Research re: Boxer congenital kidney disease

As some of you may know, there are ongoing problems with Some Boxers & congenital kidney disease. In this type the dog rarely survives beyond 2 years & usually dies much younger. A Genealogist is undertaking research to try & find the gene responsible for this awful problem working in conjunction with a specialist Vet (Professor in Glasgow)

We were approached through Dogsey by another Boxer owner/breeder who is friends with the Genealogist carrying out the research & asked if we would consider Katie taking part in the research. You had to supply the dogs pedigree & blood samples & send off to the Genealogist. Initially the Vet in Glasgow said Katie was not suitable as at 6 she was too old & it was some other kind of kidney disease that she had, this was despite the fact she has had problems from we got her. Her breeder was very helpful & said he would help in any way he could.

We were disappointed initially as we had hoped to help by taking part in this research to try & make sure dogs of the future didnt have to go through what was happening to Katie & also to make *some sense out of this awful disease. So we have just got on with it & try to make life as easy & comfortable for Katie as we can. It isnt always easy as she can be so sick at times. She gets frightened & chokes being sick & it totally exhausts her - there isnt that much of her

Earlier this week we heard from the Genealogist, he has since come across another *Boxer with congenital kidney disease who has survived well beyond expectancy at 4 years. He thought they may have been too quick to rule Katie out of the research

We talked it over with the vet we now use since we moved. *He pointed out it wouldn't help Katie & we said we knew that but it was to try & help others in the future. So today Katie got blood taken & the vet is very kindly sending it off to the Genealogist for us. I also have to commend the vet as he only charged us a standard Consultant fee to do it.

On the way home my poor little poppet was very very sick in the car - she is sensitive in the fact having blood drawn frightens her. Unfortunately to monitor her condition she will need bloodwork done every six months

If you have a Boxer with kidney disease or know someone who has, please ask them to contact the Genealogist doing the research *- Dr Cattanach can be contacted by email or telephone

bcattanach@steynmere.freeserve.co.uk
01235 835410

Poor Kate she is really going through it , isn`t she.

I know , the research is not going to help Kate, but you can take some comfort out of the fact with her small part, in the research, it may help to eradicate this terrible disease in our breed.

O n another note to, i heard on another forum, that Dr Cattanach is coming up against some resistance in the breed going as far as having writs served to gag him by a few breeders

Thankfully through it seems many are on board with this, and with cooperation , from all sides we will see an end to this .

I gathered there was rebellion in the "ranks" with only a few willing to help with the research, think that is why they are appealing to the companion dog side of the public for help. Although I didnt have to contact Katie's breeder I felt that it would be manners to do so, as it was his breeding line that may be in question. As it was he was more than happy to be of any help he could.

I would imagine it would be a big blow to know that there was a possibility that some of the breeding stock that you have built up over a lot of years may be carrying a gene that could cause congenital renal disease

On a lighter note Dr C was able to tell me that the German Governing Boxer Council has decreed that White Boxers can now be shown and bred from and due to EC legistration Europe will follow suit. I never thought I would see that in my lifetime

This week I heard that in Germany they have been showing White Boxers for the last six months.