Gene Therapy Sets Stage For New Treatments For Inherited Blindness

Penn Veterinary Researchers Say Gene Therapy Sets Stage For New Treatments For Inherited Blindness

01 May 2010

Veterinary vision scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have safely and successfully used a viral vector in targeting a class of photoreceptors of the retina called rods, a critical first step in developing gene therapies for inherited blindness caused by rod degeneration. Continue reading Gene Therapy Sets Stage For New Treatments For Inherited Blindness

Study Looks At Canine Cancer Genes

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/192574.php

Michigan State University veterinarians are taking part in a two-year, $5.3 million project to analyze five cancers in dogs, research that could offer new insight into canine cancer genes and their potential impact on the human form of the disease.
“Because purebred dogs have been selected to have specific physical and behavioral traits, their background genetics, within breeds, are very similar, with that ‘background noise’ suppressed, cancer genes are made more obvious.”Barbara Kitchell, director of MSU’s Center for Comparative Oncology said. Continue reading Study Looks At Canine Cancer Genes

Kangal dogs : an Andrew Johnston essay

April 29, 2010 •
Kangal History by Andrew Johnston
Olympic Dogs

About Kangal dogs,

“The most valid question I’ve heard the Anatolian people pose is: ‘why would a shepherd care what color his dog was if it did it’s job?’  And I have to admit I’ve no answer for that. I’ve always found those in dogs that were particularly concerned with a dab of white here or black there, be it Kangal, Boerboel, or a Dogo were not the people truly interested in function.”

Kangals

In a perhaps telling twist, the most ancient of breeds I work with may have the least to choose from by way of written history. A breed that’s purported to have been around for thousands of years, sitting as Turkey does at the geographical cross roads of the world, that history might be quite busy and all but impossible to document anyway. Or perhaps, as a true land race breed, there is really very little that can be said with certainty; except the breed has been around almost as long as animal husbandry. Continue reading Kangal dogs : an Andrew Johnston essay

Purebreed Crosses : an Andrew Johnston essay

by Andrew Johnston, Olympic dogs.

April 29, 2010 • Text Post
Defending the Cross

PUREBRED CROSSES

The crossing of breeds is such a controversial issue it seems appropriate I spend some time addressing my perspective, in print, for the record. To the degree that creates some redundancy with sections like ” An overview, ” I hope you will endure. Given the assumption few will read the whole site, it’s more important that each post stand alone. At the very least I can cut and paste this bit on crosses as needed in my online travels, where the crossing of breeds creates endless hoo-hah.

But anyone in animal husbandry, and most genuine dog men, have known forever that there is a payoff to outside blood. Of late the fickle finger of dog fashion has stumbled on the practice. The extent and degree to which this crossing of breeds may be fad driven, there for short-lived, remains to be seen.

Personally I see it as a logical reaction to the pathetic state of purebreds. The problem then, and the only real limitation of the idea, remains the same. As all the dogs crossed, by definition, must be pulled from that same dubious pool. But while most anything would be better than more of the same purebred disaster, and while crossing does address many of the issues associated with inbreeding, it does not begin to address the greater void of a meaningful selection pressure. Continue reading Purebreed Crosses : an Andrew Johnston essay

The Rare Breed Story : an Andrew Johnston essay

The Rare Breed Story : A Canine Fable
by Andrew Johnston
Olympic Dogs

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a breed of dog created to serve a purpose. This breed was forged of necessity in a harshly competitive environment, to help the people that used them survive. Most were culled, only the best were allowed to live, because more were born then were needed. The men and women of this culture did not confuse their dogs with their children; they had many children, and grandchildren, to worry about. They valued and cared for the dogs but they were not considered pets, so much as tools. The dogs were worth something in this culture, but there was no significant money to be made in mass producing them. Continue reading The Rare Breed Story : an Andrew Johnston essay

Dogs and Ticks

A tick-free dog is a healthy dog.Learn more than you wanted to know about tick disease, prevention, treatment from this great educational website: http://www.dogsandticks.com/index.html

“Ticks can be present any where from the deep woods to urban parks. This Web site is filled with tips to educate you about Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, as well as other diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes. You’ll find pictures of ticks, information on how to protect your dog from ticks and how to recognize symptoms of tick disease in dogs. With tick education and awareness, you can help keep your best friend happy and healthy.” Continue reading Dogs and Ticks

Top dog household toxins

1. NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen”Topping our list are the common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which include common names such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (e.g., Aleve). While these medications are safe for people, even one or two pills can cause serious harm to a pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other small mammals including ferrets, gerbils, and hamsters may develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure. Continue reading Top dog household toxins