Research Sample Collection/Health Testing at the 2023 Specialty

NEW! Cheek-swab testing for Delayed Post-Operative Hemorrhage and an OFA Eye Clinic have been added to the health testing offerings at the 2023 National Specialty!

Here is what we have planned:

Health Testing

NEW!!!! OFA Eye Clinic with ophthalmologist (and SDCA member) Michael Blair, DVM, MS, Rph, DACVO – Friday, May 12, 4:00–6:00 P.M.

Genetic eye abnormalities are considered rare in Deerhounds; however, we have very limited data. The best way to prevent problems is to be vigilant and screen for potentially genetic mutations in any breeding stock. We are also extremely lucky to have a club member — Dr. Michael Blair — who is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, so we want to take him up on his very kind offer to do an eye clinic at this specialty to make sure our Deerhounds’ eyes are as healthy as they are beautiful. The testing is easy on your dog — just some eye drops and a quick exam. We are offering a limited number of eye exams, so sign up early to avoid disappointment.

Cost $50, and Michael is generously donating the fee to the Health Fund.

Pre-registration is required; to pre-register, simply pay for your exams in the SDCA Store. Scheduling information will be provided via email in April. Walk-in appointments may be available on a limited basis but are not guaranteed.

NEW!!!! DEPOHGENTM Testing*: We will be doing cheek swab sampling at the cheek swab/blood draw clinic on Saturday, May 13, after the judging to send to Washington State University to test for Delayed Post-Operative Hemorrhage (DEPOH, formerly Delayed Bleeding Syndrome or hyperfibrinolysis) and to support Dr. Michael Court’s research into Slow Drug Metabolism and Hyperthermia. We are also accepting swabs from people who test their dogs at home.

Cost: $30. The SDCA Health Fund is subsidizing $35 of the $65 fee.

This testing is part of the SDCA Code of Ethics Health Guidelines.

Whether you are having your dog swabbed at the show or bringing swabs from dogs left at home, pre-registration is required; to pre-register, simply pay for your tests in the SDCA Store. Scheduling information will be provided via email in April. Walk-in appointments may be available on a limited basis but are not guaranteed.

NOTE: If you submitted cheek swabs from your dog to Dr. Court previously, those test results are valid and you do NOT need to retest your dog.

*As part of the patent agreement between WSU and the SDCA, a small royalty from DEPOHGEN™ test sales will be returned to the SDCA.

Cardiac Testing: Echocardiograms with cardiologist Meg Sleeper, VMD, DACVIM (cardiology), our consulting cardiologist for the SDCA Holter Study, Thursday, May 11 (afternoon) and Friday, May 12 (all day).

Cost: $275; dogs that tested normal in the Holter study are $250.

This testing is part of the SDCA Code of Ethics Health Guidelines.

Appointments: Pre-registration is required; to pre-register, simply pay for your echos in The SDCA Store. Appointments will be offered in registration order, so register early! Scheduling information will be provided via email in April. Walk-in appointments may be available on a limited basis but are not guaranteed.

Factor VII Testing: Once again, we will be offering blood draws for Factor VII testing at the University of Pennsylvania at our cheek swab/blood draw clinic on Saturday, May 13, after the judging.

Cost: $30. The SDCA Health Fund will again be subsidizing $45 of the $75 fee.

This testing is part of the SDCA Code of Ethics Health Guidelines.

Research Sample Collection

CHIC DNA Bank: We will be drawing blood samples for submission to our CHIC DNA Bank at our cheek swab/blood draw clinic on Saturday, May 13, after the judging. The bank is already being used by researchers, and the more samples we get, the more useful it will be.

Cost: FREE! The SDCA Health Fund and OFA underwrite the $20 processing cost.

If you need a DNA sample on your dog in order to participate in the SDCA Holter Study, the specialty blood draw clinic is the perfect way to get it done! You can bring samples from dogs at home, too!

Cystinuria Study: We will be drawing blood for DNA and accepting urine samples for Nitroprusside (NP) testing to support our cystinuria research at our blood draw clinic on Saturday, May 13, after the judging.  We would like samples from both intact dogs and a few bitches age 2 and over. Even if your dog has had NP tests before, multiple tests are very useful for the research, so please test your dog again. Urine collection equipment will be available.

Cost: FREE (Penn and the SDCA Health Fund subsidize the $55 fee) as long as a blood sample is also provided or Penn already has a blood sample from your dog.

Blood Draw Clinic Appointments: You will be able to schedule appointments starting about a month before the show. Feel free to bring blood and urine to the show from dogs that you are leaving at home. We’ll provide detailed sample collection information as the show gets closer.

Please note: By submitting samples for research, you agree to provide written health updates on your dog every two or three years when requested by the SDCA up to and including the age and cause of death.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! There are a variety of jobs that need to be filled. If you can spare an hour or two to help at a health clinic, please let us know!

If you have any questions about the sample collection or health testing, please don’t hesitate to contact us.