NewfCare: Research & Rescue

3rd Quarter 2023

NewfCare:

RESEARCH & RESCUE

Rescue Report: Hazel

The shelter staff named her “Freha” when she was delivered by the local animal control officer – 68 lbs, ear, eye and skin infections, senior and not spayed – abandoned in a house.

The shelter manager identified her as a Newfoundland and contacted Newf Rescue.

Transport to foster care was arranged and following veterinary care, she was placed in a loving home, now renamed “Hazel”, and thriving.

Her new family says, “Hazel is great after a whole year of healing and happiness!”

Learn more about the NCA Rescue Program and how you can help.

Research News

Development of Regional Anesthesia Techniques to Treat Chronic Painful Conditions of

the Stifle and Elbow in Dogs

Diego Portela, DVM, PhD University of Florida

Estimated End Date: 12/31/2023

Progress Report

Enhanced Surgical Margin Imaging with Polarization-sensitive Optical Coherence

Tomography in Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Mammary Tumors

Laura Selmic, BVetMed, MPH The Ohio State University

Estimated End Date: 5/31/2023

Progress Report

The Effect of a Modified Approach on Early Weight Bearing in Dogs Following a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture

Otto Lanz, DVM

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

End Date: 12/31/2022

Progress Report

Webinar Presentation

Learn more about the NCA Health Challenge and how you can support Research

Lori Littleford and Clyde Dunphy attended the AKC CHF National Parent Club Health Conference 2023 in St Louis, MO last weekend, representing the NCA Charitable Trust. There were over 180 in-person attendees and 80 virtually including, Shauna Bryant representing NCA's Health and Longevity Committee. This conference convenes every two years and is sponsored by AKC CHF, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and Purina .

Seventeen research papers that included the latest updates were presented followed by panel discussions. Two research updates are being sponsored by the NCA Charitable Trust:

• "Histotripsy: A Novel Treatment for Osteosarcoma", by Dr. Joanne Touhy, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

• "Enhanced Surgical Margin Imaging in Dogs with Soft Tissue Sarcoma or Mammary Tumors", by Dr. Laura Selmic, The Ohio State University

Updates on this research are available in this newsletter.

This health conference allowed us to interact with Veterinary Researchers, fellow breed enthusiasts and Canine Health Foundation Staff and Board members. A link to presentations and updates will be provided when they become available.

Valuable insight into the importance of scientific research was gained and how your donations are is paramount to helping understand the complex diseases affecting our beloved companions. Without your support the NCA Charitable Trust would not be able to support this important research. Lori Littleford has written a short article on the importance of updating the contact information and health information on Newfoundlands in the OFA DNA database , Please read her article and update your information.

Thank You for all you do for our Companions.

Minutes

March 2023

April 2023

June 2023

Ways To Help

This Donor inspired Study Approved by the CTMB and Morris Animal Foundation...

D23CA-507: SAS in Newfoundland Dogs: Using new genomic tools to understand an old problem. The study officially began on May 1st with a projected end date of April 30, 2025.

Understanding Heart Disease in Newfoundland Dogs:

Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS), a constriction of the aorta, the major vessel in the heart, is a significant concern in several dog breeds, causing shortened lifespan and, in some cases, sudden death. Large and giant breeds, including Newfoundland dogs, rottweilers and bullmastiffs, have a higher risk of developing SAS. The breed-specific prevalence, the early age of onset, the clustering of affected dogs in sibships, and results from some breeding studies have pointed to a genetic basis for SAS in these high-risk breeds. However, the causative genetic variation(s) and identification of the broader genetic basis for SAS in Newfoundland dogs and other breeds has remained elusive. Partnering with breed clubs, researchers will use state-of-the-art genomic tools to take a deeper dive into the genetics associated with SAS in Newfoundland dogs. Findings will help advance our understanding of the genetic basis of SAS in the breed, and provide valuable clues to help other breeds affected by this life-limiting heart condition. Study ID D23CA-507

Study Status Active

Start Date 04/01/2023

Grant amount awarded $50,000

Grant recipient Michigan State University

Investigator Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan, PhD

Study category Cardiovascular

You've banked your Newf's DNA. What's next? Something ONLY you can do!

The CHIC DNA Repository collects and stores canine DNA samples along with corresponding genealogic and phenotypic information to facilitate future research and testing aimed at reducing the incidence of inherited disease in dogs. It's goals are to facilitate more rapid research progress by expediting the sample collection process, provide researchers with optimized family groups needed for research, allow breeders to take advantage of future DNA-based disease tests as they become available, and foster a team environment between breeders/owners and the research community, improving the likelihood of genetic discovery.

Several of the presentations at the 2023 AKC/CHF National Parent Club Canine Health Conference highlighted the utility of the banked DNA in jumpstarting research. Newfoundlands currently have 2162 banked samples (1329 blood based, 833 swab based), 43 with SAS for example. Thanks in large part the dedicated collection efforts at National Specialities and Trust support for the submission fees, these samples respresent over 2% of the entire DNA collection! To be of the MOST value to researchers, we must also make the commitment to update each Newf's veterinary history and their human's contact information periodically.

The samples collected at National Specialities are typically young dogs and generally healthy at the time of collection. While some conditions are diagnosed early, many conditions develop later in life. This collection is particularly useful for control (unaffected) samples. If your sample is selected as a possible control, OFA will contact you to confirm there have been no changes to that Newf's health status. If your Newf does develop a problem, reporting it may help develop prevention strategies or effective treatments in the future.

When should you send an update? Please report any new definitive diagnosis. Please report date of death particularly if you have a definitive cause of death. Report any transfer of ownership of the Newf as well as any change your email address. And please do it BEFORE something happens to YOU as YOU may be the ONLY one who knows this information and can make that crucial link to your donated DNA sample. Do it NOW then set an annual reminder on your calendar!

How to report? If your dog has DNA banked in the CHIC DNA Repository and has had any significant health status changes since filling out the original phenotypic health survey, please remember to email the OFA with updates. Include the dog’s name/number, as well as any updated diagnosis. As the number of researchers interested in this resource continues to increase, it is important to keep the health histories up to date, as that is typically the primary selection criteria for supplying samples to a given research proposal. Email updates to: ofa@offa.org. Thank You!

Lori Littleford, Research Advisory Committee Chair

Email The OFA