RBTclub
Health Topics
Health Topics
Kennel Club. Dog Health Test Search
http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/health/search/Default.aspx
Health Matters.
Any health problems you have found and which can be recorded for
the breed please contact the Club Health coordinators
Tom Rigby tom@tomain.co.uk
Pat Moncur patmoncur@btinternet.com
Steve Thomson steve_snt@hotmail.co.uk
MEDICAL: Please Note: Articles pertaining to health
related topics are for information only. Readers should seek
the advice of a relevant practitioner before attempting to
diagnose or administer any medication. Mention of any
product or procedure should not be seen as an endorsement
for said product or procedure.
LATEST NEWS Urate Stones-Uric Acid Excretion
10/11/2008 We are pleased to announce that a DNA test for canine
hyperuricosuria (huu), the production of high levels of urate in the
urine that can result in bladder stones, is now available through the
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of California,
Davis. The test is $50 per dog
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/dog.php.
on18th Feb 2009 DNA testing became available in the UK
HUU (Hyperuricosuria) details at; http://www.aht.org.uk/ A.H.T.
Animal Health Trust.
All that is required to have your dog tested is to take a cheek swab sample.
We urge all RBT owners to apply for the swab and then we can move one
step further to eradicate this health problem out of the breed which can be
only be achieved by sensible breeding programmes.The club is here for the
RBT’s health and its well being. The breed is relatively small in numbers here
in the UK so please test especially your male RBT.
When you have had your RBT tested would you please send your results
to both;
Tom Rigby tom@tomain.co.uk
Pat Moncur patmoncur@btinternet.com
LATEST NEWS 10/11/2008
Urate Urolithiasis Paper Published and
Genetic Test will be offered by Dec. 1
I am happy to say that the paper about the
urate urolithiasis mutation is out!!! This
paper is the initial study identifying the
mutation. The paper can be viewed, for
free, on PLoS genetics:
http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info%3Ad
oi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pgen.1000246
***This does not include the allele
frequencies of the mutation in Black
Russian Terriers and Bulldogs (that will be
the next publication).
Please feel free to let your breed clubs
know about it. The genetic test should be
offered through the UC Davis Veterinary
Genetics Lab by Dec. 1. Please refer to their
website for updates:
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/index.php
The article has been in the news, I thought
I’d share with you: Official UC Davis Press
Release:
http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_det
ail.lasso?id=8853
Gene Mutation in Dalmatians Sheds Light
on Kidney Stones in Humans
Finding explained high levels of uric acid in
dog breed US News & World Report,
(HealthDay News)
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/health
day/2008/11/07/gene-mutation-in-dalmatians-
sheds-light-on-kidney.html
Gene Responsible for Bladder Stones in
Dalmatians Found Veterinary Practice News
(online)
http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-
breaking-news/2008/11/07/gene-responsible-
for-bladder-stones-in-dalmatians-found.aspx
I will notify you once the allele frequency
paper is published, Thank you all for all the
help,
Nili
Nili Karmi Vet Student, Class of 2010
Genetics Ph.D. candidate Dept. of Population
Health and Reproduction
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of
CA in Davis, Davis, CA 95616 Tel. (530) 754-
7289
LATEST NEWS 10/11/2008
Dear Bulldog and Black Russian
Terrier enthusiasts,
We are pleased to announce that a DNA test for
canine hyperuricosuria (huu), the production of
high levels of urate in the urine that can result
in bladder stones, is now available through the
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the
University of California, Davis. The test is $50
per dog and a cheek swab sample is required.
Results are available within five to ten business
days. Information regarding sample submission
can be found online at
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/dog.php.
The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory is a non-
profit service laboratory. All proceeds from the
huu test will be directly applied to further
research on canine inherited diseases.
The available DNA test is based on research
that was conducted in our laboratory at the
University of California, Davis, School of
Veterinary Medicine. A scientific manuscript
detailing the identification of the mutation was
published November 7, 2008 in the journal
Public Library of Science (PLos) Genetics.
These results are publicly available at
http://www.plosgenetics.org/home.action .
The graduate student in the laboratory that has
been evaluating the mutation in Bulldogs and
Black Russian Terriers, Nili Karmi, is
continuing her work in this area. The allele
frequency of the mutation in affected breeds
will be reported in the near future. Knowing the
allele frequency of the mutation in Bulldogs
and Black Russian Terriers will better enable
breeders to make educated breeding decisions
with respect to this condition.
All Show Results
Included in RBT Club Newsletter 2011/2012
Included in RBT Club Newsletter 2011/2012
HUU & HD
Stephen Long (Hotratz)
Health is always a main concern for any dog owner, and producing healthy puppies should be the top
priority for any breeder. The Russian Black Terrier is a generally healthy dog but like all pedigree
dogs there are some health issues that can be associated with the breed. Thankfully veterinary
science has come a long way, particularly the field of genetics, and has equipped us with greater
knowledge and various tests to help us to eradicate these potential problems. To do our best for our
breed the first step is to identify what health issues can be associated with the genetic make up of the
RBT population. We must be careful not to associate a particular health issue with the breed just
because we’ve heard about a dog or dogs that have suffered this ailment. Just as an example, you
may know of a particular RBT that have become ill due to a heart condition, however unless such a
condition presents itself in a statistically significant number of dogs within the breed the illness
shouldn’t be viewed as a RBT issue, but rather a health issue that is as likely to happen if the dog
were not a Russian Black Terrier. We do see many breeders advertising that their dogs have passed
six or seven health tests, but realistically several of these tests mean nothing if the issue being tested
for is not a hereditary RBT condition… of course they pass, because the breed doesn’t suffer this
ailment! What we need to focus on are the ailments specific to our breed… you don’t need to perform
every test, just the appropriate ones!
