HELP from everyone needed - PLEASE!
Please everyone help us with this unique opportunity to eliminate PM (Polymyositis) from our beautiful breed.
DNA is needed from affected Vizslas; their Sire, Dam and siblings.
The DNA is going to Clare Rusbridge (vet neurologist) to help find a genetic marker for PM. When a marker is found this will result in a test being available for individual dogs.
There is a list of affected Vizslas here (click on the dogs name to see the pedigree) or contact Di Addicott on 01576 202258 (please leave a message) to find out if your Vizsla's DNA is needed.
You can get a DNA collection kit preferably from Di or directly from Clare.
This DNA collection is nothing to do with toenail clippings or the DNA sent to the Animal Health Trust for epilepsy research.
Please help us to help the Vizsla and rid our breed of PM so that Vizsla breeding can stop being a lottery and we can breed with our eyes open.
Please contact Emma Faulkner (Vizsla owning vet) if you have any other queries or have previously felt unsure about PM. Emma says "I will help as much as possible in a totally unbiased way."
Emma Faulkner BVetMed MRCVS
Please everyone help us with this unique opportunity to eliminate PM (Polymyositis) from our beautiful breed.
DNA is needed from affected Vizslas; their Sire, Dam and siblings.
The DNA is going to Clare Rusbridge (vet neurologist) to help find a genetic marker for PM. When a marker is found this will result in a test being available for individual dogs.
There is a list of affected Vizslas here (click on the dogs name to see the pedigree) or contact Di Addicott on 01576 202258 (please leave a message) to find out if your Vizsla's DNA is needed.
You can get a DNA collection kit preferably from Di or directly from Clare.
This DNA collection is nothing to do with toenail clippings or the DNA sent to the Animal Health Trust for epilepsy research.
Please help us to help the Vizsla and rid our breed of PM so that Vizsla breeding can stop being a lottery and we can breed with our eyes open.
Please contact Emma Faulkner (Vizsla owning vet) if you have any other queries or have previously felt unsure about PM. Emma says "I will help as much as possible in a totally unbiased way."
Emma Faulkner BVetMed MRCVS
Ploymyositis
An example of a Vizsla with Polymyositis
From around 2004 onwards observers began to note that a number of young vizslas were succumbing to a swallowing disorder which had not previously been clinically recognised. “Myositis & Dysphagia in Hungarian Vizslas” is now the subject of a veterinary research project
The condition is still uncommon, and most vizslas are unlikely to be affected by it, but for the purposes of the research project, all responsible owners should be aware of the signs to look out for (the disease is so unusual that many local vets may not recognise it either!)
What are the symptoms of Polymyositis?
The signs of the illness are problems with swallowing - both food and water - excessive drooling, and usually also muscle wasting around the head. Typical onset is usually in adolescence or maybe up to about two years of age and frequently there is an acute episode of retching, gagging, choking, dysphagia and hypersalivation. Sometimes the onset is more insidious with just inefficient and messy eating and drinking being noted. Often there is an initial diagnosis of megaoesophagus. Significantly elevated CK levels, fatigue, aspiration pneumonia and a stiffness of gait are other common findings. The illness is believed to be immune mediated and inheritable. With prompt diagnosis and treatment it can usually be well controlled.
Polymyositis is more fully described here. All responsible breeders are including a fact sheet in their puppy packs. If anybody reading this knows of a vizsla to have been diagnosed with myositis/polymyositis – or to suffer from the clinical signs that we have described – then please could you contact those conducting the research.
What to do if you suspect Polymyositis?
Polymyositis usually occurs before 2 years. "auto-immune* illness requires a trigger - and usually for these PM vizslas it has been "puberty" (hormones) - hence early presentation. There could be many other triggers in "predisposed" individuals ie Vaccination/stress/diet/environmental factors.
Click to see More pictures of dogs affected by Polymyositis
For more information on the subject and to see how you can help in the research of this disorder please take a look at the website for Clare Rusbridge, a specialist in Veterinary Neurology.
