Reminder: Login to access new features and members-only content!

Register to be a member of our community. Its easy!

Register a new account

Already a member?

Log In here!

Donate

Did you find our content interesting or helpful? Help support the IPFD enhance health, well-being and welfare for dogs everywhere.

Jump to content

     

     

    In This Issue:

    • News & Highlights

     

    • Spotlight 2020.png                              2020: A Year Like No Other        dog-4977599_640.jpg

                                                                

    • Make a Donation
       
    • Stay Informed!

     

    pawprintblackgradient.thumb.pngNews & Highlights

     

    IPFD In The News

    Highlights of News Coverage from 2020:

     

    Blogs


     

    Breeds Resources

    This Month We Feature Breed-Specific Heart ConditionsCardiac.png

    Cardiac disease, in many variations and forms, is frequently cited as being a condition of concern across different purebred dog breeds – and it is also a common clinical problem in dogs in general, including mixed breeds. Concern should not be surprising, given the likelihood for life-altering or fatal consequences of cardiac conditions. Clinical exams by primary care veterinary practitioners to detect the presence or absence of a heart condition are essential in management of dogs. Just as in the case of human heart defects/diseases, depending on the specific type, treatment protocols that can extend length and quality of life exist for management of some heart conditions in canines.

    A new article on DogWellNet.com for owners, breeders, breed club health managers, and veterinarians covers some highlights of breed-specific heart conditions. Cardiac Disease - Breeds, Screening and Genetic Testing – It’s complicated! covers Breed risks of general and specific conditions; Health programs, pre-purchase and pre-breeding highlights/reminders; and Breed specific examples by country.

    Key points addressed in the article include:

    • Heart Disease Overview 
    • What do Caretakers Need to Know?  
    • What does the 'data' say about risk and prevalence in purebred breeds? 
    • Health Statistics
    • Heart Testing Statistics
    • Breeding Strategies selected breed examples  
    • Example – A Kennel Club Heart Evaluation Health Program – Purebred Dog Breeds
    • Cardiac Disease and Genetic Testing – It’s complicated!
    • Breed-specific genetic tests currently available

     

    Our 2020 Breeds of the Month features included links to breed profiles in our Pedigreed Breeds Database and links to other content on DogWellNet.com:

    Australian Shepherd | Saluki | Dachshund (Miniature, Standard) | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Field Spaniel

    Follow the links to previous Digest issues from 2020 (listed later in this issue) to view the Breed of the Month features.

     

    Breeds ListingsField Spaniel.png

     

    Globally Relevant Integrated Health Profiles (GRIHPs)

    IPFD is creating a series of articles on the 'Big Picture' of health and welfare within breeds as resources for veterinarians, owners, caretakers, breeders and others who want to understand the key issues for individual dogs and breed populations, internationally, under the 'Get a GRIHP!' initiative. Creating the GRIHP profiles involves not only working with our existing resources (Agria data files and RAS/JTO) but also included consultation with breed specialist collaborators as well as collection of data available via IPFD Partners' tools and resources. Use of KC tools from several countries allowed us to create a more 'global' view of breed-specific health profiles.
    GRIHP-DACHS.gif

     

     

    IPFD Partners in Action


    wsava-logo-2020-rectangular.png
    You can also view previous editions of Dog Breeds: What You Need to Know in
    our archive article here on DogWellNet.com.

     

    best-of-health.png

     

     

    Be sure to check out our Partners in Action features from all 2020 issues of DogWellNet Digest (links provided to previous issues in the Spotlight below).

     

     

    Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD)HGTD-logo-10-27-2020-web-png.png

    2020 brought a number of new resources, tools, and developments in HGTD. A development to our breed-specific information, the new Breed Relevance Ratings (BRR) support evidence-based usage and application of genetic tests. BRRs are a way to capture current research, and expert opinion on breed-specific tests, as well as many crossbreeds. Canine health specialists, as well as dog owners, can use BRR to more easily identify tests that may be important to consider in health and breeding decisions.

    Complimentary to BRR, the information gathered in producing BRRs has added significantly to our phene database, providing more breed-specific research links, contributions from Breed Clubs, researcher commentary, and test application recommendations.  

    Despite only launching this year, we are thrilled that more than half of the almost 2000 breed-specific phenes have been assessed for a Breed Relevance Rating. This represents hundreds of hours searching and reviewing research papers, liaising with international researchers and experts, and cross-referencing with external research groups and databases. Significant contributions for review and inclusion have come from breed experts representing years of experience as breed health liaisons, health advocates, and breed clubs and councils.

    A new blog, HGTD and Genetic Testing (see below) highlights features of the HGTD database, and discusses many practical and interesting aspects of genetic testing in dogs.

    We were pleased to see that, despite the many challenges of the global pandemic in 2020 the vast majority of our Genetic Test Providers (GTPs) renewed or extended their participation in HGTD. We now offer three levels of participation: Sponsor, Supporter, and Participant (and Academic Participant). Each level is provided with a digital emblem to indicate their continued participation in HGTD.

