FB 33. The decline in numbers of new JKD cases in the UK continues to perplex. It is far too early for the formal release of pedigrees by boxerjkd alone to have brought this about, but the earliest pedigrees were leaked (by others) nearly 6 years ago and some newer ones have been published on other sites such as the pioneer production of Peter Squires. Pedigree release could therefore be responsible for the decline in numbers of cases. It seems unlikely that it could be due to cases no longer being reported to boxerjkd as the publication of pedigrees has been over-whelmingly well received, and nothing has changed to shift opinion. However, the advertising campaign by the Breed Council health committee may now be more successful in drawing new cases, in which case they may be lost to breeders as it seems increasingly unlikely that they will ever be made public. We can only hope that the decline is real and matches changes in breeding patterns, as indicated in show catalogues. Despite the decline in numbers of JKD cases in the UK, new cases are still being found elsewhere. Pedigrees are still coming in from Continental sources, and there is much talk on facebook about JKD elsewhere in the world.
Lynn Kincla continues to update the boxerjkd website, the latest additions being:
1. Reports from breeders who have had personal experiences with kidney failure in dogs or Boxer JKD itself (see ‘More Information’). These accounts are not only very genuine and heartfelt but highlight the real difficulties in trying to keep away from JKD, and indeed of understanding kidney disease.
2. An article written for the American magazine, Boxer Daily (see boxerjkd, Publications and also the Blog). It will formally appear in the December edition of the journal but I have put it on the website ahead of time since it offers answers to questions regarding JKD that are currently under debate. I may put the article on facebook too.
3. New pedigrees from abroad have been added.
On a lighter but important note, on complaining to cardiology colleagues about how my chest freezer was getting so full of blood samples that I have no room for the dogs’ tripe, the Canadian co-author of the ARVC paper stepped in and has offered to pay for shipment of all ARVC and JKD samples to his hospital for freezing and storage until use. There are children with inherited kidney disease just as there kids with ARVC, hence the interest. So we have another lab ready to search further for the gene for JKD when new ideas and technologies present themselves. And thank goodness I don’t have to buy a new freezer.
Lynn Kincla continues to update the boxerjkd website, the latest additions being:
1. Reports from breeders who have had personal experiences with kidney failure in dogs or Boxer JKD itself (see ‘More Information’). These accounts are not only very genuine and heartfelt but highlight the real difficulties in trying to keep away from JKD, and indeed of understanding kidney disease.
2. An article written for the American magazine, Boxer Daily (see boxerjkd, Publications and also the Blog). It will formally appear in the December edition of the journal but I have put it on the website ahead of time since it offers answers to questions regarding JKD that are currently under debate. I may put the article on facebook too.
3. New pedigrees from abroad have been added.
On a lighter but important note, on complaining to cardiology colleagues about how my chest freezer was getting so full of blood samples that I have no room for the dogs’ tripe, the Canadian co-author of the ARVC paper stepped in and has offered to pay for shipment of all ARVC and JKD samples to his hospital for freezing and storage until use. There are children with inherited kidney disease just as there kids with ARVC, hence the interest. So we have another lab ready to search further for the gene for JKD when new ideas and technologies present themselves. And thank goodness I don’t have to buy a new freezer.
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