IMMUNE MEDIATED ILLNESS
Since early 2005 we have been researching our breed’s apparent predisposition to polymyositis.
This is an immune mediated illness.
As our investigations unfolded we began to wonder at the incidence and relevance of other immune mediated disorders. Might there be a connection? We do not know and only by asking people to tell us of their experience can we begin to establish what might be a bigger picture. These other illnesses are described here. For the purpose of this investigation we are also hoping to explore some less defined disorders and we are particularly interested in allergies and intolerances (skin and food) and gastro-intestinal disease particularly. Of course we must also remember that chronic autoimmune disease is usually multi-factorial, meaning several things must happen for an individual to become ill. Very often a trigger is required and this is something that we must also investigate.
If your Vizsla (or that of anyone you know) suffers from an immune related disorder PLEASE complete this online questionnaire in respect of ALL vizslas that you know to have had a problem. The further back that we can go the better. We need to hear from you again even if you have previously completed a general survey and submitted it to Sue Millson (our breed health co-ordinator) For the sake of independence our databases are not interchangeable.
This survey is completely confidential.
Source of information Di Addicott.
The condition is still uncommon, and most vizslas are unlikely to be affected by it, but for the purposes of the research project, all responsible owners should be aware of the signs to look out for (the disease is so unusual that many local vets may not recognise it either!)
What are the symptoms of Polymyositis?
The signs of the illness are problems with swallowing - both food and water - excessive drooling, and usually also muscle wasting around the head. Typical onset is usually in adolescence or maybe up to about two years of age and frequently there is an acute episode of retching, gagging, choking, dysphagia and hypersalivation. Sometimes the onset is more insidious with just inefficient and messy eating and drinking being noted. Often there is an initial diagnosis of megaoesophagus. Significantly elevated CK levels, fatigue, aspiration pneumonia and a stiffness of gait are other common findings. The illness is believed to be immune mediated and inheritable. With prompt diagnosis and treatment it can usually be well controlled.
Polymyositis is more fully described here. All responsible breeders are including a fact sheet in their puppy packs. If anybody reading this knows of a vizsla to have been diagnosed with myositis/polymyositis – or to suffer from the clinical signs that we have described – then please could you contact those conducting the research.
What to do if you suspect Polymyositis?
Polymyositis usually occurs before 2 years. "auto-immune* illness requires a trigger - and usually for these PM vizslas it has been "puberty" (hormones) - hence early presentation. There could be many other triggers in "predisposed" individuals ie Vaccination/stress/diet/environmental factors.
Click to see More pictures of dogs affected by Polymyositis
For more information on the subject and to see how you can help in the research of this disorder please take a look at the website for Clare Rusbridge, a specialist in Veterinary Neurology.
IMMUNE MEDIATED ILLNESS
Since early 2005 we have been researching our breed’s apparent predisposition to polymyositis.
This is an immune mediated illness.
As our investigations unfolded we began to wonder at the incidence and relevance of other immune mediated disorders. Might there be a connection? We do not know and only by asking people to tell us of their experience can we begin to establish what might be a bigger picture. These other illnesses are described here. For the purpose of this investigation we are also hoping to explore some less defined disorders and we are particularly interested in allergies and intolerances (skin and food) and gastro-intestinal disease particularly. Of course we must also remember that chronic autoimmune disease is usually multi-factorial, meaning several things must happen for an individual to become ill. Very often a trigger is required and this is something that we must also investigate.
If your Vizsla (or that of anyone you know) suffers from an immune related disorder PLEASE complete this online questionnaire in respect of ALL vizslas that you know to have had a problem. The further back that we can go the better. We need to hear from you again even if you have previously completed a general survey and submitted it to Sue Millson (our breed health co-ordinator) For the sake of independence our databases are not interchangeable.
This survey is completely confidential.
Source of information Di Addicott.