GSD OWNERS - PLEASE READ BELOW 

​

"We need your help in supporting the German Shepherd Dog Club of America’s research into Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) – We need to get more GSDs to keep the research as meaningful as possible for our breed. Remember, Confidentiality is in place for the results

of all dogs submitted. We need this critical information/participation so we can get a better understanding of this disease, with the hope and goal of eliminating it from our breed"

 

WE NEED REGISTERED GERMAN SHEPHERDS 8 YEARS AND OLDER WITH NO SIGNS OF DM.

PLEASE SUBMIT A BLOOD SAMPLE WITH OUR ATTACHED SUBMISSION FORM BELOW – TEST IS FREE OF CHARGE. Our Research Team expects a percent of these dogs to have the SOD1 gene, which is critical to our research being successful. ALL TEST RESULTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL. You will get the results of the test. But none of your information (names, dogs’ names, kennel names, etc.) will be published or otherwise disclosed.

​

WE ALSO NEED MORE REGISTERED GERMAN SHEPHERDS UNDER THE AGE OF 8 YEARS OLD

WHO ARE ALREADY SHOWING SIGNS OF DM.

If you already have test confirming DM, please CONTACT LIZ HANSEN, at HANSENL@MISSOURI.EDU, include your dog’s registered name and she will send you a survey so your dog’s information can be included in our research.

Terms – Clear; Carrier; At Risk re the SOD1 gene

Our Research Team set a goal of needing 500 dogs/samples to conduct meaningful research into DM and German Shepherds.

​​

The 500 would be in two groups.

       Group A - The hope was to get approximately 250 young dogs with early onset DM who are At Risk.

                       (Under the age of Eight years old at time of symptoms.)

​

Group B – Get approximately 250 older “healthy” dogs with the At Risk genes. Any dog (over the age of eight

                    years of age with no symptoms). When we use “healthy” in this situation, we mean no signs of DM

​

We are far short of our 500 dog goal. We currently have 169 young At Risk dogs in our study  (Group A). We only have 9 dogs in the older “healthy” dog (Group B, At Risk with no signs of the disease).

We clearly need more participants for our study to be meaningful in German Shepherds.

​

Participation in the GSD DM Research is FREE   NO COST TO SUBMIT THE BLOOD TEST TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI.  Use the attached form which notes the sample is part of our DM Research and there is no charge. Click the Button below for the German Shepherd Dog DM Submission form

                 

Write “NO CHARGE” on the form

   

​

​You do not have to be a member of the Parent Club/German Shepherd Dog Club of America to participate in this research project. You can participate several ways....

  

1) Emails were sent to all GSD owners who had previously submitted DM Tests to either OFA or directly to The University of Missouri asking for updated health information. If you received one of those emails and responded, THANK YOU!!! If you did not respond, we can send you another one, CONTACT LIZ HANSEN, at: hansenl@missouri.edu and ask for a health update survey/new survey request.

 

2) Submit a blood sample, using the attached DM Submission form below – the test fee is waived as part of our research. We want blood on any and all GSDs, eight years and older that DO NOT show any signs of DM. They can have other health issues. In particular, we are looking for At Risk dogs, but if you do not know, please submit and we will test for free. (Group B)

 

3) If you have a dog under eight who tested At Risk and is showing signs of DM, please email LIZ HANSEN, at HANSENL@MISSOURI.EDU and let her know about your dog, include your dog’s Registered Name. This will allow Liz can make sure your dog is included in our research for (Group A)

 

4) I did DNA collections (blood draws) at the GSD Nationals in 2007, 2008, and 2013. We have access to those blood samples. If we collected your dog(s) samples, please send an email to LIZ HANSEN, at HANSENL@MISSOURI.EDU, give her your dog’s registered name, Call Name, and date of birth. It would be helpful if you recalled which year you participated, but not necessary.

 

These dogs could be Group A or Group B. Include in your email to Liz, the age of the dog’s passing and if they had any signs of DM and/or cause of death. This will allow us to look at these dogs and include them in our research.

 

Please encourage anyone you know with a registered German Shepherd, eight years and older, to participate in our research. We don’t care if they area Breed Champion, Sport Dog, or a Beloved Pet and Couch Potato. We need their DNA to make our research meaningful. They do not have to be member of any club, just own and love their GSD.

 

Questions regarding sample submissions can be sent to Liz Hansen, please cc me at CZGERGANOFF@HOTMAIL.COM

Any other questions about this research project can be sent to me at CZGERGANOFF@HOTMAIL.COM –

please put DM Research in title /subject line.

Thank you for your support in this very important issue for our breed.

Respectfully,

Carolyn Z. Gerganoff - Health and Genetics Chair

German Shepherd Dog Club of America

Cell 760-443-39