Summary of the first owner-breeder research forum for Irish Wolfhounds and Deerhounds at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science

Summary of the first owner-breeder research forum for Irish Wolfhounds and Deerhounds at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science

Saturday 8th February 2014 saw the first Irish Wolfhound (IWH) and Deerhound owner/breeder research forum at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham. A substantial number of owners and breeders of both IWH and Deerhounds managed to attend despite the awful weather in many parts of the country. In the morning, the delegates took part in facilitated discussions aimed at identifying particular health problems that they felt troubled their dogs. A number of owners and breeders then delivered interesting presentations which enabled further fruitful discussions during the afternoon session. Presentations from clinicians and researchers within the vet school were also given. These presentations enabled information, feedback and updates about the research presently carried out, and future directions within the School to be shared with breeders and owners. A number of health issues were highlighted as a result of these discussions, some already recognised and others that we were not aware of. Problems highlighted during discussions influencing one or both breeds included:

Cancer A major concern was the frequent diagnosis of osteosarcoma and the problems with some dogs having the diagnosis made at a surprisingly late stage

Bronchopneumonia The problems with severe respiratory tract disease in IWHs and the difficulties diagnosing and treating it

Cardiovascular disease Dilated cardiomyopathy remained a concern – despite the on-going research projects at other institutions on the subject

Fibrocartilagenous emboli (FCE) Many IWH owners and breeders considered this an increasingly important condition in young dogs

Gastric dilatation (bloat) The frequently encountered condition of bloat was considered important and a significant cause of distress in many dogs

Immunity and vaccinations There seemed to be increasing awareness of immune-related problems in these breeds, along with issues over vaccinations and autoimmunity

Lifestyle and general topics Neutering – merits of early neutering vs. remaining entire Longevity – influences on this and breeding to improve it in addition what constitutes a long-lived IWH and Deerhound The development of a general health database for epidemiology studies in the breeds Artificial insemination – the various problems encountered and methods to improve success

Following a panel discussion prior to the final session and using the points raised during the morning small group sessions, a number of problems became the focus of further discussion. A wider group discussion and vote then took place to determine priority breed health topics for both the IWH and Deerhounds. The topics that were considered most important for the IWH and Deerhounds were osteosarcoma, bronchopneumonia/respiratory tract disease, bloat and FCE. The topic of immunity/vaccination was also felt to be important, however as the immune system was integral to a number of the other topics it was thought this would be covered elsewhere. Owners and breeders of IWHs felt that FCE was increasingly reported in the breed, although this was not something that seemed to currently affect Deerhounds.

The meeting therefore finished having achieved its goals. Following some very constructive discussions in the morning and afternoon sessions, we ascertained the major concerns of those IWH and Deerhound owners and breeders in attendance. Those topics given priority will now be discussed in greater depth over the coming months and liaisons developed with the breed health groups to begin to undertake the task of formulating achievable research goals and securing the funding required to complete such projects. During the final discussion session, a number of additional areas were highlighted which delegates felt were important and required some input from clinicians and researchers alike. These were considered to be relatively ‘low hanging fruit’ in as much as they were not primary research topics but were important and outcomes could be achieved in a shorter time period. These were topics predominantly based around dissemination of information and improved communication.

These topics were as follows:

Ensuring appropriate feedback from clinicians and scientists involved in research projects to ensure owners and breeders that have taken part in studies are aware of progress

Enabling dissemination of information into breed related conditions within the veterinary profession. It was considered that this was an area that required significant improvement in both the IWH and Deerhound breeds.

The introduction of generic consent forms for primary care veterinary surgeons to use so that advanced consent for future projects could be obtained

Best practice guidelines –guidelines produced by the breed health groups to be developed in collaboration with Nottingham Vet School to ensure these were more widely accepted by the veterinary community

Progress updates in all of these areas will be posted on the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science website, disseminated to the breed health group co-ordinators and also via social media forums. Nottingham Vet School is developing separate sections of its website to provide information on these projects along with progress in all other areas of owners and breeder-led research. Details of how to access specific areas will follow in due course.

We would like to thank all of you who supported the day and we look forward to working with you in the future and to meeting up again in 2015.

With best wishes

Mark Dunning Clinical Associate Professor in Small Animal Medicine mark.dunning@nottingham.ac.uk

New Way Forward for Research into Irish Wolfhound and Deerhound Health Issues

8th February 2014 was a unique Saturday in more ways than one, as not only did a group of breeders/owners of Wolfhound and Deerhounds make a trek to the Nottingham University Vet School (some travelling great distances in appalling weather), but they were joined by a panel of research vets/lecturing professors and all with one common purpose; to identify the top 3 breed related diseases and then conduct ongoing research into them. The event was advertised as an owner-breeder research forum for Irish Wolfhounds and Deerhounds and the same format had been used previously for Rottweiler’s with great success. It was a varied agenda with guest speakers from both breeds, group discussion, presentations by the vets themselves and even a guided tour of the fantastic facilities that the Nottingham Vet School proudly offers to its veterinary students. Dr Mark Dunning opened the day’s events with a general introduction as to the purpose of the day: “We wanted to invite people to let the Vet School know what they wanted research done on, which would be of most help to the dogs, the key aspects of the breeds that people think the Vet School can improve upon and lay foundations down for the future as to what we all want to achieve.” At this point many in the audience were a little taken aback and some were just plain ‘hooked’ as we were! It is not a common occurrence for Academics to go to such lengths to request key research topics from the people who will ultimately benefit the most from the outcomes of that research and yet, here we were, being asked exactly that! So fired up with enthusiasm we split into smaller groups to discuss what health issues we thought impacted upon our breeds the most, in conjunction with one of the University staff. Each group had a good mix of people representing both breeds and also a balance of breeders and owners. Our little cohort comprised of Sue and Natalie Finnett (Hyndsight Deerhounds), Anne Vaudin (Torteval), Jo Braine (Hollyhenge), Pauline Ashby (Ashgroave), Maggie Holder (Mascotts), Carla Du Rose (Bonaforte), Glenis and Mick Peach (Kilbourne Deerhounds) and myself (Ali Irvine, Midnitecove). During our group discussion there were many health matters mentioned and often we found that they affected both the Wolfhounds and the Deerhounds to some degree: Articificial insemination and storage of semen, bloat/torsion, cancers and especially osteosarcoma, digestive problems and gut motility, genetic testing and breed line identification, nutrition and exercise, temperament and type and even the role of the Kennel Club as a possible mediating body. Update from Irish Wolfhound Health Group The remainder of the morning saw speakers from both breeds presenting different topics; Gill Griffin (Kilrein) spoke of her own experiences of osteosarcoma, Rachel Quinn (Araceta) talked about an unusual incidence of PSS (portosystemic shunt) from a litter of Deerhounds she bred and Ron Hindmarch gave an insight into his dealings with his Deerhound bitch suffering from allergy issues. In addition, Rebecca Peek (Milkwood) represented the Irish Wolfhound Health Group and updated the audience on the current breed research programmes:

