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GENETIC OR HEALTH TESTING HYPE?
by Barbara J. Andrews, Editor
Update: July 2008 -The 2006 Buster Alert contains useful genetic
information and veterinary drug precautions but to keep things in perspective, we
included comments
from herding breed authorities. We also take a candid look at veterinary health tests,
research projects, and the barrage of testing "alerts" emanating from veterinary
universities and research laboratories.
We
should mention that Zofran, one of the drugs listed, is seldom given to human patients because of its
astronomical cost. There may be other pharmaceuticals listed below which
are equally unavailable or inappropriate for dogs.
And now, the Buster Alert:
MDR1
flaw, drug reactions, death. … the mission, undertaken in Buster's
name, is to make a difference in the health and welfare of other herding
breed dogs, just like Amber did for children everywhere. Folks, you all
need to know this yesterday, not tomorrow: IT'S NOT JUST IVERMECTIN!!
Molecular biological research is proving that many herding breed dogs
suffer a genetic flaw called MDR1 - multiple drug resistance deficiency.
In sum, the barrier (P-glycoprotein) that protects the brain by
transporting a variety of drugs from the brain tissues back into the
capillaries is flawed. This is the root cause of the disastrous
neurological effects, including death, caused by the ingestion of
ivermectin. But, IT'S NOT JUST IVERMECTIN (also known as Avermectin, and
the anti-parasitic used in the trade name drug Heartguard and commonly
used to treat demodic mange). It's also almost certainly these drugs
(alternate names, common usage, and trade names follow the generic
name): (editor’s note:
I’ve emphasized the treatment indications where possible)
Flagyl; Rozex;
Metrogel, Butorphanol (pain relief after spay/neuter; cough
suppressant and canine flu) Torbutol; Butorphic; Dolorex; Morphasol;
Turbogesic Acepromazine (tranquilizer/calming agent and pre-anesthetic)
Ace; ACP; Atravet
Cyclosporine or Ciclosporin (allergy treatment/immunosuppresant)
Sandimmune; Neoral; Cicloral; Gengraf; Restasis, Vinblastine and
Vincristine (chemotherapy for cancers & leukemia)
cancer regimens called CHOP and Stanford V, Doxorubicin or Adriamycin or
Hydroxyldaunorubicin (chemotherapy for cancers & leukemia) Doxil;
cancer regimens called ABVD, CHOP, and FAC Loperamide (diarrhea)
Imodium; Lopex; Dimor; Pepto, Digoxin (heart ailments) Digitalis
(Foxglove) family.
Additionally, neurotoxicity in dogs with the MDR1 genetic flaw is
suspected to have been caused by: Ondansetron (nausea and
vomiting) Zofran; Emeset; Emetron; Ondemet , omperidone (nausea,
vomiting, and to stimulate lactation) Motilium, Paclitaxel (cancer)
Taxol; Abraxane Mitoxantrone (cancer/leukemia) Etoposide (cancer/leukemia)
Eposin; Etopophos; Vepeside; VP-16 Rifampicin or Rifampin (antibiotic
- infections, influenza, pneumonia, staph, meningitis) Rifadin; Rifater;
Rimactane; Rifinah; Rimactazid Quinidine (heart) Morphine (pain
relief, anesthesia, cough suppressant, anti-diarrheal, (shortness of
breath) Domperidone
(disorders of the gastrointestinal
tract)
The sender stipulates “any errors or omissions in the above are solely
my doing, the credit for most of this information goes to: Washington
State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary
Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory Pullman, WA (Phone/FAX 509-335-3745)
You can learn more about the MDR1 defect and about testing your herding
breed dog by going to their website:
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Do not leave it up to your vet to know this ... YOU
must print this out and know about MDR1 ... it IS a matter of life or
death. And, again, please cross-post widely. It's also not just Aussies
- affected breeds include Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties),
Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, German Shepherds,
Long-haired Whippets, Silken Windhounds, Skye Terriers, and a variety of
mixed breed dogs.”
- end of email notice -
The sincerity of Buster's owner
is obvious and the info about ivermectin worth noting. But when we went to the vetmed link, whereas we would have
had to dig for information on MDR1 or ivermectin, the site was dominated by health test prices, and testing promotion, and requests for donations.
So
we asked those who
have extensive experience with Herding breeds for input.
Fred Lanting, international judge, author, German
Shepherd breeder responded
“This
particular "news" item is legitimate. Yet, like so many other stories,
it is a case of Chicken Little racing around the barnyard,
squawking "The sky is falling!" I once knew a newspaper publisher who
when criticized for running old items, said "it's still news if you
hadn't already heard it". Over a decade ago there was a flap about
Collies having bad reactions to a few such drugs and
tranquilizers/anesthetics, and about Greyhounds and other low-body-fat
breeds being at greater risk under anesthesia. It turned out that it
would take a higher than normal dosage of the wormer to affect the
Collies and Shelties, an amount they were not likely to encounter if
taking ivermectin for prophylactic (heartworm prevention) use. … most of
these things would have made fewer waves and died out earlier in the
days before Internet and instant messaging. Nowadays, it is the custom
to plead, "Urgent: send this to everybody on Earth, Mars, and Venus as
soon as possible!"’