    This year also saw a major change in our HGTD page display, showing not only all breed-specific tests, but also tests available to all dogs, in one easy search. For those breeds who do not currently have any breed-specific tests available, they are linked to closely associated breed options. Four major database reviews were undertaken to improve and update gene and mutation information, links to our research collaborators and peer-reviewed publications, and accommodate the expanding breed-specific information.

     

    HGTD & Genetic Testing Blog
    We published 12 entries in the HGTD & Genetic Testing blog this year, providing regular updates on our rapidly expanding genetic testing resources. It currently features regular input from Brenda Bonnett and Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi, but be sure to look out for future posts from special guests!

     

     

    Ask Aimee

    Aimee 2.jpg
    Our HGTD Project Manager, Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi, provides answers to your questions on canine genetic testing in Ask Aimee. If you’d like to submit a question to Aimee, please email her at aimee.llewellyn-zaidi@ipfdogs.com.

     

     


    Get Involved in HGTD!
    We welcome additional participant GTPs, more collaborators from any stakeholders concerned with dog health and welfare, the advice of experts, the participation of breed clubs and other consumer groups. We stand ready to provide more information to ongoing discussions.

    Please feel free to contact us as we work together for healthy dogs and to support those who breed and own them: IPFD CEO, Dr. Brenda Bonnett and/or HGTD Project Manager, Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi.

     

     

    DogWellNet Digest: Keeping You Informed

    We published seven issues of DogWellNet Digest in 2020:

    DogWellNet Digest is available free to all, but IPFD Members receive an email notification for each new issue. If you haven't already done so, register now to join our community and get the most out of DogWellNet.com.

    View all past issues of DogWellNet Digest here

     

     


     

    Spotlight 2020.png


    dog-4977599_640.jpg

    2020: A Year
    Like No Other

     

     

     

     

    Collaboration and Progress in the Midst of Unprecedented Challenges

    This year has been challenging for all of us personally, and for dog organizations globally. Fortunately, IPFD has fared well - as we have always been a ‘virtual’-based operation, with all consultants working from home (and remaining healthy). We are happy to see that the vast majority of our Partners, Sponsors, and Collaborators have weathered the storm as well.

    Although the pandemic has slowed our growth to some extent, we have continued to foster collaboration and implemented a number of new initiatives, such as our Get a GRIHP! on Breed Health profiles and our article and subsequent conversations on Reframing Current Challenges Around Pedigree Dogs: A Call for Respectful Dialogue, Collaboration and Collective Actions.


     

    2020 IPFD Milestones

    Building on our 2019 Annual Report: A Growing Voice , the article IPFD: Milestones December 2020 summarizes our activities in 2020. Watch for our 2020 Annual Report early in the new year.

     

    Looking Ahead to 2021: A Renewed Sense of Optimism

    We're nearly through 2020. Though the coming weeks may be among the toughest yet for many of us, the emergence of several vaccines gives us real hope that the end of the pandemic may finally be in sight. But with the end of COVID-19 comes brand new challenges, such as the effect that many of us returning to the workplace will have on the millions of pandemic puppies brought into homes in 2020.

    During an extended transition back to "normal" we expect to host more online events and continue planning for our next International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW).

    Controversies and challenges to dogs internationally continue to underline the need for broad-based collaboration and the impartial voice of IPFD. Initially we were concerned about impact on our Partners due to COVID-19 and associated challenges; however, it seems that with increased dog registrations in 2020, our funding base from most of our existing kennel club partners will be stable. And yet, our big ideas need further support. In 2021, we will step up our outreach to enlist new supporters and secure additional revenue through enhanced fundraising efforts. 

    We wish everyone the best of health over the holidays and into a new (and better) year.

     

    Learn more about the important work being done by IPFD and our contributors as we lead the dog world from information to action…for the love of dogs...

    ...and for the people who love them.

     

     


     

    pawprintblackgradient.thumb.pngMake a Donation186765109_piggybank.jpg


    IPFD is truly a "people driven" service organization. We allocate the bulk of our financial resources to maintain a small but dedicated team of consultants to manage our modest resources and facilitate the activities of our stakeholders, with the aim of achieving our collective goals.

    You can specify how your donation is used (support IPFD and its programs and activities OR support the Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs). All donations are handled securely via PayPal.

    Click Here to Make a Donation Now 

     

     


     

    pawprintblackgradient.thumb.pngStay Informed

     

    Members can opt to receive notifications by email. Are you on our email list? Click here to edit your Notification Settings (you must be logged in to your account).

    Viewing as a Guest? Sign in or register now to get the most out of DogWellNet.com.

    Click an icon below to visit our social media sites:

    fb_icon_325x325.png  twitter3.png  LinkedIn Logo.png           IG logo.png           YouTube-logo-full_color.png.63c65bccffdd209741c682ff4f7f80f1.png

     

     


     

       

      57e17e1db3901_dogsgroup.jpg

     

     


  Report Entry


User Feedback

Recommended Comments

There are no comments to display.



Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.