Two key health problems are known to present in RBTs, the first being Hyperuricosuria (HUU)
commonly referred to as urate stones, and the second is Hip Dysplasia (HD) a physical issue
associated with most large/giant breeds. The current scientific evidence makes HUU relatively easy
to explain and eventually eliminate from the breed as the gene that causes the problem has been
identified and works as a simple recessive hereditary manner. HD is more complex as it is thought to
present itself due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Hyperuricosuria (HUU) is a hereditary abnormality that affects the body’s mode of eliminating
waste protein. This defect results in high levels of uric acid in the urine and ultimately causes the
formation of solid, hard, urate stones in the kidneys and bladder. These stones block the normal
elimination of urine and cause severe pain and the risk of kidney failure and death.
The first sign of urate stones often presents with the dog having difficulty urinating or with resenting
with cystitis. Symptoms will depend on where the stones occur and whether or not they cause a
blockage. Their presence can be confirmed by ultrasound and/or x-rays. Only analysis of a removed
stone can confirm it is made of urate. The symptoms alone can equally be another type of urinary
tract stone or urinary tract infection that can be observed in any breed or indeed human.
Thankfully a DNA test can show whether your RBT is affected by HUU, carries the defect, or is
clear. Affected dogs will have two copies of the HUU gene (HU/HU) and may develop urate stones.
Carriers (HU/N) have one copy of the gene and if bred may pass it on, however (theoretically) they
should not suffer from stones. Clear dogs (N/N) do not have the gene at all. While testing is deemed
absolutely necessary for breeders, it is also a good idea for owners of pet RBTs to screen their dogs
for HUU. Given the nature of the ailment it can be exacerbated or eased by diet so identifying if your
RBT is at risk can help you adjust his or her diet early to potentially prevent or at least slow down
the onset of the problem.
The key to eliminating HUU from the Russian Black Terrier breed is to test all dogs prior to mating.
The ultimate aim is to produce all “HUU clear” puppies. Due to the simple recessive hereditary
nature of the disorder we can predict the potential outcomes of matings from tested parents. For
example, clear to clear will produce litters of all clear puppies; Clear to carriers will potentially
produce clear and carrier puppies, but none affected; and Carrier to carrier can potentially produce
clear, carrier and affected puppies. For the welfare of our puppies we really shouldn’t purposefully
conduct matings that can potentially produce any affected offspring. For a full list of the possible
outcomes of matings see the chart below:
Dealing with Hip Dysplasia (HD) is an altogether more complicated affair. HD is thought to be a
combination of genetic and environmental factors however there has been no single gene identified that
predisposes one dog to HD over another.
The clinical signs of hip dysplasia are lameness, reluctance to rise or jump, shifting the weight to the
forelimbs, loss of muscle mass on the rear limbs, and pain when the hips are manipulated. Dogs may
show clinical signs at any stage of development of the disease, although many dogs with hip dysplasia
do not show overt clinical signs. Some dogs are painful at 6 to 8 months of age but recover as they
mature. As the osteoarthritis progresses with age, some dogs may show clinical signs similar to people
with arthritis such as lameness after unaccustomed exercise, lameness after prolonged confinement, and
worse problems if they are overweight. (http://www.acvs.org)
For several years and in many breeds breeding dogs have been tested to assess their potential disposition
towards HD by “Hip Scoring”; the idea being that by only breeding from dogs with healthy hips, they
will pass on this positive trait to their offspring. The British Veterinary Association “hip score” is the
sum of the points awarded for each of nine radiographic tures of both hip joints. The lower the score, the
less the degree of dysplasia present. The minimum (best) score for each hip is zero and the maximum
(worst) is 53, giving a range for the total of 0 to 106. Different Registries have their own scoring
systems that are comparable (see Table below)
OFA (USA)
FCI (European)
BVA (UK/Australia)
SV (Germany)
E
A-1
0-4 (no > 3/hip)
Normal
G
A-2
5-10 (no > 6/hip)
Normal
F
B-1
11-18
Normal
B
B-2
19-25
Fast Normal
M
C
26-35
Noch Zugelassen
Mod
D
36-50
Mittlere
S
E
51-106
Schwere
There is still great debate however, as to the degree to which inherited factors “cause” HD, and also the
reliability of individual Hip Score results in combating the issue. Despite Hip Scoring being compulsory
in many European registries, whereby all dogs must submit their results to the kennel club and have
sufficiently good results before they are deemed eligible to breed, HD is still an issue among large
breeds. As a physical problem a dog bred from several generations of “good hips” can present with
damaged hips due to poor diet and inappropriate exercise and conditions. If scored relatively poorly can
we say this dog has unsuitable genetic material to breed? In the same manner a dog from parents with
relatively poor hips if raised with great care can feasibly present with better hip scores than his parents
when tested…his genetic material hasn’t improved just the physical condition. Hence there is still great
debate over this issue. Of course it goes without saying that any dog in poor physical condition, hip or
otherwise, should not be bred from, but more work needs to be conducted in to improving the knowledge
around hip dysplasia.
As a rule of thumb, regardless of hereditary predisposition, all large breeds should be raised in a manner
that optimises the healthy development of their joints and minimises damage. This “good rearing” is
often associated allowing free non-strenuous exercise of puppies to encourage muscle development
while seriously limiting any forced exercise/walking and road-work. During the developmental stage
stairs and slippery floor surfaces should also be treated with caution, and of course appropriate diet is
necessary.
