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this risk he decided he would wait as We never want to go back to the days
Smokey was otherwise healthy. It before testing and the heartache of
was only when he developed large dogs like my Anni.
numbers of bladder stones that
the surgery became urgent. Two vets Some people are critical of the Cornell
felt unable to attempt surgery but test but I have never known of an
thankfully a third specialist was affected dog coming from two
prepared to operate and removed negative parents. Having good
two parathyroid tumours, the bladder friends around the world who are
blockage and a liver mass. After this involved in breed clubs, gives a vast
extensive surgery Smokey is now channel of knowledge and nobody to
date has heard of a case.
currently doing well.
We still hope for our own genetic test
at Cambridge that can be accessed
by breeders worldwide. Sadly, despite
genome analysis, the answer still
eludes Barbara and the RKC Canine
Genetics Team. We can only hope
that the answer will be discovered
soon and breeders and owners can
benefit from a new test.

Thanks must go to Barbara Skelly
who has stayed with our small breed
since Anni died in 2002 and not only
continued with the research goal but
has always been available to support
owners with their dog’s condition,
wherever in the world they live.
Smokey in South Carolina.
Earlier this year she submitted a
Hearing about the stones took me bid for additional funding to
right back to the beginning of my support the project and this
Anni’s story. has been granted, giving more
funds to continue the vital work.
Both owners have funded veterinary Together with the members of the
bills in excess of $17,000 (Canadian Royal Kennel Club Canine Genetics
& US dollars) and are not insured. Centre, our breed is in very good
These two cases reinforce the need hands.
to have either a paper trail or the
genetic test before breeding. If these Let us all hope the identification of
two examples have littermates then the gene and supporting test is not
some will also be positive for the gene far into the future.
and other owners will be facing the
same worry and heartache. (Both aforementioned current cases have been
included in this report with full permission of
We are seeing dogs coming into the the owners.)
UK with no apparent paper trail and
being used in breeding programmes.
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