Regional Heart testing scheme Serena Browlie-Sykes heart research Imperial College, London research into Atrial Fibrillation New heart study led by Professor Malcolm Cobb and Siobhan Simpson Osteosarcoma with the Animal Health Trust PSS – livershunt (Utrecht University doing the latest research) DNA storage programme (blood bank at the AHT) Longevity/veteran study Dental study Hyperekplexia (Startle Disease) Rebecca Peek also went on to highlight concerns about the research carried out and also about the outcomes of any research as it appeared that the Irish Wolfhound community were at the point of almost ‘research fatigue’ as many owners and breeders were constantly supplying DNA samples (either by cheek swab or blood sample) and heart testing data and were still being asked to contribute the same things, but for different research projects. She went on to say that often there is little or no feedback received from such research projects, despite such heavy commitment from owners and that the research results do not always provide the answers that we are looking for. Also, tension between the veterinary profession and owners/breeders and a lack of understanding from vets as to the unique qualities of our breed were cited as key factors. In summary, Rebecca listed the following as being key points that owners and breeders of Wolfhounds need: Research with meaning Clarity – what does the project hope to achieve Feedback – regular updates Results – we need to see some outcomes Global communications Research that provides more than data Solutions Guidelines for breeding Improved relations with vets Pneumonia Research Update Anne Wilson represented Dr Angela Bodey (who unfortunately had other commitments) and gave a presentation on pneumonia in Irish Wolfhounds. Approximately 48 questionnaires have now been returned to Angela Bodey from owners of Wolfhounds who have suffered pneumonia and they include both UK examples and also some from Europe. The overriding issue with this disease is how hard it can hit the breed and also how difficult it can be to treat, with dogs often suffering a relapse of the condition. Naturally, the use of the drug Excenel is still a contentious issue for many primary care vets treating dogs, despite the wishes of the owner to sign the waiver and get their drug of choice. We sincerely hope that this ongoing research will not only discover the most effective treatment drugs for the condition, but also that a ‘best practice procedure’ can be initiated so that owners do not have to go through a battle with their own vets at a time when their beloved Wolfhound is so desperately ill?

The Importance of Breed Specific Disease Dr Mark Dunning, Dr Catrin Rutland, Dr Nigel Mongan, Dr Janet Daly and Professor Malcolm Cobb then rounded off the pre-lunch sessions with their own presentations on different topics. Mark Dunning focused on the importance of breed related disease and why the Vet School had decided to have forums such as these for individual breeds. He explained that vet students are taught about breed specific diseases and a breed’s predisposition to certain illnesses. Frequently such conditions are rare in the general dog population and so a primary care vet may miss a diagnosis or there may be a delay in the diagnosis, which could be disastrous for the dog concerned. Due to the nature of breed specific diseases, the people best placed to highlight and identify them are those people that deal with the dogs on a daily basis – US! Breed related conditions present themselves either through retrospective or prospective studies or case reports, but the important factor is what is done with the information from such studies and ensuring that just because a condition has been reported in a breed that the entire breed/breeders do not become blacklisted. Any identified breed specific illnesses can also have other effects, such as insurance companies treating all dogs of that breed as a higher risk and increasing premiums or reducing cover accordingly. Variants of any disease also need to be understood - do Rottweiler’s have the same types of osteosarcoma as Wolfhounds, for example, or are there similarities between Wolfhound pneumonia and human pneumonia? Dr Dunning concluded that the whole point of any research for Wolfhounds is that the breed should be better as a result of the research, that other breeds of dog may also benefit from the outcomes and that human disease could also be impacted upon.

Comparative Heart Research Dr Catrin Rutland is one of the heart specialists on the Team at the Nottingham Vet School and she highlighted the importance of comparative cardiovascular research that was ongoing. She was keen to stress that advances in human heart research should also be able to benefit our pets. 1 in 3 people will develop a heart disorder and it is the same in dogs. There is a human genetic test for Cardiomyopathy, but no such test exists for dogs at the moment and so we have to wait for signs of heart problems to show in our Wolfhounds. In the last 5 decades diagnosis and treatment of humans has improved hugely with early diagnoses, new therapies and improved survival rates and quality of life. Dr Rutland’s goal is to improve the survival rate and quality of life of dogs with heart disease using comparative medicine, comparing humans to dogs and utilising the Team at the University which comprises of Referral Clinicians, Pathologists, Data Analysts, Primary Care Clinicians and Heart Scientists. All these people can help uncover the mystery of heart problems in our dogs and they will also use the power of genetics to develop diagnostic tests and identify the causes of cardiovascular disease. We as owners/breeders can help significantly with this work by providing different DNA samples from our dogs in the form of blood samples or cheek swabs. Some samples/swabs have already been donated (this is a procedure that the Bonaforte hound owners are now quite familiar with from heart testing days) and the DNA yield from these is good so far and one of the vets on the Team has established a cheap method for extracting the DNA from the samples given. More samples/cheek swabs are definitely needed and should be sent to Siobhan Simpson (see contact details at end of article) as she is currently completing a PhD on ‘Investigating the genetic basis of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)’. Siobhan can be contacted to supply the necessary cheek swab kits and will be passing some onto the Irish Wolfhound Health Group for use at their regional heart testing sessions and also for samples to be taken at shows or other venues. Dogs do not have to be suffering from any form of heart problems to donate a cheek swab and Siobhan is particularly interested in swabs from veteran dogs.

