Quick Summary
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Phenotype: The disease has late onset and is progressive. Affected animals develop multiple firm nodules (dermatofibrosis) in the skin typically by 6 years of age. They also develop bilateral, multifocal tumors (cystadenocarcinoma) in the kidney, although the timing and rate of growth is varied.
Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal dominant
Alleles: N = Normal, RCND = Renal cystadenocarcinoma and nodular dermatofibrosis
Breeds appropriate for testing: German Shepherd Dog
Explanation of Results:
- Dogs with N/N genotype will not have renal cystadenocarcinoma and nodular dermatofibrosis (RCND) and cannot transmit this variant to their offspring.
- Dogs with N/RCND genotype will have RCND. They may transmit this variant to 50% of their offspring. If bred to a N/N dog, 50% of offspring are predicted to be normal and 50% are predicted to have RCND. If bred to a N/RCND dog, only 25% of the offspring are predicted to be normal (no copies of the variant).
- Dogs with RCND/RCND genotype will have RCND and may not be viable (no RCND/RCND living dogs yet identified).
German Shepherd Health Panel
$130 per animal
Sample Collection
Dog DNA tests are carried out using cells brushed from your dog's cheeks and gums. The preferred cytology brushes are sent to you by mail, or you may provide your own brushes. For accepted alternative brushes, click here
We recommend waiting until puppies are at least three weeks old before testing.
Step-By-Step:
- Make sure the dog has not had anything to eat or drink for at least 1 hour prior to collecting sample.
- When swabbing puppies, isolate each puppy from the mother, littermates and any shared toys for 1 hour prior to swabbing. Puppies should not have nursed or eaten for 1 hour prior to collecting sample.
- If collecting samples from more than one dog, make sure to sample one dog at a time and wash your hands before swabbing another dog.
- Label brush sleeve with name or ID of dog to be sampled.
- Open brush sleeve by arrow and remove one brush by its handle.
- Place bristle head between the dog’s gums and cheek and press lightly on the outside of the cheek while rubbing or rotating the brush back and forth for 15 seconds.
- Wave the brush in the air for 20 seconds to air dry.
- Insert brush back into sleeve.
- Repeat steps 5 - 8 for each unused brush in sleeve on a fresh area of cheek and gums. Make sure to use and return all brushes sent by the VGL. In most cases, it will be 3 brushes per dog. If using interdental gum brushes, please note that the VGL requires 4 brushes per dog and only moderate or wide interdental gum brushes are accepted.
- Do not seal brushes in sleeve.
- Place all samples in an envelope and return to the address provided.
ATTENTION:
- Do not collect saliva/drool – the key to obtaining a good sample is getting cheek cells on the swab
- Do not rub swab on the dog’s tongue or teeth – this will result in poor quality sample
- Do not collect a sample from a puppy that has recently nursed – the mother’s genetic material can rub off on the puppy’s mouth and contaminate the sample
Renal cystadenocarcinoma and nodular dermatofibrosis (RCND) is an inherited cancer in German Shepherd Dogs. The disease has late onset and is progressive. Affected animals develop multiple firm nodules (dermatofibrosis) in the skin typically by 6 years of age. They also develop bilateral, multifocal tumors (cystadenocarcinoma) in the kidney, although the timing and rate of growth is varied.
RCND in the German Shepherd Dog breed results from a mutation in exon 7 (c.764A>G) of the folliculin (FLCN) gene. The disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, which means that males and females are equally affected and that a single copy of the defective gene will cause disease. Animals with two defective copies have not been identified, suggesting this genotype is incompatible with life.
Testing for RCND assists veterinarians with diagnosis of RNCD and helps breeders identify affected dogs among breeding stock to avoid producing affected puppies. Matings between two dogs that have one copy each of the RCND mutation are expected to produce only 25% of normal puppies with no copies of the mutation. This mating may also result in potential loss of embryos with two copies of the RCND mutation as it appears to be homozygous lethal.