DCM Studies

[Elaine]

Here are two DCM studies

[dobesign]

Thanks for posting the pdf. Now I have something to read at lunch!:D

[Elaine]

LUNCH??? You don't have time for lunch... you have your NASCAR races to officiate!!!:D:D

And for Andy, Stir and others, I apologize for taking so long to post the studies in a useful format. It must have been agonizing to try to read them as I had previously posted it.

Arthur and I read, discussed and even posted about these studies months ago. They are “old news” to us. We assumed everyone else had seen and read these studies too. Sorry for that assumption. And for Andy, I’m on your side about reading through is stuff. It can be a challenge. Were it not for Arthur (and his handy dandy medical degree) I would have probably missed the passing references to incomplete penetrance and the significance. I would also have missed a myriad of flaws in the study itself, e.g. look at the size of the litters. Something is wrong with those numbers, there are dogs missing from the study, which may be why the study was halted... that and it was not going anywhere.

I think we need to rethink the protocol (i.e. we need a fresh approach to the study of DCM), we need to secure a whole lot more funding for Meurs (or some other researcher), and we need to try again. We need answers on how NOT to transmit DCM. And sadly, it may mean having some research institution raising a sizable population of Dobermans... that would be available for necropsy. I suspect that lack of funding and not having full access to all animals in the study (for the length of the study), are holding us back.

[andyhilt27]

LUNCH???

Arthur and I read, discussed and even posted about these studies months ago. They are “old news” to us. We assumed everyone else had seen and read these studies too. Sorry for that assumption. And for Andy, I’m on your side about reading through is stuff. It can be a challenge. Were it not for Arthur (and his handy dandy medical degree) I would have probably missed the passing references to incomplete penetrance and the significance. I would also have missed a myriad of flaws in the study itself, e.g. look at the size of the litters. Something is wrong with those numbers, there are dogs missing from the study, which may be why the study was halted... that and it was not going anywhere.

I think we need to rethink the protocol (i.e. we need a fresh approach to the study of DCM), we need to secure a whole lot more funding for Meurs (or some other researcher), and we need to try again. We need answers on how NOT to transmit DCM. And sadly, it may mean having some research institution raising a sizable population of Dobermans... that would be available for necropsy. I suspect that lack of funding and not having full access to all animals in the study (for the length of the study), are holding us back.

Who is/are doing studies right now???? Perhaps we as breeders should donate dobermans for medical breeding purposes? Where are they getting said dogs anyway? If someone were to donate some semen I would be willing to donate half of Eva's first litter to a good study provided they are cared for and treated like family memebers. What do you say Elaine? You get the second pick of the litter, I get the first, and the rest go to research. Hmmm...Warkant available for stud?:D

[Elaine]

You often ask "the" question that is on people’s minds. :o

I don’t know of any comprehensive, long-term DCM research focused on the issues we need addressed. We can have a friend up at NCSU School of Veterinary Medicine who is active on the vet school internet boards world wide. I will ask him to check and see if there is anything.


If, and this is a huge IF.. if there was some well designed study... being done at a reputable research institution... with goals directly applicable to how to avoid transmitting DCM... then sure, like most breeders here, we’d step up to the plate in one way or another, for the good of the breed. But the protocol would have to be very well thought out, and not some. “let’s throw darts at a board” kind of thing

[andyhilt27]

You often ask "the" question that is on people’s minds. :o

I don’t know of any comprehensive, long-term DCM research focused on the issues we need addressed. We can have a friend up at NCSU School of Veterinary Medicine who is active on the vet school internet boards world wide. I will ask him to check and see if there is anything.


If, and this is a huge IF.. if there was some well designed study... being done at a reputable research institution... with goals directly applicable to how to avoid transmitting DCM... then sure, like most breeders here, we’d step up to the plate in one way or another, for the good of the breed. But the protocol would have to be very well thought out, and not some. “let’s throw darts at a board” kind of thing

I am game if you are...we have a while to find the reputable study. Let's see, Eva is 8 months this month...so a year or so away. I don't think many breeders would be willing to donate their dogs for medical research. What if they donate the next big thing? Or maybe their lines are exposed as being more likely to develope DCM. If this is my contribution to bettering the breed I am in. Also, I will contact Purdue University to see if they have thing going on in genetic studies.

[andyhilt27]

Also, one would think that since DCM in dobermans is so similar to DCM in humans that there would be more studies!!! Is that study of Narcolepsy in Dobermans still going on???? My understanding of the purpose of this study was to get a better understanding of Narcolepsy in humans. Just a thought....I would think finding more about the transmission and treatment of DCM in Dobermans would be a lot faster than that of humans. Perhaps I will go back to school and study genetics.....Nah I am too stoooopid for that.:D