DCM Research Preliminary Findings Professor Malcom Cobb then rounded up the morning’s sessions with some early preliminary findings from the DCM heart research as follows: DCM may affect male dogs more than females Serena Brownlie’s data has been collected over a 30 year period on AF There is a significant difference in the age of onset in males and females Males are more likely to develop DCM than females There is evidence for sex disparity in development of DCM in Irish Wolfhounds Although these findings are very tentative, already we can see some results/feedback from samples that we have donated and this will only increase as more samples are donated and we get a broader picture of the genetics involved in Wolfhounds and ultimately the aim of the research is to narrow down and identify the genetic marker/genome for DCM in our dogs. The Voted Top 3 Breed Specific Diseases After lunch the whole audience joined together to produce a list of the health issues that the groups considered important and impacted upon the quality of life of our dogs. The list was quite long, as you can imagine, and so we set about voting on our top 3, with the help of Malcolm Cobb, and those diseases were: Pneumonia FCE – Fibrocartilaginous Embolism (also known as puppy paralysis) Bloat/GDV – Gastric Dilatation Volvulus These 3 topics will now become the focus of research for the team at Nottingham Vet School, but other existing projects will also still continue. In addition Professor Cobb identified what he described as ‘low hanging fruit’ that the Team will also look at over the next 12 months in a bid to improve the situation for Wolfhound and Deerhound owners and these items were: Feedback about research projects – naughty scientists improving feedback Building awareness of breed specific diseases in the veterinary profession Best practice guidelines for primary care vets treating dogs A generic consent form to issue to owners and vets

So What Happens Now? Now that the 3 key areas of research have been identified, work will commence by data gathering on these topics and also contacting existing researchers in the relevant fields to see if any collaborative work can be achieved and to avoid repetition. Owners/breeders may also be asked to submit more samples from their dogs, usually in the form of cheek swabs as physical samples, but also written data may be requested such as the pneumonia questionnaires or other such data collection techniques. The Team at the Vet School have assured us that they will keep us all updated with their ongoing work and any preliminary findings, but many of these projects will last 5 or even 10 years and so we must continue to supply what information we can, as it can only help our beloved breed in the longer term. These breed forum days are also set to become an annual event, but in the interim, the key members of the Team can be contacted to clarify any points that we are unsure of and in return they will update us with findings as and when they occur. As owners we can all play a part in this by heart testing our dogs on an annual basis, sending in cheek swabs, filling out health questionnaires and also letting the relevant people know when our beloved hounds pass away, not only as to what age they reached, but also their general state of health as well as the cause of death. CONTACTS: Malcolm Cobb Professor of Comparative Veterinary Medicine - Deputy Head of School - Divisional Head of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences Contact Room B06a Veterinary Academic Building Sutton Bonington Campus Sutton Bonington Leicestershire LE12 5RD UK 0115 951 6416/0115 951 6440 malcolm.cobb@nottingham.ac.uk

Mark Dunning Clinical Associate Professor in Small Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences Contact Gateway Sutton Bonington Campus Sutton Bonington Leicestershire LE12 5RD UK 0115 951 6751 Mark.Dunning@nottingham.ac.uk

Catrin Rutland Lecturer in Anatomy and Developmental Genetics, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

Contact Room A11a The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science Sutton Bonington Campus Sutton Bonington Leicestershire LE12 5RD UK

0115 951 6573 catrin.rutland@nottingham.ac.uk

Siobhan Simpson School of Veterinary Medicine and Science University of Nottingham Sutton Bonington Campus Leicestershire LE12 5RD Email: stxss23@nottingham.ac.uk

Irish Wolfhound Heart Testing Certificates Explained

I have just added a new page to the Bonaforte website about what to look for on a heart test certificate.  On the site you will also find examples of the actual heart test certificates to help you understand more fully. 

Irish Wolfhound Heart Test Certificates

It is a recommendation for the Irish Wolfhound breed that you have your hound heart tested every year. This especially applies to anyone who is breeding. It is by no means a guarantee to heart health, but what it does mean is the breeder is being responsible and taking every precaution possible to use healthy hounds at the time of breeding. If heart disease in hounds is hereditary, it is considered that there is a 50% chance that a puppy will be effected if a diseased dog is used. We have started to address the issue, by heart testing, and by doing so minimising the risks of the disease being carried.

Please ask to see the heart test certificates of the parents of any puppy that you are thinking of buying. You will see from looking at these certificates, that the hearts have been listened to and examined by a Veterinary Cardiologist, who uses three different methods of testing the Irish Wolfhounds heart during this examination. Please read the certificates carefully and there is no reason why you should not have a copy.

What you are looking for on the Heart Certificate are ticks in BOTH the NORMAL boxes on the lower half of the certificate. This is the all clear of a healthy hound on the day and one which can be used for breeding for 12 months from the date of testing.

Should an ABNORMAL box be ticked the hound has not been cleared for breeding.

Should an EQUIVOCAL box be ticked, this means that the hound has neither passed nor failed, but it does mean the hound has not been cleared for breeding and requires re-testing, normally 6 months after the test date. Until such time as an EQUIVOCAL hound tests NORMAL it should not be used for breeding. An EQUIVOCAL reading is neither a pass nor a fail, it means the hound needs another test. Equivocal may or may not be seen again on the day of a re-test. Such is nature, sometimes not black and white, the Equivocal box allows for this.

