CYSTINURIA
FOR NEWFOUNDLAND
What is cystinuria? What are the causes? How to avoid it? How do you make sure you don't have an affected dog?
All these questions come up often, tests are possible and will allow you to know if your dog is affected or not. First of all you can be reassured if the following examples are the case with your dog's pedigree.
1. If the father and the mother are non-carriers (known as healthy, free or free) in this case you have no risk to have, because the litter is called seine and not full carrier.
2. If the father or mother is a carrier (known as a healthy carrier), and the other parent is non-carrier (healthy) in this case you will have either a carrier or non-carrier dog, because 50% will be carrier and 50% non-carrier. (never marry two carrier dogs)
3. If both parents are carriers in this case a high risk is present, and the breeders in question are not professional. 25% of the puppies will be healthy, 50% of the carrier puppies healthy and unfortunately 25% of the puppies will be sick.
4. If one of the two parents is ill, even with a non-carrier breeding stock, the risk remains uncertain and very dangerous. Like marrying two carrier breeders.
It is therefore important that the breeders are tested for this disease .
Here is a diagram below to better understand.
HEALTHY
HEALTHY
HEALTHY
HEALTHY CARRIER
HEALTHY CARRIERS
+
+
100% HEALTHY
25% HEALTHY
50% HEALTHY CARRIERS
=
=
+
50% HEALTHY
=
25% SICK
50% HEALTHY CARRIERS
Cystinuria is a disease which results in a loss of the dog's kidney function.
About 26% of Newfoundlanders carry the genetic mutation that is responsible for this disease.
A reliable DNA test makes it possible to screen breeders, to adapt matings to avoid giving birth to affected puppies and to limit the continuity of the disease in the breed.
Cystinuria leads to the formation of kidney stones and inflammation of the urinary system from the age of 6 months of your puppy.
The dog has difficulty urinating and may have blood in the urine.
Left untreated, the disease can cause kidney dysfunction and lead to premature death.
About 26% of Newfoundlanders in Europe carry the genetic mutation responsible for this disease.
A breeder can unknowingly mate a carrier male and a carrier female and sire a litter with affected puppies.
A breeding dog that is a healthy carrier does not develop the disease but transmits it to 50% of its offspring. It is therefore important to only engage with DNA tested breeders.
A DNA test, called the CYST test, can detect Cystinuria in Newfoundland, with a veterinarian, who will send the DNA test to a research laboratory, this test with a reliability greater than 99%.
This disease can to be very serious, like many genetic diseases, it is important to design and to ensure that this disease does not will develop never on your future puppy!
Melanie & Dylan