Health

VIZSLA BREED HEALTH SURVEY

We have some great results from our health survey: Health Survey Results

The 2008 Vizsla Survey ended on 2008 December 15

The 2008 Vizsla Health Survey was sponsored and funded by the Vizsla Club of America Welfare Foundation, Inc. The purpose of this health survey is to inform scientific research that will help us identify and better understand the health issues present in the Vizsla breed today.

This was an anonymous survey, and all data collected is confidential. Your participation has helped us gather important information to benefit our breed. Anyone who has owned a vizsla since 1992 until the present was welcome to take the survey.

To learn more about the survey's authors, click here

RESOLUTION

The Vizsla Club of America calls for breeding stock to be radiographed and specifies that no dog or bitch with the slightest evidence of hip dysplasia be used for breeding purposes.  In keeping with this resolution, the Vizsla News will not accept ads from any Vizsla as breeding stock that does not have an OFA number.  Ads for litters of puppies will not be accepted unless the sire and dam had OFA numbers at the time of breeding.  Complete OFA numbers must be sent in with each ad request and will be printed in full.  OFA requirements do not apply to dogs appearing in news articles.  Instructions for OFA diagnosis may be obtained for a fee from the

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
2300 E. Nifong Blvd.
Columbia, MO  65201-3856
(573) 442-0418

RESOLUTION

- The officers and board of directors of  The Vizsla Club of America, Inc., in cognizance of their respective responsibilities to protect the breed and foster its development, do hereby condemn the breeding of dogs with serious genetic defects including: epilepsy, PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). Von Willebrand's Disease, entropian and cranial muscular atrophy.  (Please note: tests for PRA and Von Willebrand's Disease are available.  Please discuss this with your veterinarian.)

RESOLUTION

- The officers and board of directors of  The Vizsla Club of America, Inc., in cognizance of their respective responsibilities to protect the breed and foster its development, do hereby condemn crossbreeding of purebred Vizslas and falsification of registration documents.  All person's following the Vizsla fancy are enjoined to subscribe to this ethic in the best interest of the breed.

LYMPHOSARCOMA HEALTH STUDY

In 1996, the VCA and an organization called The Magyar Vizsla Society - which is building a DNA registry for the breed - combined their efforts on the health front in a project to collect blood samples from Vizslas diagnosed with Lymphosarcoma.  If your dog has been diagnosed with this disease, please contact:  Sue Boggs, 3275 Eddie Rd., Winnebago, IL.  61088, phone: 815-335-3510, email: snowridge_vizslas@yahoo.com  for instructions on how to participate in this most important project.

You can click here for further instructions on the Lymphosarcoma Health Study Project including submission information and forms to download.

MUSCLE DISEASE IN THE VIZSLA

- by G. Diane Shelton DVM, PhD, DACVIM

VIZSLA EPILEPSY RESEARCH PROJECT

In March of 1999, the AKC Canine Health Foundation awarded a grant of $57,500.00 to researchers at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine to study the molecular genetics of canine epilepsy in Vizslas. English Springer's and Beagles. The goal of the study is to identify a marker or gene for epilepsy and to develop a screening test to determine normal, carrier and affected status, thus allowing breeders the potential to eliminate epilepsy.

Read about Dr Ned Patterson's research on epilepsy-causing gene mutations at the University of Minnesota.
For more information about canine epilepsy: www.canine-epilepsy.net

The University of Minnesota has put together an information packet complete with instructions and forms which contain the following:
Consent form for participation in the "Vizsla Epilepsy Research Project"
Instructions for Blood and Tissue sample submission
Litter List

Litter Information
Individual Dog Questionnaire

INDIVIDUAL DOG QUESTIONAIRE UPDATE

We would appreciate updates on the status of Vizslas participating in our Epilepsy Research Project. This includes samples sent to both the University of Minnesota, as well as the University of Missouri-Columbia. We are looking for updated contact information, as many owners have moved and/or changed email addresses since submitting samples; rendering them "unreachable".
We are also interested in the current status of your dogs. For example, if they were seizure-free when submitted, are they still free of seizures. If a dog was submitted as a seizing dog, we are also interested in an update on how he/she is doing. Are they being maintained on anti-seizure medication?
Finally, we are looking for litter updates. Many litters have been sent in to us (tail clips) and the only information we have about them is the litter code ID. Therefore, getting the dogs' eventual registered name, new owner's name and contact information, and health information on the dog, now that it's grown up, is necessary.

Please get your update form here and mail the information!

www.canine-epilepsy.net
To help determine possible links between epilepsy and other conditions, some questions on the forms ask about other diseases, conditions or characteristics. Please answer as accurately and completely as possible.

To request forms or if you have any questions about completing the forms or pedigrees, please call the Canine Genetics Lab at the University of Minnesota at (612) 625-5799; download instructions and submission forms in pdf format  here .

January 2008 Study Update
May 2008 Study Update

Please mail submissions here:
Epilepsy Research Project
c/o  Dr Ned Patterson DVM
Canine Genetics Lab
University of Minnesota
C339 VMC
1352 Boyd Ave, St. Paul MN 55108
ph: 612-625-5799