You may see on a Heart Certificate where a MURMUR has been detected and this will be graded. Depending on the grade of the murmur the hound can still be used for breeding and the NORMAL boxes will have been ticked. The grade of these murmurs may vary from test to test, but you are still looking for the NORMAL boxes to be ticked so the hound has been cleared for breeding.

I hope my layperson's explanation of the Heart Certificate helps when choosing your puppy and your breeder. I know how exciting the thought of having a puppy can be, and especially as many people have always longed for an Irish Wolfhound. However if you truly love this breed and care about its future please only buy from responsible breeders who heart test and those who will share their hounds heart test results with you.

Canine Alliance 10 Point Action Plan for ABS

The meeting of the Canine Alliance came up with a 10 Point Action Plan for the Kennel Club to consider, based around a scheme that does what it is supposed to do and ASSURES the puppy purchasers that every step possible has been taken to ensure the stock is healthy:

More emphasis to be placed on the health of the breeding stock – suggestions for the inspectors to ask more rigorous questions regarding breeding plans etc

That the MyKC web pages add a function to allow breeders to identify which dogs they actually own, which are spayed or going to be bred from and so on

The addition of a puppy buyer based accolade – to be based on realistic feedback provided by the purchasers regarding their experience

KC to ensure a list of requirements on the day is clear and available for ABS members prior to inspection

Public education needs to improve – the KC need to ensure that the public have a far better understanding of the health issues and testing that is undertaken by responsible breeders

The KC must ensure that relevant breed tests are made mandatory – some breeds currently have no recommended or mandatory tests in place and this could be discussed with, for example, the breed clubs and other interested parties

Consider allowing ABS members to withhold registrations if they are implementing a spay/neuter endorsement/requirement as part of their sales contract. Registrations to be withheld until presented with the appropriate certification that this has been carried out

The KC require all breeding bitches and stud dogs – to have been micro-chipped/tattooed – to undergo a basic/rudimentary health test with a vet prior to being bred from. This will ensure that those breeds with no recommended health tests do, at the very least, meet with a demonstrable level of health prior to breeding

Placing a clause in the registration information given to new puppy owners- advising them to contact the KC if they experience a problem – this would complement the current process of inspections.

That the KC takes steps to properly recognise foreign health test results and to include these on the website/registration certificates

The Canine Alliance will be writing to the Kennel Club with these proposals and will be asking to meet up to discuss these in more depth and, in the meantime, we will be looking at a series of regional meetings.

To read more click here: Canine Alliance 10 Point Action Plan for ABS

Please keep bringing your Wolfhounds for heart testing, no matter what their age or state of health!

The above plea was made by Dr Serena Brownlie at the recent Irish Wolfhound Health Group Seminar, held at Balsall Common, near Coventry on Saturday 23rd November 2013. During her very informative talk in the afternoon about the IW heart testing scheme, which is now run in conjunction with the IWHG, Serena explained that her biggest wish was that she could heart test Hounds every year throughout their entire life as this would bring about the most useful data for the whole research study. Out of the 1897 Wolfhounds heart tested under the scheme, only 815 dogs have been examined more than once. The study into IW heart disease began back in 1986 and at that point very little was known about heart disease in dogs in general and certainly no studies had been carried out into individual breeds. Even the Royal Veterinary College did not possess a small animal ultrasound machine and they thought Serena was mad to suggest such a study! Fortunately things have come a long way since those early days and now Wolfhounds are routinely heart tested at regional sessions up and down the country and in Ireland (as well as those kennels that have their own private heart testing breeder days), thanks to the organisation and valuable time and effort donated by the members of the IWHG, particularly Rebecca Peek, Sue Bevis, Anne Wilson who deal with the day-to-day arrangements. Also Serena Brownlie has been joined by other colleagues to assist with not only the testing, but also DNA gathering and data analysis and research, these include Dr Angela Bodey, Prof Malcolm Cobb and Siobhan Simpson (a PhD student conducting research at Nottingham University in conjunction with Malcolm and Serena).

What happens at a heart testing session and why is it so important?

Heart testing a Wolfhound is now a straight forward and non-invasive affair and doesn’t take long for the cardiologist to complete. The first stage is to listen to the dog’s heart with a stethoscope, checking the heart rate and also listening for any abnormalities. Then echocardiography measurements are taken using an ultrasound machine (using 2D & M mode, Doppler) to show the size and shape of the heart and the blood flow through it and finally an ECG (Electrocardiogram) is taken to record the dog’s heart rhythm. All of these results from the 3 stages of the examination are recorded onto the heart testing form (a form also used and developed by the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society) and are later added onto the database which Serena set up many years ago. Heart testing Irish Wolfhounds from 18 months of age onwards is vital for many reasons as it is one of the 2 biggest health issues and potential killers in our breed, but really it is key for the ongoing health of the dog concerned. If a Wolfhound is unfortunate enough to develop any kind of heart problem (there are many variants to heart disease) then early detection of any anomalies is essential so that the dog can be treated and realise its maximum life expectancy and veterinary intervention at an early stage can make a massive difference to the outcome.

If we find my Wolfhound has a heart problem what should I do?