Peggy Mickelson, AKC
judge Terriers and Herding Groups, said
“I
shared this with my GSD list and will let you know if there's any
feedback...I've not heard this before, either...although some breeds, as
you know, are more sensitive than others.. Collies can't do Ivomec, we
know, but lots of Shepherds are on it...not only mine, but my Cavaliers,
too... and nobody's had any reactions to it yet (after years and
years)........ of course, it will only take one time.....”
Michelle Redfern,
DVM, a “breeder’s vet” who exhibits Group level Old English Sheepdogs “This
work was originally started by looking at Ivermectin sensitive collies.
The gene was found and is present in 90%of all collies today. When they
broadened the search to look at other herding breeds, it was found that
a lot of these dogs also have the same gene present. It can cause
adverse reaction if these dogs are given these medications. However,
and this is a big point, it is not a given that a dog with this gene
will have an adverse reaction if given any of these drugs. The most
common use of the test is if a dog has an adverse reaction, and is found
to carry the gene then dosing with these drugs should be modified, or
used with greater caution. No drug is without side effects. The best
case of this is looking at some of the adverse reactions reported with
placebo studies. They often have reactions in 3-???% of the individuals
given a sugar pill. Go figure. Also, there is a test available for
anyone who is concerned that their dog might have this gene mutation.
It is a simple test that can be performed to check (don't know the
turnaround time) but since there are multiple drugs listed that are
commonly used for a variety of important treatments, rather than just
saying that these drugs should not be used in any of the listed breeds,
it would be prudent for concerned owners to have their dog tested. The
web site you listed will have more information about testing for this
gene mutation.”
Laurryn, always first to
know about any Adverse Reactions
www.dogsadversereactions.com/DSC.html “I've
heard no more about it then what was forwarded to you....... but if you
hear anything else, let me know?”
Veterinary and
laboratory research facilities lead to valuable health discoveries for people as well as dogs but there's a
disturbing trend in health research today. Many years ago vets solicited business on behalf
of a particular university which was later charged with state and federal violations
for horrendous cruelty relating to eye studies…. That is hopefully
rare today but the scramble for test subjects and samples needed for research
has escalated. Blood, tissue, and DNA samples
used to be costly to obtain but now may come directly from dog owners
instead of university colonies and suppliers.
That's not a bad thing, as long as such samples are not obtained under false
pretenses.
One way to obtain samples is to persuade
dog owners that it is for a good cause, which in
the long run, it usually is. It should be noted however that
health test samples sent to veterinary universities and
research laboratories are obtained at no cost
to the researchers who are supported by grants, donations, and tax
dollars based on budgets which include procurement of samples.
Not only that, the truth about who owns your
DNA, blood and tissue samples has leaked. It's not just Michael
Crichton fiction. Once you have given up those
samples, they can be sold and/or used for research you would never ever
approve!
I attended a
specialty event where “representatives” of a
“University study” on some obscure but deadly “new disease modality”
asked dog owners to donate blood samples, to be taken from the jugular vein. I asked
questions. They finally admitted they were a research group;
unconnected to any
university; the study was for an obscure human drug; and they were not vets even
though they would be accessing the jugular vein of a toy dog breed.
I asked why they
weren’t paying owners for blood samples that
would likely never help dogs and with which the drug company could
profit? Having lost all credibility, they tried one last ploy,
saying the research would “some day” help dogs and that everyone could
“save the cost of mailing the sample.” A breeder later said I had sabotaged the project. My reply was that
if it had been as she believed, the laboratory workers had in
fact, sabotaged themselves by assuming they could con a bunch of nincompoop dog owners
into offering up their dogs' jugular veins. Had they been forthright,
they might have gotten some samples. As it was, they left with
nothing but red faces.
A thoughtful dog
owner will also want a reasonable explanation before panicking about a new
genetic disease, or rushing to vaccinate or get health tests for obscure and unlikely
problems. Dr. Erbeck,
veterinary columnist for The Dog newspaper during the late 70's speculated that parvo mutated
in the laboratory and there is reason to believe he was correct.
There was a vaccine for canine Lyme Disease before there was ever
a reported case. There were however, numerous frightening press releases that convinced
dog owners to get their dogs vaccinated.
Canine flu is another
example. Said to be “rampant” and killing dogs, particularly
greyhounds, we do not have one confirmed report of canine flu even though we hear from hundreds of dog owners
every month. Let's face
it, conditions
are sometimes misdiagnosed
or owners given the handiest
explanation when a vet is puzzled and owners are demanding an answer
right now!
There are many
valuable research projects supported by the AKC Canine Health
Foundation. We suggest you donate money, not test samples. Dr. Redfern offers
the best solution. If you have reason to be concerned, have your dog tested. If you
have had no related incidences in your line, don’t worry about it until
you do.
Now my caveat: I am
not a veterinarian. I have no formal training. I am simply a
skeptic who has studied medical and marketing phenomenon for over thirty
years. If you have comments, please include the link to this article
and click
Editor@TheDogPlace.org
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