Extreme Orex Aykmar Son DM positive - Page 3

They have reported that 2 dogs testing normal had DM so the test is not conclusive. So until they can really find out what the cause is the test is useless.
This dog is homozygous N/N for the mutation that is the most common cause of Degenerative Myelopathy, with two normal copies of the gene. Among the hundreds of dogs studied so far at the University of Missouri, only two dogs with test results of N/N (Normal) have been confirmed to have DM. The N/N (Normal) dog can only transmit the normal counterpart of the common mutation to its offspring, and it is unlikely that this dog or its offspring will ever develop DM.

The test isn't useless, it provides researchers with information that may one day result in finding the cause, how the disease is transmitted etc.  Without research there will never be answers, simple as that.

 

Duke, the people claiming the test must be done on second generation are the scientists who invented the test....they claim the gene can mutate.
If it makes you happy stepping in line, do it. It won't change the occurance of the disease, whether you test or not. How many dogs have you had with dm? Has the DNA test been helpful in elminating your dogs with dm, or do you still have it pop up ever?

If there was a test for three leggedness in the breed, would you also submit DNA swabs for your dogs for three leggedness? Or have you not had any occurances of your dogs developing three leggedness, so don't see a need for it?

The test is useless in predicting dogs that will develope dm. It's useless in diagnosing dm. It's useful for research only if everyone who had their dog dna'd also submitted necropsy samples to the labs after the dogs died...so if it's a research vehicle, then it should be free, or every one should be paid for submitting research material to the labs...but only. If they also submit samples for necropsy to the labs for follow up...the DNA test by itself is useless.

The test may not be valid in GSDs but my other breed is Pembroke Welsh corgis and the test is taken seriously. There are corgi breeders who are actively working on not producing at risk dogs. A friend of mine is on her third corgi with DM. She began showing symptoms at age 9 while she still actively competing in agility. She's 12 now and is totally immobilized by the disease. Her current competition dog is also at risk but many of the dogs from this breeder have tested at risk yet none to date have developed the disease. Nevertheless my friend is going to make sure her next puppy is going to be from a clear breeding. So write off the test if you want but there are dogs out there that suffer from this disease and if it may help one less owner have the heartbreak of dealing with a DM stricken dog then I'm all for testing.

Coincidence....the at risk is no different than clear.
If only one dog gets helped after testing millions of dogs, then flip a coin would give better odds of accuracy.

As I stated above, the DNA test by itself is useless...it will only give objective conclusion if necropsies of every dog ever tested are submitted to match the DNA results.

I had a female tested with two different companies and one result was at risk and the other carrier. It gets better. Her son was tested and came back clear. What a joke. I only tested because someone requested it on the son. After the female came back with different results I threw in the towel.
Judy

Duke mentone he's on his second generation testing and they are all " clear". I also did second generation testing with all clear as well. Never had dm in any of my dogs, tested or not.

The test is cheap, it tells you without question whether or not a given dog has normal or abnormal gene pair in the gene that is most common to have shown mutation in known DM cases. Maybe the test is not perfect, a small percentage of dogs with 2 normal genes have been proven through autopsy to have developed DM. So? Even if the test is 75% effective, what harm does it do to pay the fee to send in a saliva sample?

If we applied the same logic to Hip/Elbow testing, X-Rays should never be done since we don't get OFA Excellent hip dogs from an Excellent Dam/Sire combo and dogs that test Good/Normal may develop hip/elbow dysplasia later in life.

X-rays and grading are currently the best tool available for reducing the occurrence of HD/ED, just as the genetic test is the best tool currently available to try and reduce the occurrence of DM.

in older days the people who where against xrays said the same as some of you are now, the ones who were against it where often the ones with not so good results after that

JudyK if your dog is a carrier, her son can be clear if mated to a free male, so nothing strange about that

we have seen carriers and affected dogs being bred and producing dogs that developed the disease , havent seen that from dogs that are free, that,together with the accessability of the test makes me say, why not test and know, might just save you and your puppybuyers the heartache