It is not uncommon for dogs to be routinely heart tested and the cardiologist to come across an ‘anomaly’ which results in the heart test form being completed as the dog falling into the ‘Equivocal’ or ‘Abnormal’ categories (the other category on the form being ‘Normal’), but owners should not go into a state of panic at this point. The Equivocal category requires that the same dog be re-tested 6 months later to see if the anomaly is still present and still displaying the same signs. Often the anomaly picked up on the original heart test will have, to all intents and purposes, ‘disappeared’ and so the dog is passed as being ‘Normal’. On other occasions the anomaly will still be present and the cardiologist testing will advise the owner to consult their own vet regarding possible treatment or ongoing monitoring, but this will vary greatly depending upon the findings of the cardiologist and the signs displayed by the dog. The same is true for the ‘Abnormal’ category, where the cardiologist has found an issue that requires further investigation by the owner’s own vet. The discovery of an anomaly is NOT a death sentence, nor is it necessarily anything that will shorten that dog’s life, but intervention at this stage could well prolong the Wolfhound’s life. There is a huge difference between heart disease (with its spectrum of variants) and heart failure as many dogs can live relatively normal lives with many aspects of heart disease. Any dog that has gone into heart failure (whether they had shown up earlier signs of heart disease or not) displays common symptoms which are difficult to miss and usually include:

• Rapid and irregular heart sounds and a consistent heart rate of over 200 beats per minute typically a Wolfhound has a heart rate of between 60 and 200 beats per minute, with the average being 108, but after exercise or during periods of stress the heart rate can be high, but will settle once the dog has also settled)
• A pulse rate which is lower than their heart rate
• An intolerance to exercise – struggling on walks
• Weight and muscle loss
• Breathing difficulty
• Fluid in the abdomen
• Episodes of collapse (leading to sudden death)

What are the most worrying heart problems seen in Wolfhounds? Any dog that has diagnosed heart disease may display symptoms of any one of a number of anomalies and these include ECG abnormalities such as;

• Supraventricular Premature Contractions
• Ventricular Premature Contractions
• First Degree AV Block
• Left Anterior Fascicular Block
• Supraventricular Tachycardia
• Ventricular Tachycardia
• Right Bundle Branch Block
• Second Degree AV Block

However, the above abnormalities are not usually life threatening in their early stages and appear to affect only small percentages of the population of Wolfhounds heart tested, but some of these anomalies can go on to develop into a condition called Atrial Fibrilation (usually shortened to AF) and current data shows that AF affects around 15% of the dogs tested. AF is one of those conditions that can send owners into a total panic on diagnosis, so why should we be concerned about it? Well, although not all dogs with AF will go into heart failure the heart testing research does tell us that dogs that do die of heart failure all have AF. Atrial fibrillation affects the ability of the atria (top chambers of the heart) to contract and push blood into the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart) and the atria quiver due to the muscle cells, which normally control the electrical activity of the heart, becoming disorganised. The longer a dog has AF the more difficult it becomes to treat. Usually AF develops in older dogs with advanced heart disease and is more common in bigger breeds and is distinguished by a rapid heart rate and chaotic heart rhythm. From Serena’s data there have been 148 male Wolfhounds diagnosed with AF and 147 bitches, with 70 known cases of cardiac failure, but only 8 reported cases of sudden death. Again the database information shows that on average, males are diagnosed with AF at 53 months of age and bitches at 66 months of age, so continuing to heart test Wolfhounds every year of their life and not just up to the age of 3 or 4 is vital. From the point of diagnosis to the time of death/cardiac failure the average length of time was around 2 years – so dogs can still live for a certain length of time even with AF, but early detection is crucial. Irish Wolfhounds are more prone to develop AF because they are big animals and an early study showed that the condition was more common in the largest of the Wolfhounds, especially those with the biggest chest measurements. However, AF is not just a condition affected by sheer size as studies of other giant breeds do not show such a high prevalence and so there is strong evidence to suggest a genetic predisposition to the condition in our breed.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (again usually abbreviated to DCM) is another condition that strikes fear into the heart of any dog owner and most certainly a giant breed owner and no article talking about heart testing could fail to mention it – it is a killer! Similar to AF, DCM is not just a condition confined to giant breeds, but is also another condition that shows a predisposition in Irish Wolfhounds, probably for very similar reasons to the breed’s predisposition for AF (large animals, deep-chested where the heart is working harder). The causes of DCM are unknown, but the symptoms are similar to AF and diagnosis is always made using an ultrasound scan (hence why the condition can be detected at a routine heart testing session).

DCM is characterized by an enlarged heart, with both the upper (atria) and lower (ventricles) chambers being affected, but with one side more severely affected than the other. The heart cannot then function properly and the enlargement of the lower chambers means that blood cannot be pumped properly into the lungs and the rest of the body deteriorates. As the ventricles fail to pump enough blood, the lungs start to fill with fluid until a point is reached where the heart becomes overloaded and the animal goes into congestive heart failure (CHF). Dogs diagnosed with DCM do not have a very good prognosis and usually only live for a further 6-24 months depending upon the degree of progression on diagnosis), but their symptoms can be eased with medication and dogs are made more comfortable.

What is being done about these heart problems and what can ‘we’ do to help?

We have come a long way since 1986 and Serena’s initial heart testing sessions and the work is ongoing and must be continued if our beloved Wolfhounds are to benefit from health advances and improvements in the future. The actual database is now at a stage where the data can begin to be analysed and at the IWHG Health Seminar this month the ‘Cardiology Panel’ explained that an initial figure of £8000 would fund a ‘first array’ of analysis and then pave the way for a larger analysis (costing a further £17,000 or slightly less), from which we hope to identify key features of heart disease in Irish Wolfhounds and that is why Bonaforte Kennel announced their heart research fundraising a few months ago (http://www.bonaforte.com/heart-reseach-donantions/).

The ultimate goal and ‘the dream’ is to identify the genome responsible for heart problems in our dogs and all of the studies so far point to this gene being autosomal dominant (this means that the gene can be inherited even if only one parent is affected and the other parent may not have the gene). This factor is even more critical for breeders of Wolfhounds as even if just one of the parents carries the gene (and they may not display and symptoms of heart disease at the time of mating) it will be passed onto the puppies and some of those puppies will go onto develop problems. Another complication is that the age of onset in the parents is not a guide to the age of onset in their offspring – so just because one of the parents does not develop heart problems until late in life, does not mean that its offspring will do the same, the offspring could show symptoms of heart disease much earlier. In addition, the parent/s may only develop a minor abnormality, but the offspring could develop something much more serious such as AF.

