Thread: DM Testresults
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Old 08-12-2010, 23:57   #36
Gypsy Wolf
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Florida & Minnesota U.S.
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Do we have any informtion on how many of the Affected dogs actually end up developing DM symptoms? Or anyone studying this in the CsV?
Some veterinarians here say that 50% of German Shepherd Dogs are Carriers, 25% Normal and 25% Affected.
Of that 25% that are Affected, not all of them develop DM symptoms. Sometimes something else kills them young (like Gastric Torsion) and the GSD lifespan is not as long as the CsV.
So, if we extrapolate that CsV have similar statistics, shouldn't we see a LOT more symptomatic CsVs?
According to Dr. Clemmons, there are obviously other factors that cause development of DM symptoms - which they are now studying in GSD.
It is entriely possible that the wolf genetics mitigate development of DM symptoms somewhat, or that certain lines have a higher predisposition to developing symptoms - but is anyone collecting the information?
I ask, as here in the US our gene pool is small and given the above statistics, it is not necessarily an option to not breed 2 Carriers - in which case, some Affecteds may be produced. But if the amount of Affecteds that actually develop symptoms is low, than breeding 2 Carriers is an acceptable risk to keep our gene pool healthy.
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