WESTIE DNA SAMPLES NEEDED FOR ADDISON'S DISEASE RESEARCH

The Westie Foundation is co-sponsoring an important research project at the University of California Veterinary School (Davis) to determine the genetic marker for Addison's Disease. The researchers urgently need the help of Westie owners and breeders in collecting Westie DNA samples for this project. The samples are being requested from both affected as well as unaffected Westies, as long as the parents are known. They are particularly looking for samples from older Westies, as well as those that have produced puppies.

What is required is filling out a questionnaire, swabbing the inside of the Westie's mouth with a small brush, then mailing both back to the address below. A kit, containing the swab brush, the questionnaire and instructions, is available either online at http://cgap.ucdavis.edu, or by contacting:

If breeders want to coordinate and submit entire families (sires, dams, offspring, aunts, uncles, etc.), that would be extremely useful. That permits the researchers to collate dogs into families, enabling them to evaluate what the genetic contribution is, and then determine the pattern of inheritance. Once the pattern is ascertained, then the researchers can search for the DNA marker linked to Addison's. The study is completely confidential. Thanks for your help.