As owners we can all help the research and the future health of the breed by continuing to heart test our Wolfhounds annually, until they die, no matter what medical conditions they may be diagnosed with during their lifetime. Without our help the research would not have come this far and also will not be meaningful in the future, so we must continue to heart test our dogs and also encourage others to do the same. One of the saddest things I hear from owners of Wolfhounds when asked if they want to come along to a heart testing session is: “well I’m not breeding with the dog and it is just a pet so I don’t need to heart test”. Not only is this a rather narrow minded attitude to a dog whose breed has a predisposition to heart conditions, but potentially that owner could be putting their dog at risk as any anomalies would be detected much earlier if the dog is tested on a yearly basis. So we conclude this article in the same way as we started it:

Please keep bringing your Wolfhounds for heart testing, no matter what their age or state of health!

Leeds Championship Show - July 28th 2013 - Judge Robin Searle

Well done to Moose (grey brindle) is Heliodor in the Mists of Time, sired by Rynchanon Knight Moves at Heliodor and Dam is In the Mist of Prehen at Heliodor (IKC). Misty (Moose's mum) is In the Mist of Prehen at Heliodor, sired by King Huzzar of Nutstown (Ir CH and Am CH) and Dam is Curly-sue von der Saalmuhle.

Also very well done to the amazing Heliodor's Hey Presto - owned by Ali

Sadly missed on the day was Bonaforte's Amadeaus

Moose

Misty

Bonaforte Irish Wolfhound Owners Club on Facebook

If you own a Bonaforte or Heliodor Irish Wolfhound, we now have an owners club on Facebook. I have tried to contact as many of you as possible, but some I know don't have accounts or use accounts of family members.

You will also find some of the breeders on there who help form part of the kennel history.

Please contact me if you have one of our dogs and would like to be added or alternatively you can click to join the group. Looking forward to meeting you there.

Pedigree for Bonaforte's Amadeus

Pedigree of : Bonaforte's Amadeus

Date of Birth:	Sex, IC: Sire, 5.59%	Breed: Irish Wolfhound
Color: Wheaten	Call name:	Pedigree #:
Owned By:	Kennel:	Bred By:

