STUDY UNDERWAY ON GENETICS OF EXERCISE-INDUCED COLLAPSE OF LABS
A
Labrador retriever runs hard for about five minutes and then,
collapses.
Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) is a disorder recently identified in
Labrador retrievers, an athletic, fun-loving breed now counted as one of
the most popular dogs in North America.
Symptoms of EIC, most commonly seen in labs involved in hunting and
field trials, include muscular weakness, lack of coordination and collapse,
occurring after five-to-fifteen minutes of strenuous exercise.
Scientists, as well as the Labrador retriever community, want to
learn more about the disease. That knowledge, all hope, will be gained in
a study underway now though the next three years at two colleges of
veterinary medicine, one at the University of Minnesota College of
Veterinary Medicine and the other at the University of Saskatchewan.
At the Uninversity of Minnesota, Dr. James Mickelson is focusing on
pedigree and genetic analysis, while at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr.
Susan Taylor is focusing on the clinical, descriptive and diagnostic work.
Mickelson and Taylor want to establish values for diagnosis of EIC for use
by veterinarians everywhere. They also seek to determine the inheritance
pattern of EIC.
"These approaches will allow the identification of EIC gene and
develoment of a testing program to control it propagation," said Taylor.
While EIC is not fatal, it can lead to death if not carefully
monitored.
If you suspect your dog has EIC, please see your local veterinarian.
