Dr. Berner, the Health Watchdog Presents:

AUBURN HEALTH STUDY

 

 

GDC to merge with OFA

 

 

HISTIOCYTOSIS STUDY

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

DR. BERNER, the HEALTH WATCHDOG

Did you know about the Auburn Health Study?

There is a New Health Research Project in Need of Your Support. Researchers at Auburn University are embarking on research into a new area of Bernese ill health. It has been observed by several fanciers that a number of Bernese seem to have suffered symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis in humans. These symptoms come to these dogs in middle age, are slowly progressive and debilitating. In the cases we know of, the dogs have been euthanized due to their debilitated state in middle age. The research initiated at Auburn is aimed toward discovering whether or not there is actually a new disease process which has not as yet been described in Bernese Mountain Dogs.

If you have a middle aged dog (age 5-8 years at onset) with these symptoms, please get in touch with Sandy Novocin. It is desired that your dog's case be included in the information being reviewed at Auburn.

  • wobbliness or unsteadiness of the rear
  • difficulty rising with no apparent pain
  • dragging of the rear quarters

In addition, some dogs experience

  • bowel incontinence
  • urinary incontinence

February 15, 2002 GDC announces Plans to merge Database with OFA in Summer 2002

This coming summer GDC will merge its entire database with OFA. OFA will adopt almost all of the GNC disease registries, and will improve its website to make it easier to view information on groups of closely-related dogs, much as the GDC KinReport does.

Since OFA allows users to choose to release all results, you will be able to continue to share your health information openly for the benefit of breeders and owners.

After the database merge, GDC will no longer evaluate or register dogs. You can continue to register your dogs through OFA, and by choosing to release all results, your information will be available through the OFA website.

GDC will continue to provide KinReports on all dogs registered before the merge.

GDC customers have been notified about these plans. The date of the merger will be announced by email and the website.

For email notification of developments in the GDC/OFA merger plans, send a request to subscribe to the GDC email "Newsnote" to georgepackard@conknet.com

IMPORTANT NOTE: All GDC data will be available on the OFA website after the merge. If you have dog(s) registered with GDC, and you do not want the information merged with the OFA database, you must inform GDC in writing by June 1, 2002.

Updated: March 2003