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Canine Addison's Research Project

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We need your help...

We have been presented with an important and exciting opportunity.  Dr Brian Catchpole from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has contacted us regarding a research project he would like to conduct on Addison’s disease in dogs and needs our help. 

A grant of £25,000, has already been awarded from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust to allow a veterinary graduate to undertake research training.  However, we need to raise an additional £5,000 to support the laboratory research costs to analyse the samples.  The grant was given on the proviso that the JBLC on behalf of all the Bearded Collie Clubs raise the other £5,000. 

And we have a deadline : 30th June 2016.

All of the Breed Clubs consider this work so important they have donated the first £1000 towards this research project.

And that’s where you come in.  We need help from the Bearded Collie community, nationally and internationally, owners, breeders, dog lovers, vets; in fact anyone who is passionate about getting the right treatments and diagnosis in place quickly for dogs that may be suffering from Autoimmune diseases.   It’s important our Vets to have the knowledge and tests at their fingertips .

We know any dog can be affected. Some dog breeds, including Bearded Collies, are more susceptible than others.  Once Addison's is correctly diagnosed, a properly treated dog can live a normal active life.

So what is it?

Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism) is an autoimmune condition that occurs in dogs when the immune system attacks and destroys the adrenal gland.  This leads to a deficiency of steroid hormones that are important for metabolism and regulating electrolyte levels in the blood.  The symptoms can be very general which makes it hard to diagnose quickly.

Dr Catchpole and his team conducting the research said, “We have identified some of the genetic risk factors involved and have shown that there are autoantibodies in the blood that react to proteins in the adrenal gland. We are interested in carrying out further research into this disease, to measure these autoantibodies, to see whether they can be used as part of diagnostic blood testing and potentially to identify dogs that have an autoimmune reaction before they develop clinical signs.”

Please help us so we can help them.

All donations will be gratefully received, as we work together to find a solution to this disease.

If you would like to donate with cash or by cheque, please contact me for more details.

Donations 

  • Margaret Gibson
    • £20 
    • 5 yrs

Organizer

Sarah Ritchie
Organizer

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