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...altho 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