Degenerative Myelopathy DNA Test - Page 2

its my understanding they have validated this by testing numerous affected individuals and unafftected relatives etc I have a friend who had the flash test in Gainsville they said the dog was clear and they ended up having the dog put down for DM so we all sat there saying hum??

#1: They validated the test using 2 gsd spines- is that sufficient for you? They also took dogs into that study using clinical signs as a criteria! Last thing I heard, no one had eyes that could see through bones, tissues, ligaments, muscles skin, etc. If you want to go on the track record of this researcher looking at clinical signs, then we go back to 25%, or F for FAILING GRADE.

#2: No test is ever 100 %. Their test is not 100% either- or has anyone bothered to ask them if they are claiming it is 100%?
Has anyone asked them what their error margin is, if they would admit to one- or perhaps this test is the only thing is the world that is fool-proof and perfect?

#3: The Gainesville test could not have said clear, because clear is not  an outcome listed for that test.. That be the facts!

#4: The fact that they are making any claims at all is amazing to me, as there hasnt even been a generation of clear dogs bred to see if any offspring produced develops DM.  Doesnt this make anyone else scratch their heads in amazement or is there now a 100 % way to predict the future. I keep thinking of generations and generations of solid OFA dogs producing dogs with displastic hips, yet you think their test is reliable when it hasnt even had ONE generation to back up the claims. Wow- I wish my life was that easy! 

#5: Was the dog that passed from DM necropsied? Again, nothing is 100% and if anyone claims something is- R-UN! if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is too good to be true...

Marjorie
Executive Director: New Beginnings Shepherd Rescue www.newbeginningsrescue.com 501 C3
OUR BUILDING PROJECT PHOTOS
http://www.gsd911.com Our German Shepherd Rescue Forum http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group

[quote]I would ask everyone that has had a gsd diagnosed with DM to send in a swab for this test and see what the results come back as. [/quote]

and I would ask everyone to send in a DM Flash Test, to Dr Clemmons, because we dont have the high powered bucks of the AKCCHF, but we DO specialize in the DM of the GERMAN SHERPHERD DOG ! Since research money is hard to come by in this economy, perhaps if we support GERMAN SHEPHERD research, we will get more answers which pertain to OUR breed. Is that such a horrid thing to ask?  People can help research by testing their dogs, which will cut back on the amount of money needed for GERMAN SHEPHERD research.  Go ahead and compare the numbers of confirmed DM cases(Confirmed by use of spinal necrosy) used for that research again, 2, as in 1+1, compared the the numbers of Corgis, Boxers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Kerry Blues and possibly the French Bulldog. If you believe the results are pertinent to our breed, might I interest you in a bridge I have for sale? It has a lovely view of the water.... truly, it does ;)

Why dont people want to research their own breed????????? I dont get it, I just dont get it...... I wonder who will be keeping stats on all the litters produced, through the generations of *clears*, to bear out their claim that no DM dogs will be produced breeding only clears. I wonder how many lawsuits will be filed for dogs cut unnecessarily from gene pools. IMHO, it is insanity to state that this SOD1 test is the answer to DM. well, I dont know all that much about corgi, boxer, kerry blue, RR DM- I know it isnt the same as GSDM, which is MY focus, because GSDS are MY breed.

Marjorie
Executive Director: New Beginnings Shepherd Rescue www.newbeginningsrescue.com 501 C3
OUR BUILDING PROJECT PHOTOS
http://www.gsd911.com Our German Shepherd Rescue Forum http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group

 Lief, I heard the same story about a diagnosed dog and the Flash test being wrong.  Perhaps it was the same dog.  Let's hope so.   I have also heard several dogs with DM diagnosis who's owners used the OFA DNA test which confirmed the diagnosis.   Including my own dog.   I hope we all continue to test and get to the bottom of this!    I know a lady with a 3 yr old who tested at risk on the OFA test.  Of course, he is too young to have symptoms but I will talk with her and see if she might be interested in using the Flash test as well.  And see if the outcome is the same or not.  

 http://www.vetdnacenter.com/fees.html
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also available from this source which I didn't know is:

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Available for all breeds
10 working days turn around time $58 per sample
Volume discount for 5 or more samples:
$48 per sample

A test for a breed is only as good as the breed it was researched on...

Many dogs may experience a spinal cord disease (myelopathy) which is chronic and progressive (degenerative); but, in the GSD it is an imimmune-related disease which it is not in other breeds.

Can lead a horse to water but ya cant make it drink

Good luck, people...The facts are here, you do what you want with it. If it makes you happy to test for a type of DM our breed doesnt get, well, go for it.


Marjorie
Executive Director: New Beginnings Shepherd Rescue www.newbeginningsrescue.com 501 C3
OUR BUILDING PROJECT PHOTOS
http://www.gsd911.com Our German Shepherd Rescue Forum http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group

Many dogs may experience a spinal cord disease (myelopathy) which is chronic and progressive (degenerative); but, in the GSD it is an imimmune-related disease which it is not in other breeds.

Then, therefore, must one conclude that, if in the GSD, DM is immune-mediated (and not genetic--other than perhaps a predisposition), there is no reliable DNA testing that a dog is clear, a carrier, or at risk/affected? If this is factual, why even bother to do a Jack Flash test on a dog expressing no clinical DM symtoms (at the appropriate age) and who has produced no progeny presenting with symptomatic DM?

Marjorie,

So are you saying that the OFA is using a reliable test or they are not?  I submitted my bitch's test for DM to OFA before I bred her.  Her results came back clear.  Is this the test developed for the GSD's or the other breeds?  Should I have used another testing center for her DM tests?

Thanks!
Laurie

Bump!

I was hoping that Marjorie could address our questions and offer further clarification.

I have no idea why you are so angry Marjorie  once they identified the mutation they validated it by using dogs who were affected etc Honestly it sounds to me like you don't want to do testing why not test some affected dogs and when the test says they are fine then you can say see I told you ,if your goal is to convince people not to test dogs that is sad