FB 65. I have a bit of an eye problem at the moment so this report should be brief. A minor but almost amusing news flash is that my wife (also a geneticist) and I recently volunteered to join the committee of a breed club. We were accepted and then immediately nominated as delegates to Breed Council. Attending the recent Council meeting I had expected all sorts of fireworks on JKD but instead met a very different scene. Our club proposition that Breed Council encourage member clubs to hold open meetings on the disease so that everyone at last could hear all about it was passed unanimously, on minor amendment, mostly because of persuasion by a delegate from another club. The amendment was that my club hold the first meeting, and funding to aid this was included. This seemed to be a complete turn-around from actions in past meetings, but one disappointment in this for me was that I was left in the dark as to what the past hostility had been about. I can only say that if any delegate, club or individual wants to ask me anything about my actions, or those of boxerjkd, please just contact me by email (brucecatt8@gmail.com) and I will endeavour to explain everything and anything. 
However, setting this aside, the important news is that an open meeting is being planned, amidst the difficulties of finding a free date and venue can be found in this summer season of wall-to-wall shows. The speakers will be Professor Syme of the RVC who will explain the difficulties of the disease and its diagnosis. I will summarise the genetic findings from the boxerjkd efforts which will include the evidence on the inheritance and what tools we can use to help with Boxer breeding until the responsible gene is found. And then Professor Amos will tell us how far his research to find the gene has progressed. And from what I can learn, everything is going extremely well.
Additional news of interest is presented in a Purina publication (https://www.proplan.com/media/5954/boxerupdate_spr2018.pdf). It describes a new project on kidney disease specifically in American Boxers. I think we already know the answers to many of the questions they want to address but the more information the better. Many American cases have already contributed to Professor Amos’ search to find the gene.
I finish on the sad note of new JKD cases. The worst concerns a puppy only 4 months old and seriously ill. The big question has been whether at this young age she should be put on a renal diet? I have checked with our specialist and it seems one has to choose the least of two evils, and a renal or even a senior diet is recommended. Other new cases have rattled the concept that JKD is rare; we have recently had a UK litter with at least three affected puppies, with a fourth possible, and a Polish litter appears to have broken the record with five cases in one litter. How awful for all concerned. Here I recall I have to mention another disturbing issue. I have just learned that a boxerjkd diagnosis has been questioned and this has been used to diminish the evidence on JKD. On checking back on the records I found an ndisputable veterinary diagnosis from two independent vets, including ultrasound assessment of the kidneys. They were described as abnormal (with much detail) and it seems that the owner had simply misunderstood what was described and thought that ‘kidney abnormalities’ meant ‘ kidney tumours’ and told the stud dog owner this. And the word spread. Why are people content to believe word of mouth rather than seek the truth? I endeavour to find the correct answers to all questions.