genetic test for labrador eye problem

[BlackMarigold]

Have any other lab owners had an email from the Kennel Club? Would be interested in people's views on this.
My 5 yr old lab has been "randomly selected" for a free genetic test for
Macular Corneal Dystrophy
This seems to be a fairly new condition in labs (another thing to worry about ) and I can understand the need to find out how many dogs are carriers for breeding purposes but not sure about getting the test for my dog.
If he is affected I'd rather not know as I'd be waiting for him to go blind, especially as there's nothing that can be done about it. Also there might be implications for insurance, increased premiums or eye problems being excluded.

[TeamSteady]

Yes, I got this email too.

I've responded to say yes i am happy to take part.

I have two bitches. My older girl is spayed after developing a pyometra whilst pregnant, but she had passed two annual eye certs and is optigen clear. It would be interesting to know her status just out of interests sake, altho (touch wood) if she had a "bad" status it would have a knock on affect as two of her sisters have had litters... which brings me to our puppy, who is 6m, and her niece. i have also signed her up.

We have just started showing her and the plan would be, if she is still being well placed and well thought of, to health test her at 12m and go ahead with a litter between 2-3. If she comes back as a carrier or affected it would make life difficult as with any new testing, if not many stud dogs are tested you are rather stuck, at least until the general population takes up the test. Equally the email said that the results will not (yet?) be made public... So it could make life tricky in the short term, but overall i am happy to take part (and just hope she comes back clear!!)

Certainly as a pet owner i would go ahead. The more people that take part the clearer picture the AHT can build up. I know there are some arguments with some of the testing being a money making scheme- some of the testing companies have come up with huge lists of things to test for, just because you can, not because there is an issue in the breed. But i know there are issues with eyes and to my mind the more we know the better we can plan for the future to hopefully irradiate problems.

I am probably in the wrong here, but if your results are not made public, how would your insurance co know? I don't think your vets will be told as you are doing the swabs and sending them to AHT directly. I had to tell my vets my dogs hip scores- even tho they are made public my vets had no idea what they were and had no inclination to seek them out. Equally if you have lifetime insurance things don't become excluded anyway.

Ill update the post when i get the results.

[TeamSteady]

Ah... the situation is now out of your hands. Whilst writing the above post this pinged into my inbox...



I am writing to you regarding the recent email sent to you by the Kennel Club on behalf of the Animal Health Trust (AHT) about the Macular Corneal Dystrophy (MCD) research in Labradors.

If you have responded to the AHT regarding the MCD DNA test offer, your response is greatly appreciated.

However, due to an internal error in the volume of emails sent out, the AHT has received an unprecedented response and now has sufficient enquiries to assist with the research. The AHT will respond as quickly as it can to emails it has already received, but is not able to continue to offer free DNA tests to all respondents with immediate effect.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused and will be in contact with those who have kindly replied to the first email as soon as possible with more information.

Yours sincerely,

[BlackMarigold]

I've just got the same email saying computer glitch sent out too many emails.
Quite relieved that I won't have to make a decision.
Met a blind lab in the park a few months ago his eyes looked the same as the pictures on the site but I didn't know anything about MCD then and didn't think it might be a genetic condition specific to labs.
He was only 6 yrs old and owner said he went blind quickly and was really miserable and unsure on walks .