Quick Summary
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Phenotype: Affected Weimaraners have a defective spinal canal, which leads to neurological abnormalities. Puppies born with SD may have difficulties starting to walk due to weakness of their rear legs. Adults with SD show a typical abnormal gait that includes simultaneous movement of the hind legs or “bunny hopping” in the rear. Additional characteristics include weakness and lack of coordination in the rear, together with normal front end coordination and strength. Rarely a “bunny hopping” gait is observed in the front. The condition is not painful, and it does not progress during the life of an affected dog.
Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Alleles: N = Normal, SD = Spinal dysraphism
Breeds appropriate for testing: Weimaraner
Explanation of Results:
- Dogs with N/N genotype will not have spinal dysraphism and cannot transmit this variant to their offspring.
- Dogs with N/SD genotype will not be affected by spinal dysraphism, but are carriers. They may transmit this variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers are predicted to produce 25% spinal dysraphism-affected puppies.
- Dogs with SD/SD genotype will have spinal dysraphism, a non-progressing condition with neurological abnormalities.
Results of this test can be submitted to the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)
$55 single test per animal ($5 discount on 3 or more dogs)
Due to the limitations of current testing methods, the option to add an SD test to an existing sample is not available in the "Add Test to Existing Sample" feature of your MyVGL account. If the SD test was not ordered with the initial sample submission, a new sample must be submitted, and a fee of $55 for the SD test applies to the new sample.
Weimaraner Health Panel
$105 per animal
Sample Collection
Dog DNA tests are carried out using cells brushed from your dog's cheeks and gums. Only VGL-provided cytology brushes are accepted for this test. Brushes will be sent to you by mail for no additional charge.
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 6 brushes sent by the VGL.
- 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
Spinal dysraphism (SD) in Weimaraner dogs is a genetic disorder present at birth that results from faulty embryonic development. Affected Weimaraners have a defective spinal canal which leads to neurological abnormalities. Puppies born with SD may have difficulties starting to walk due to weakness of their rear legs. Adults with SD show a typical abnormal gait that includes simultaneous movement of the hind legs or “bunny hopping” in the rear. Additional characteristics include weakness and lack of coordination in the rear, together with normal front end coordination and strength. Rarely a “bunny hopping” gait is observed in the front. The condition is not painful and it does not progress during the life of an affected dog.
SD is an inherited autosomal recessive disease caused by a mutation in the NKX2-8 gene. Two copies of the mutation are necessary for disease signs to be present, with both sexes being affected equally in frequency and severity. Weimaraners that have only one copy of the SD mutation (N/SD genotype) are normal, but they are carriers of the disease. When two carriers are bred to each other, 25% of the resulting puppies are expected to be affected and 50% to be carriers. Approximately 1.4% of Weimaraners are estimated to be carriers of SD (N/SD); however, the number of carriers can change with each generation. Weimaraners that are carriers of SD (N/SD) are completely normal, and they can be safely bred to dogs that are non-carriers (N/N) in order to maintain diversity within the breed and to select for other positive attributes in carrier dogs.
Testing for SD assists Weimaraner owners and breeders in identifying affected and carrier dogs. Breeders can use results from the test as a tool for selection of mating pairs to avoid producing affected dogs.
Note: The Weimaraner spinal dysraphism (SD) test requires specialized DNA extraction and testing methods that are not compatible with methods used for other dog genetic tests. For this reason, the option to add SD is not available in the "Add Test to Existing Sample" feature of your MyVGL account. If SD was not ordered with the initial sample submission, and you wish to add it as a test later, a new sample must be submitted for SD testing.
A fee of $55 for the SD test applies to the new sample.
The VGL is working on a new testing procedure that will allow SD to be added to existing samples, and this will be available once validated.