PARENTS	GT PARENTS	GT GT PARENTS	GT GT GT PARENTS	GT GT GT GT PARENTS	GT GT GT GT GT PARENTS	GT GT GT GT GT GT PARENTS
Knox von der Oelmühle	Fortunes Race Jaques	Germ Ch Brokenwheel Uracil	Wolf's Touch Angus	Brokenwheel Cirmo	Knighthood Jameson	Knighthood Ewald-Knight Wolf Tone Nanna
					Ch. Killytobin Banshee	CH Athcarne Bran CH Killytobin Roshindubh
				Fitzurran Bodieve	Ch. Fitzarran Jubal	CH Fitzarran Shadowfax CH Fitzarran Wicce
					Ch. Fitzarran Bronwen
			Fin Ch Edrina von der Oelmühle	Ch. Olov von der Oelmühle	Ch. Zimba von der Oelmühle	Ch. Zeno von der Oelmühle ICH Oelmühle Alison of Tulnaree
					Ch. Paloma von der Oelmühle	CH Ronald von der Oelmühle Brooksborne Cassie of Solstrand
				Ch. Oona von der Oelmühle	Ch. Zeno von der Oelmühle	Ch. Quite Good von der Oelmühle Ch. Shamrock Erotic Eileen
					Ch. Quickstep von der Oelmühle	Ch. Connacht of Brabyns Ch. Shamrock Erotic Eileen
		Germ Ch Fortune Race Goldrush	Ger Ch Xorcist von der Oelmühle	Ger & Am Ch Xecel Fionnmae	Curoi Jazz	ICH Quincy of Kilmara Geasa's Kaelity
					Maeverik's Wallflower	Ch. Maeverik's Zippi Zodiak Ch. Rose von der Oelmühle
				Marumac Esmeralda Erinwood	Ch. Redtops Storm King	Ch. Marumac Coromandel Ch. Erinwood Driella of Marumac
					Ch. Erinwood Driella of Marumac	Ch. Marumac Coromandel
			Fortune Race Donna	Germ Ch Brokenwheel Uracil	Wolf's Touch Angus	Brokenwheel Cirmo Fitzurran Bodieve
					Fin Ch Edrina von der Oelmühle	Ch. Olov von der Oelmühle Ch. Oona von der Oelmühle
				Ger Ch Fortune Race Amie	CH Quatre Saisons von der Oelmühle	CH Hunter von der Oelmühle Bridgedown Chantilly Lace of Oelmuehle
					Ivy vom Zigeunertimpen	Ch. Zimba von der Oelmühle Cita vom Zigeunertimpen
	Germ Ch Unique von der Oelmühle	Ger Ch Erinwood Rushmore	Am Ch Arannwood Viking	Ger & Am Ch Xecel Fionnmae	Curoi Jazz	ICH Quincy of Kilmara Geasa's Kaelity
					Maeverik's Wallflower	Ch. Maeverik's Zippi Zodiak Ch. Rose von der Oelmühle
				Arannwood's Veronica Brie	CH Erinwood, USA Misty Isle Fortune AKC HD692767 1988-11-14	CH Erinwood, USA Stellar Gabriel CH Erinwood, USA Misty Isle Jillian
					CH Arannwood Lady Beatrice	CH Erinwood, USA Stellar Gabriel CH Erinwood, USA Golden Aura Ashley
			American Eagle von der Oelmühle	Fci Int Dan Ned Ch Zeno von der Oelmühle	Ch. Quite Good von der Oelmühle	Ch. Connacht of Brabyns Ch. Shamrock Erotic Eileen
					Ch. Solstrand Lady Grey	Solstrand San Antonio of Edeym Solstrand Barcarolle
				Amber Light von der Oelmühle	Ch. Faxbo's Lion	Grey Eagel's Sir Fonzie Faxbo's Asta
					Ch. Dana von der Oelmühle	Ch. Maeverik's Zippi Zodiak Ch. Longleg's Brid
		Am Ch Erinwood Okaterina	Erinwood Bogart Eagle	CH Erinwood, USA Whyst of Eagle	CH Riverlawn Mopster of Eagle	CH Naisha Macusna of Eagle CH Mapleton Morna
					CH Erinwood, USA Misty Isle Whysper AKC HD8446375-9	CH Erinwood, USA Stellar Gabriel CH Applearbor Moriah Erinwood
				CH Pitlochry's Babylon	ICH Quincy of Kilmara	Nasch from the Good health ICH Miss-Marple from the Good Heath
					CH Akin's Lotte	CH Akin's Just-He Echo of My Dream van Duke's Paradijs
			Am Ch Oktawia Wind Composition	Roger of Baskerville	Falco von der alten Veste	Fci Int Dan Ned Ch Zeno von der Oelmühle Valentine von der alten Veste
					Myra-Bell of Baskerville	Ch. Solstrand Pieter CH Honey of Baskerville
				Herbeline de la Valouse	Ephaistos of Leanan Sidhe	Nellwyns Bootlegger Nellwyns Amber Star
					Eole de la Valouse	Wolf Rock's Arrow Cyran Airdrite des Sylphides de la Baie d'Argent
Ice Cream von der Oelmühle with Heliodor	Team Spirit Drag Queen	Pitlochry's Duncan	Ger Ch Fortune Race Iron	Ger Ch Erinwood Enrique at Berwyck	Ch. Berwyck V.S.O.P.	Caraglen Travis McGee CH Berwyck Cuore Scuro
					Ch. Erinwood Roulette	Erinwood, USA Chevran of Eagle Erinwood, USA Renata
				Fortune Race Donna	Germ Ch Brokenwheel Uracil	Wolf's Touch Angus Fin Ch Edrina von der Oelmühle
					Ger Ch Fortune Race Amie	CH Quatre Saisons von der Oelmühle Ivy vom Zigeunertimpen
			Pitlochry's Upperclass	Ger Ch Night Cap's Archie	CH Dogwood von der Oelmühle	CH Wolf Tone John Foggerty Maeverik's Wallflower
					Fiona von dem Eimershof	Gentle Giants Winner Amarena von dem Eimershof
				Wedding Day von der Oelmühle	CH Calorien Rubens Fionn of Eagle	CH Riverlawn Mopster of Eagle CH Sycamore Rua of Eagle
					CH Chita od Švejka Josefa	Wolf Tone Bryan Ferry Gábi od Švejka Josefa
		Pitlochry's Octavia Olivia	Pitlochry's King-Kevin	Ch Ballyphean Bran Beag	CH Bokra George Caredig	Ch Caredig Yankeedoodle CH Chater Tapestry of Bokra KCSB 4417BY Veteran
					Ballyphelan Tiger Lilly	Ainsea Rifleman KCSB 498CA Veteran Ballyphelan Celtic Charm KCSB 4316B
				Fci Int Ned Belg Ch Pitlochry's Pamela	Ger & Am Ch Xecel Fionnmae	Curoi Jazz Maeverik's Wallflower
					CH Pitlochry's Chio Chip	ICH Quincy of Kilmara Ch. Paloma von der Oelmühle
			Muireann Ionmhain Norman	Pitlochry's Duncan	Ger Ch Fortune Race Iron	Ger Ch Erinwood Enrique at Berwyck Fortune Race Donna
					Pitlochry's Upperclass	Ger Ch Night Cap's Archie Wedding Day von der Oelmühle
				Four Roses Norman	ICH Quincy of Kilmara	Nasch from the Good health ICH Miss-Marple from the Good Heath
					CH Connie Ionmhain Norman	Drix od Švejka Josefa Areté Daskerwill
	Hermine von der Sillerquelle	Ger Ch Erinwood Rushmore	Am Ch Arannwood Viking	Ger & Am Ch Xecel Fionnmae	Curoi Jazz	ICH Quincy of Kilmara Geasa's Kaelity
					Maeverik's Wallflower	Ch. Maeverik's Zippi Zodiak Ch. Rose von der Oelmühle
				Arannwood's Veronica Brie	CH Erinwood, USA Misty Isle Fortune AKC HD692767 1988-11-14	CH Erinwood, USA Stellar Gabriel CH Erinwood, USA Misty Isle Jillian
					CH Arannwood Lady Beatrice	CH Erinwood, USA Stellar Gabriel CH Erinwood, USA Golden Aura Ashley
			American Eagle von der Oelmühle	Fci Int Dan Ned Ch Zeno von der Oelmühle	Ch. Quite Good von der Oelmühle	Ch. Connacht of Brabyns Ch. Shamrock Erotic Eileen
					Ch. Solstrand Lady Grey	Solstrand San Antonio of Edeym Solstrand Barcarolle
				Amber Light von der Oelmühle	Ch. Faxbo's Lion	Grey Eagel's Sir Fonzie Faxbo's Asta
					Ch. Dana von der Oelmühle	Ch. Maeverik's Zippi Zodiak Ch. Longleg's Brid
		Erinwood Celine von der Oelmühle	Aurum von der Sillerquelle	Germ Ch Brokenwheel Uracil	Wolf's Touch Angus	Brokenwheel Cirmo Fitzurran Bodieve
					Fin Ch Edrina von der Oelmühle	Ch. Olov von der Oelmühle Ch. Oona von der Oelmühle
				Antike von der Oelmühle	CH Dogwood von der Oelmühle	CH Wolf Tone John Foggerty Maeverik's Wallflower
					CH Kendra von der Oelmühle	CH Hunter von der Oelmühle Bridgedown Chantilly Lace of Oelmuehle
			Am Ch Oktawia Wind Composition	Roger of Baskerville	Falco von der alten Veste	Fci Int Dan Ned Ch Zeno von der Oelmühle Valentine von der alten Veste
					Myra-Bell of Baskerville	Ch. Solstrand Pieter CH Honey of Baskerville
				Herbeline de la Valouse	Ephaistos of Leanan Sidhe	Nellwyns Bootlegger Nellwyns Amber Star
					Eole de la Valouse	Wolf Rock's Arrow Cyran Airdrite des Sylphides de la Baie d'Argent

“ Puppy buyers who want to be sure that they are going to a breeder who offers a genuinely high standard of health & welfare in caring for their dogs should go to a Kennel Club Assured Breeder.”

