OFA DM DNA TEST: Fact or Fiction? - Page 1

https://www.facebook.com/OFADMDNATESTGSD?ref=hl
 
If your German Shepherd has been found to have Degenerative Myelopathy upon necropsy, and the dog received a clear or carrier staus on the OFA DM DNA test or if the progeny of such breedings test as carrier or at risk please enter your dog's information.

Any interest in dogs that tested at risk and were confirmed at autopsy? I have a friend with 2 such dogs one out of an at risk sire and a carrier dam.

Yes, of course!

I'll pass this one to her, but  your FB site doesn't sound as if  you want any information other than what would prove the test to be unreliable?

I wouldn't say the test is foolproof, but I also wouldn't assume that many vets can reliably tell the difference between DM, spondylosis and chronic anaplasmosis during a autopsy either. 

Then they shouldnt be vets :(
 

Yes, Sue, I am very interested in results that show the test to be unreliable. I believe the AKC and OFA are doing the breed  a horrible disservice and have thrown our breed under the bus. Not ONE generation of clears has been followed through their entire lifetime, not enough time for these dogs or the progeny of clear dogs (who receive and automatic clear from the OFA) to grow old enough to prove what they are saying is correct, and , in fact it has already been shown to be INCORRECT, with clear GSDS  developing DM and progeny of clear to clear breedings testing at risk and as carrier. You bet your ass I want to be able to show the test is not reliable- it has stopped all other DM research in its tracks, and I will not have  Jack Flash and Missie T die in vain for something that has already proven to be not so! How many other dogs are going to have to die from DM, before some REAL research, that is applicable to GERMAN SHEPHERDS, be commenced? The OFA DM DNA Test stopped GSDM research in its tracks. That truly pisses me off and I am not ashamed to admit it. I am not going sit by and let friiggin politics kill the breed I love so dearly.  As I said- not even ONE generation of tested dogs have been followed throughout their lifetime- not ONE generation of clear to clear progeny followed through THEIR lifetime, but pronouncements that have already been proven to be false. I do think my project will be doomed, though, because most people cannot and will not necropsy their dogs, either because of personal reasons or financial reasons, The presumptuousness of the claims made by the AKCCHF and The OFA are nothing short of outrageous and irresponsible! Our breed has been thrown under the bus. The DM Flash Test, designed specifically for OUR BREED exists no more, thanks to the AKCCHF and the OFA. They suck! IMHO, GSD people should be LIVID! Instead, they behave like the sheep their dogs are supposed to herd :(

Frankly, I am disgusted and infuriated that this test has taken the test for our breed and trashed it!!! Where is the outrage? Where is the proof that a generation and subsequent generational follow up of progeny shows this test to be valid? Where are your voices demanding that the test for our breed be funded? Where are the voices asking for OUR breed test to be reinstated, when OUR breed's test had the same efficacy as all the serious tests in dogs showing DM symptoms? HOW could your voices be mute???? For those of you who claim this  a start, WAKE UP! Its not the start, its  an end to OUR breed specific test. I cannot believe this has happened. There is not a day that goes by that Jack Flash and Missie T are not on my mind. There isnt a day that I do not wonder how people in this breed allowed this to happen.  I honestly do not know what the people in this breed and these test supporters  could be thinking, or if they think, at all....  You gave up a breed specific test, that tests for the DM of the GSD to support a test that has already been proven wrong, and has not been proven right, which can only be proven right by studying not only ONE generation, but at the very least, TWO generations, since progeny of clear to clear receive an automatic clear! This is nothing short of INSANE and inane! !!! What a sad, terrible turn of events for our breed. It kills me to know that Jack Flash and Missie T died for nothing. It was all in vain... It kills me to know more will perish and more hearts will be broken, because of politics.   There is just no end to the evil and greed in this world.. I guess its just human nature.. Then again, what can one expect from a society in which animals are disposable and it is acceptable to heartstick and gas unwanted and stray animals....

Sue, Since you speak with Dr Coates, might you inquire why she stopped doing free necropsies after the clear and carrier dogs were found to have DM, by people's own vets, as well as by her? Since it is her research, you would think she would want to know the truth to back up her own research? Would you also ask her how many GSDS she is following for the next several generations to prove what she is claiming is correct? 5? 20? 50? 100? 200? or none? Would you also ask her why there is no mention of clear and carrier GSDS who died from DM mentioned on her own University test website? Could you ask her why DM dogs become incontinent when in ALS, there is no incontinence? Could you ask why DM dogs knuckle and scrape their feet, when in ALS, there is no knuckling or scraping of feet?? Can you ask why only 10-20% of people with ALS have a change to the sod1 gene? What about the other 80%???????? Could you ask why in other breeds, the cell bodies of neurons are affected, but in German Shepherds, the cell bodies of neurons are NOT affected?  Can you ask why in other breeds, EMG is affected early in the disease, but in GSDS, the EMG is NORMAL? Those questions are just for starters...

I haven't spoken to Coates recently. You probably know that she held a seminar on DM at last year's National Specialty and that video is now on their website. It's a long run time and not the best sound quality, but if you have the time to look at all of it she might address some of your questions. I do remember that she asked for feedback on any dogs with unexpected results compared to the DNA results.