
Donate to Save Future Shikoku from Disease
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Though rare, Shikoku Ken are sometimes afflicted by a Lysosomal Storage Disease. There have been 8 diagnosed cases in known Shikoku history. Shikoku with this disease typically show symptoms within 6-12 months and don't often survive to their 2nd birthday. It is a quick moving degenerative neurological disease and is always fatal.
At the moment we have a unique opportunity to further evaluate this disease in Shikoku Ken and potentially unlock the key to testing and preventing it in the future.
Unfortunately, in order to determine if an existing test is working or to develop a test specific to shikoku a living affected dog is needed. Currently we have one living affected Shikoku and a team of specialists and researchers willing to learn as much as they can.
Nascar (the affected shikoku) is currently 8 months old with potentially 4-6 good months projected until the inevitable. She is strong, very active, and one of the most friendly Shikoku’s you'll ever meet. She will live her remaining days to the fullest, surrounded by her dog and human family. Though there is no cure or treatment she will potentially provide the breed with invaluable data to save future generations from this devastating disease.
To further research this case our neurologist has recommended we do an MRI and spinal tap in the next week to see what things look like in the early stages of the disease. This will be helpful in the future so that vets can view her results and compare or get an idea of what they're looking at. She has already had bloodwork and other diagnostic testing done which confirms signs of a lysosomal storage disorder.
At her next visit they will also be taking blood samples so they can to be sent off to start storing and genotesting. We are also waiting on results from an existing test to see if it will accurately pick up on the disease. If not then there is a team willing to work on locating the disease and developing a genetic test to screen for this in the future.
Our neurologist and team of researchers are also interested in officially publishing their research to confirm this disease in shikoku. In order to confirm the disease further proof in the form of diagnostic testing is required. Usually I can provide all funding on my own no problem, however, I have fallen on tough times and there is just no way I'll have the funding for testing as quickly as we need it. I am asking the shikoku community for help in funding this research. It is devastating but....it also gives us hope that one day we won't have to worry about this popping up ever again.
Co-organizers (2)

Samantha Walker
Organizer
Virginia Beach, VA

Lindsey Walker
Co-organizer