Kennel Club first and only organisation in the UK to get United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation to certify dog breeders.

As many as one in five could be buying from cruel puppy farms. Move recommended by Professor Bateson in his independent report into dog breeding. Puppy buyers no longer need to be duped by rogue breeders, as the Kennel Club today announces that it is the only organisation in the UK to receive UKAS accreditation to certify breeders who belong to its Assured Breeder Scheme. The puppy breeding market is poorly regulated, meaning that many people struggle to identify good from bad breeders, often ending up with sick puppies that die prematurely or that cost thousands of pounds in veterinary treatment. UKAS accreditation means that the Kennel Club now has recognition from the UK’s foremost accreditation body to certify breeders, against the requirements of its Assured Breeder Scheme, and ensure that scheme members take all the necessary steps to breed quality, healthy puppies.

Accreditation by UKAS was recommended by Professor Sir Patrick Bateson, in the Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding in January 2010, as an important step to give puppy buyers a clear indication of who they should trust, as there is too much confusion in the puppy buying market and too many rogue breeders. Since the report, the situation has got even worse with people taking advantage of the relaxation of pet travel laws, which makes it easier to bring sickly pups into the country from abroad.

Kennel Club research has shown that many consumers buy their puppies from pet shops, online and newspaper free ads, outlets that can all be used by puppy farmers who breed purely for profit without any thought for the outcome of the puppies that they produce. Many puppy farmers do not let buyers see their premises and sell through dealers, going to great lengths to hide the awful conditions that the puppies are kept in - and Kennel Club research indicates that as many as one in five people may have bought their puppy from a puppy farm1. Professor Steve Dean, Kennel Club Chairman, said: “For far too long, puppy buyers have had little assurance about the puppy they take home, and especially how it has been raised and whether it will live a healthy and happy life.

“The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme was established in 2004 to help end this confusion, and is the only scheme in the UK that monitors breeders’ activities to provide assurance on their commitment to health and welfare. We had been working closely with UKAS prior to Professor Bateson recommending we seek UKAS accreditation, and are delighted that we have now been granted this, enabling us to certify breeders under this robust scheme.

“The message is clear. Puppy buyers who want to be sure that they are going to a breeder who offers a genuinely high standard of health and welfare in caring for their dogs should go to a Kennel Club Assured Breeder.”

Professor Sir Patrick Bateson commented: "My report into dog breeding in this country showed an urgent need for a robust accreditation scheme for breeders. The fact that the Kennel Club has now received UKAS recognition for its Assured Breeder Scheme is an important step forward and the buying public should be encouraged to purchase from these breeders, so as to put irresponsible breeders out of business."

Marc Abraham, TV vet and organiser of the annual Pup Aid event against puppy farming, said: “The number of puppies coming from puppy farms is growing at an alarming rate. The value of having an organisation such as the Kennel Club with independent accreditation to certify breeders should not be underestimated. “I hope that all puppy buyers will stop buying from people that may be masquerading as good breeders, but who are not part of this scheme and that all responsible dog breeders sign up to the Assured Breeder Scheme so vets and vet nurses can direct prospective buyers towards them knowing they'll be choosing a happy, healthy puppy.”

The Kennel Club has been through numerous audits with UKAS and made a number of amendments to the scheme to achieve recognition by UKAS as a competent evaluator, which has met international accreditation standards. In an important move that helps the Kennel Club to fulfil its UKAS requirements, every new member of the scheme will be inspected before they are accepted, and all current members will be inspected within three years. Random checks will continue as in the past, particularly where any concerns are highlighted or when issues have been raised through feedback from puppy buyers.

Other long-standing rules of the scheme which remain include ensuring that all animals are kept and raised in good conditions, both parents are assessed using the appropriate health and DNA tests before they are bred from, and ensuring that the puppies are well socialised before going to new homes. Last month the Kennel Club announced a set of updated rules forming the ABS Standard, which contain all of the compulsory requirements of the scheme. These revised rules retained many of the long-standing requirements of the scheme, but the wording was modified to add clarity about the exact requirements for members to achieve[2].

The Kennel Club will shortly be announcing a plan to demonstrate the impact that UKAS accreditation will have. As a transitional arrangement, this will include a system for clearly identifying which breeders have been visited under the Kennel Club’s new accredited status. There will also be a plan for offering further incentives to Assured Breeders and for covering the inevitable costs of increased inspections.

Bill Lambert, Kennel Club Health and Breeder Services Manager, said: “Responsible dog breeders are passionate about producing puppies which live healthy, happy lives, and they fulfil all the expectations that responsible owners demand. But it is only Kennel Club Assured Breeders that are bound to this commitment by agreeing to mandatory health testing of their breeding animals, by opening their doors to allow inspection and by being committed to providing a service to puppy buyers throughout the life of the animal. Indeed many of our members go above and beyond the scheme’s requirements.

“The scheme has continually developed since its inception, which meant that the further changes we needed to make to achieve formal accreditation by UKAS were straightforward. The greatest change is still to come as we increase the number of breeder assessment visits that we carry out so that there can be no doubt that those on the scheme are continuing to adopt the standards that we expect.

“We again urge all responsible breeders to join the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme, which is the simplest and easiest way for us all to work together and ensure that puppy buyers find a responsible breeder and are not duped by somebody who is less committed to breeding healthy dogs. The scheme does not make any money for the Kennel Club; we have in fact subsidised the costs of the scheme for many years, but running it is just another example of how the Kennel Club makes a difference for dogs.”

ENDS 4th April 2013 [163.13]