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Swiss Setter Club supports Finnish Epilepsy Study

Epilepsy can be a problem in our breed.

Thanks to a post on this site some months ago, the Swiss Setter & Pointer Club got in touch with the Finnish study group at Helsinki University. Their aim is to collect enough blood donations from Irish Setters so as to research epilepsy in the breed.

Last weekend at the Swiss Setter & Pointer Club show 30 dogs donated their blood for the study.

It was due to Exclusively Setters that word spread fast and we were able to take action. More Swiss Irish Setters will hopefully be donating blood during the next months and since the Vetsuisse Faculty of Berne is now also involved, posting of samples to Finland has become a lot easier.

Good news!

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Permalink Reply by Catherine Carter on June 23, 2013 at 8:43am

In the UK, we have also been asked to participate in the survey. Swabs are being supplied from Finland. We need also healthy over 8 years old dogs to establish a control to compare DNA with dogs who have already fitted. I hope all breeders will agree to have their dogs taking part in this survey. If anybody would like more info on which dogs are eligible to take part in the survey, the contact person for the UK is Meg Webb.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Stone on June 23, 2013 at 10:01am

That is great news! I know blood donation is more problematical for you in the UK with animal welfare rules being somewhat restrictive in that respect. So good to hear you have found a way to go ahead.

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Permalink Reply by Angela Clarke on June 23, 2013 at 1:55pm

I done a swab from Abbie for them a few month ago.So anyone thinking of doing one, I can say it is so simple no bother at all and cost only £3 to send by airmail. The form takes a while if you donn`t have dates at hand. Hope they get more than they expect so a to get a better picture.

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Permalink Reply by Ann Millington on June 24, 2013 at 4:50am

Irish Red & White Setters were also asked if we would like to take part in the research. We were very willing, but unfortunately - or rather fortunately - we do not have enough Epilepsy cases to be of use and so were declined by Helsinki.

However, I do wholeheartily encourage Irish Setter owners to join in this research. The donation of DNA is a vital contribution to solving this distressing condition. Blood sample or buccal swab are equally acceptible.

Go for it, Irish Setters!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Dianne cook on June 23, 2013 at 2:10pm

Wonderful news Susan, hopefully this study will help our beautiful breed. :0)

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Permalink Reply by Susan Stone on June 24, 2013 at 4:39am

I fear there will be no quick answers or easy tests for this complex disease but if we can help them gather as many samples as possible of affected dogs and of healthy controls then we are helping the breed.

As Angela said it is so much easier if you can use swabs. But from what I have heard blood donations make it easier to extract the DNA for research.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone....

For those of you with a 'scientific mind' here is a link to research done by this same Finnish group for the Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael). This makes it clear what a very complex disease this is! Unfortunately findings in one breed do not necessarily match the findings in another...

Swiss Setter Club supports Finnish Epilepsy Study

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