Current Research Studies - Health - Bernese Mountain Dogs
Research Studies - Bernese Mountain Dogs - Homepage -
You Can Help Improve the Bernese Breed!
If you have a Bernese Mountain Dog (BMD) who is suffering from a health condition or serious illness, you have our heartfelt sympathy. But it may offer some comfort to you to know that there are many teams of veterinary, medical, and genetic professionals around the world who are working to find effective solutions to help owners and breeders manage individual dogs and breeds affected by health problems.
The purpose of canine health research is to advance the understanding of health conditions, disease processes and the heritability factors for diseases that affect dogs. Some diseases that impact quality and length of life are inherited. Defective genes which are carried by individuals and in families of dogs contribute to the occurrence and prevalence of diseases in breeds.
Research on health disorders that affect BMD's and other breeds can lead directly to effective treatment options for dogs that acquire diseases as well as to the development of simple tests that can be performed on breeding dogs. These tests are often referred to by people in the dog fancy as genetic screening and they are important tools for breed health management.
Selectively breeding dogs that do not have defective genes or an inborn predisposition to develop health problems has long been regarded as an effective means by which to improve health and function in breeding populations. By using the genetic testing tools developed by researchers, breeders can minimize the number of dogs stricken by devastating illnesses. * Dogs that carry undesirable genes with potential to produce health problems may also carry genes to produce sought after traits. In the case of many health conditions that are influenced by genes, breeding a carrier to a non carrier or breeding dogs that are both clear of a genetic defect is an acceptable method for producing dogs that are not affected by disease and retain important, valued breed characteristics.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Become a part of the solution. If your dog has been diagnosed with one of these illnesses, research can greatly benefit from your help. Your dog could be the hero that saves the breed! An exciting possibility health research offers is the potential to eliminate inherited health conditions. Often participation in research studies can be done simply by providing data you already have or by providing simple lab tests performed or collected by your veterinarian. The information you share with researchers will enable them to offer breeders legitimate, scientifically proven information about diseases and to develop tools breeders can use to produce healthier dogs.
Healthy Berners Can Help Too! Some projects - highlighted in green - also need samples/info from healthy BMD's. If you have a healthy Berner, check the green projects to see how you too can make a difference!
Each ailment is discussed in more detail on the Current Research pages listed below. The Current Research pages contain additional links to researcher's websites which offer specific information pertaining to research studies. The information can be printed out for use by you and/or your veterinarian. *Some studies are not breed specific - they are noted with an asterisk*.
Current Research pages
Malignant Histiocytosis
Cancers
Lympho Sarcomas / Hemangio Sarcoma / Osteo sarcoma
Researcher: Dr. Breen - samples/blood, fresh tissue
See http://www.breenlab.org for more info.
Email contact: Dr. Breen - info@breenlab.org
B cell Lymphoma / *Mammary / *Melanoma / *Hemangio Sarcoma
Researcher: Dr. Lindblad-Toh - samples/blood
See http://www.broad.mit.edu/mammals/dog/donate.html for more info.
Email contact: Sarah Fryc - kersli@broad.mit.edu
Phone: 617-252-1093
*T cell lymphoma / *Osteosarcoma / *certain Melanomas / *Hemangio Sarcoma
Researcher: Dr. Modiano - samples/blood, tissue
See PDF Samples We Need for more info.
Email contact: Mitzi Lewellen - lewel001@umn.edu
Phone: 612-626-6890
Contact Mitzi for assistance with all sample submissions, to obtain necessary forms, shipping information, and sample collection kits.
Neurological - Spinal
Other Research Studies
DNA BANK
Please help keep this information current. If you learn that the status of a project has changed, know of new research not listed, or are aware of any additions or corrections to the information provided, please notify Pat Long at: pat@bmdinfo.com.