General Plan (DH4)

• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

DM is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord of dogs. The gene mutation has been found in more than 70 breeds. Dogs that have inherited defective genes will experience a breakdown of the cells responsible for sending and receiving signals from the brain, resulting in neurological symptoms. The disease often begins with an unsteady gait, and the dog may wobble when they attempt to walk. As the disease progresses, the dog's hind legs will weaken and eventually the dog will be unable to walk at all. DM moves up the body, so if the disease is allowed to progress, the dog will eventually be unable to hold his bladder and will lose normal function in its front legs. The onset of DM generally occurs later in life starting at an average age of about 8 years. The frequency of disease gene varies across different breeds. Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, German Shepherd, Collie and Boxer are at the highest risk of being affected by DM.

• Hereditary Cataract (HC)

Cataracts are a clouding of lens of the eye caused by a breakdown of tissue in the eye. This generally results in an inability to see clearly, and can cause total blindness. Some forms of cataracts in dogs are hereditary, they are known as Hereditary Cataracts (HC). Dogs are typically affected bilaterally with onset typically occurring between 1 and 3 years of age. Cataracts usually begin small and grow progressively, though the speed of growth is highly variable. Some cataracts will grow so slowly that the dog's vision remains relatively clear, while others will grow such that the dog will quickly go blind. Corrective surgery is possible, though it is costly and is not always effective. About 23% of Australian Shepherd and 8% of Staffordshire Bull Terriers are carriers of HC.

• Hyperuricosuria (HUU) 

HUU refers to the presence of excessive amounts of uric acid in the urine. This trait predisposes dogs to form stones in their bladders or sometimes kidneys. These stones often must be removed surgically and can be difficult to treat. Hyperuricosuria is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The trait can occur in any breed but is significantly more common in Dalmatian, Bulldog and Black Russian Terrier. Affected dogs are prone to develop bladder/kidney stones. The carrier frequency of HUU in affected breeds is about 14.5%.