German Shepherd Dog Dwarfism DNA Research - Page 2

I have direct knowledge of the existence of this test. It is a specific test looking for the gene responsible for ONE TYPE of pituitary dwarfism. There are other causes for this condition as well. Secondly, the test is NOT available anywhere in the world as yet except through the researchers' team in the Netherlands. He has spent 15 years work to find the particular gene. Nor is his research yet published. He is tying up some loose ends and eventually his research and the test will be more widely available. His team also knows something of specific bloodlines known to produce dwarfs, but again, unless a specific blood test was utilized with a given dog to find the specific gene/genes this test looks for, one does not know the specific cause of any dwarfism known to have occurred. Finally, many pups probably die in utero or shortly after birth, and others are labelled a "failure to thrive". So the designation is difficult to place correctly unless the test is performed. Even then, as mentioned before, a cause for severe growth retardation may not be identifiable.

I think many people who love not only the breed of GSDs but some other breeds known to have similar problems will be very excited to read the research and have the availability of the test.