPLES
We are looking for Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers over the age of 13 years (lowered from 14) and in relatively good health so that we may bank their DNA for future genetic studies. Your dog is valuable to Wheaten research, and your willingness to participate in this project is greatly appreciated. Of course, the older the dog, the better.
The DNA bank will be a critical tool for future research. Should a gene marker for protein-losing disease be found, the ability to test it against DNA from Wheatens determined to be unaffected throughout their lives will be an important step to confirm the marker.
If you would like to participate in this project, read the following letter from Dr. Littman.
For those who have already sent their dogs’ samples to Dr. Littman, and you would like to be recognized along with your dog for this major contribution, please send the following to Leo Springer at leospring@aol.com for inclusion on the honor roll in Benchmarks.
Since the results of the necropsy are confidential between the owner and Dr. Littman, they will not be published. The purpose of compiling this list is to recognize the participants, thank their owners and by so doing encourage others to participate when the time comes for their “oldster” to depart.
Owner’s name
Dog’s name and call name
Sire and dam
Sex
Date of birth
Date of death
Sale of Wheaten health articles helps to fund this project. Anyone who would like to make a monetary contribution for the project, make your check payable to Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and send it to Dr. Littman at the address at the end of her letter. You can make the donation in honor of or memory of a dog or person. Be sure to designate that the contribution is to go for the Geriatric Dog Project. Your gift will be recognized in Bellwether, Penn’s quarterly publication.
If you have a philosophical reason that wouldn’t allow for internal organs (kidneys, intestines) to be harvested after death for histopathology and you have current normal blood and urine test results, you should call either Dr. Littman or Anna Marzolino to discuss your dog’s qualifications. It is possible that DNA could be harvested either from blood or, if after death, an external source of DNA such as a toe or an ear flap (or skin about 2”x2”). This would be a “less than perfect case” but still helpful for the DNA bank. Each of these cases would have to be looked at on an individual basis.
GERIATRIC DOG PROJECT
Dear Wheaten Owner,
Thank you so much for participating in this important project to help our Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. As you know we are looking for Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers that are over the age of 13 years and are in relatively good health so that we may bank their DNA for future genetic studies. Your dog is invaluable to Wheaten research and your willingness to participate in this project is greatly appreciated.
The following five items are what we will need from you, your vet and your Wheaten:
DNA Sample:
This sample should be stored in your or your vet’s freezer prior to shipping. The blood sample can be taken while the dog is still living. The sample consists of 15 cc (around one tablespoon) put into purple top (EDTA) tubes. It should be sent frozen with ice packs inside a Styrofoam container by FedEx overnight delivery. If the animal should die prior to the blood sample being taken, then one kidney or the spleen can be frozen (saved in a Ziploc bag in the freezer) and sent in the same manner. A call should be made to Dr. Littman to ensure that she is available to receive frozen samples. Also, see #4 below for other tissue samples to be sent after death.
Medical Records
A copy of the dog’s medical records and screening test results, including current CBC, Chemistry Profile, Urinalysis, Urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio test results within a year or so. If Fecal API and/or MA testing were done, we’d like to see copies of those results as well. If you would like to participate but do not want the expense of paying for all of these tests, then your vet can save serum (separated from blood cells) and urine in red top tubes, freeze, and FedEx them with the DNA sample to Dr. Littman. We cannot do CBC tests on stored samples, but we can do the chemistry profile and urine tests). A call should be made to Dr. Littman to ensure that she is available to receive frozen samples. We may eventually decide to run the tests here, in which case you will receive a copy of the results.
4 or 5 Generation Pedigree
When Your Dog Dies
At the time of death, tissue samples for histopathologic examination, including one kidney and a one inch ring of small intestine stored in formalin at room temperature. This sample should not be frozen and it should be sent by regular mail and not with the FedEx package. This means that the dog’s body should ideally not be frozen prior to the necropsy being performed in order for these samples to be most helpful. However, if the dog’s remains were inadvertently frozen, your vet can still harvest the DNA sample (see #1 above). The formalin samples can also be sent, but a notation should be made that the body had been frozen prior to taking the samples.
Contact Information
In case we have questions, we’d like contact information for you and your vet.
Because you may need assistance at odd hours, the SCWTCA Health Committee member who will be available to assist you. It would be a good idea to have this information on file with your vet. We understand how difficult it is to make these arrangements about your loved one and if we can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to call us. Again, thank you so much for participating in this study and best wishes for the continued health of our dear ones.
Sincerely,
Meryl Littman, VMD, DACVIM
U of PA School of Veterinary Medicine
3900 Delancey Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010
