The Tibetan is a very hardy breed and is considered long-lived with most living well beyond 12 years and many to 15 or 16 years. Some problems found in the Tibetan Terrier are: hip dysplasia (HD), patella luxation (PL), progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), lens luxation (LL), hypo-thyroidism, cataracts and canine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CCL/NCL). Some of these problems have been proven to be hereditary, and conscientious breeders have screened their stock and can explain these problems and their incidence. Many breeders will have knowledge of their puppies’ bloodlines and potential buyers are advised to ask questions and inquire as to evidence of any testing done on the sire and dam. After all — a healthy and happy puppy is what you are looking for.

The Mutation for NCL in Tibetan Terriers HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED!
February 11, 2010 The CCL cheek swab test now available.
January 29, 2010 The CCL test is now available for any TT's who have DNA already on file at U of Missouri!

Call for Samples for PRA-Affected Dogs
February 1, 2010 Michigan State University and Dr. Simon Peterson-Jones has asked us to submit samples of PRA affected dogs.
• PRA Blood Collection Instruction Sheet.pdf
• PRA Info Form.pdf

They need a minimum of 3 dogs. They also need unaffected dogs 9 yrs or older with a current eye exam. Here is an excerpt from their request:  "The form requests 8 mls of blood. People can always send more if they feel comfortable. If I recall correctly we have been working with a few smaller breeds and ask for 2 tubes of 6mls of blood. The more blood we get the more DNA we get out of it and we then won't have to worry about running out of samples. I have suggested to some people with affected dogs that whenever the dog goes to the vet have the vet draw some blood and send it to us then we have a constant supply of blood from the same dog coming in (this can get quite expensive though). It also doesn't say in the form that overnight shipping is not required, 2 day shipping is fine. This cuts the cost of shipping in half. I have also suggested that if the vet does not charge for drawing the blood that the owner draws some blood, keeps it in the fridge for a day or two then go back to the vet and draws some more blood then send it to us. This combines 2 shipments and we would have plenty of DNA to start off with. Or people can send in samples from multiple dogs all at once to save on shipping" The blood collection form is available from Paige Winkle.  You can reach her via e-mail at winkle38@msu.edu. Brenda Brown, Chairperson TTCA Health Committee bbrown@johnrfowler.com

February 2, 2010 The TTCA Health Committee is proud to announce the Longevity Listing Pilot Program is available in the Members Only Section.

September 3, 2009 Geneticists identify a mutation for Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) in Tibetan Terriers.
 • Information (link)
 • Order form for those who submitted DNA prior to 9/1/09 (pdf)
 • Order form for a new test for PLL after 9/1/0.(link)
 • Animal Health Trust, UK (link)

August, 2009 FDA Approves First Anti-Cancer Drug for Dogs! (link)

August 28, 2009 Health Survey Results (pdf)
Thank you, to all who particpated.

July 1, 2009
Stem Cell Research for CCL/NCL Affected Dogs
Dr Vulliet provided the TTCA Breeder Education Seminar at the recently concluded TTCA National Specialty with the following exciting information. While his research is currecntly focused on CCL/NCL affected dogs, Dr Vulliet has expressed an interest in the potential to treat several other diseases that affect our Tibetans. Please contact him directly if you have any questions.

Dr Richard Vulliet, Veterinary Medical Director at ReGena-Vet Laboratories and professor at UC Davis, is investigating the potential of adult bone marrow stem cells (MSCs) to treat neuronal ceriod lipofuscinosis (NCL) in dogs. NCL is a rare chronic progressive degenerative disease of the nervous system that is occurs with low frequency in TTs. It is characterized by movement and vision problems in mature TTs. Dr. Vulliet is currently enrolling selected patients for a limited clinical trial. Enrolled dogs will be treated on an outpatient basis at ReGena-Vet Laboratories in Davis, CA. Therapeutic quantities of stem cells from a normal donor dog will be infused into enrolled dogs. There will be no pain and suffering to the enrolled dogs other than that associated with catheter placement routinely done in human and veterinary medicine. Catheter placement sometimes requires tranquilization, depending on the personality of the dog. The injections will be repeated three to five times, with each injection approximately one to two weeks apart. The infusion takes about two hours or so. The dogs will reside at home and be monitored by owner for reversal of NCL symptoms and for signs of improvement.

This research team has had success with other in-born errors of metabolism in cats similar to NCL and believes that this approach will be successful in dogs with NCL. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact him at the (530) 756-0459 or at regenavetlabs@gmail.com

April 2, 2009
Latest Progress Report for Canine Health Foundation Grant 732
Identification of Mutations Responsible for Hereditary Neurodegenerative Disorders in Dogs, submitted by Martin L. Katz, Ph.D, University of Missouri

Call for Samples: Still needed – samples from potentially NCL/CCL affected dogs or dogs 10 years of age and older. Details here…..

CHF Breeders Challenge
Please help us fund research grants through the AKC Canine Health Foundation by pledging to donate $25.00 or more per puppy to the Tibetan Terrier Health & Welfare Foundation.  When you have a litter between April 1, 2009 and April 1, 2010, you can tell potential puppy-buyers that you support the Canine Health Foundation and TT health research.  After the puppy is sold, simply send a check for at least $25.00 per puppy. Details here…..

Juvenile Renal Dysplasia
The Tibetan Terrier Health and Welfare Foundation and the TTCA are now offering Juvenile Renal Dysplasia (JRD) genetic testing at a special rate for TTCA members through a grant to Dr. Mary Whiteley of DOGenes Inc. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of the JRD mutation throughout the Tibetan terrier population in the United States, with a view to managing and eliminating this mutation in our breed.

For general information about JRD, please visit:  http://www.dogenes.com http://www.dogenes.com/ 

As always, don’t hesitate to contact me with suggestions, questions or concerns – Brenda Brown, Chair, TTCA Health Committee.

Health Committee Members

• Susan Fuchs, Newsletter articles - Email: sfb 450 @ aol . com
• Stacey LaForge, Assistant - Email: zokiji @ aol . com
• Linda Nagao, Health Committee Table - Email: ri-lamtt @ comcast . net
• Peggy Kunau, Survey analysis - Karmapatibetans@myfairpoint.net
• Margy Pankiewicz, VOHR, CCL/NCL listing -
  Email: malishar @ msn . com
• Nancy Maurer, JRD, Longevity, Breeder Rewards -
  Email: nmaurer @ cableone . net
• Ron Wiley, Website Health Page - Email: Sunclipse @ hotmail . com
• Kim Ivie, OFA/CHIC Statistics - Email: k kivie @ cv internet . net
• Kathy Rupprecht, Coordination of Research - Email: agilhas @ mac . com

We update this page frequently with new information about
Tibetan Terrier health.

Information on the care and health of Tibetan Terriers

Click here to download from the library of AKC/CHF's NEW Genome Barks Podcasts

USEFUL LINKS

AKC Canine Health
Foundation

Canine Health
Information Center

OFA (Orthopedic Foundataion for Animals)

CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation)

Merck Veterinary Manual On-Line

Canine Inherited Disorders Database

Tibetan Terrier Pedigree Database by Jim Andrews and Pat Nelson

VOHR
The TTCA has created a Voluntary Open Health Registry, where members are encouraged to register health issues, with the hope that knowledge is power. The more that is known about genetic diseases, and which dogs are affected, the more likely that those conditions can be eliminated. Ask your breeder about the registry!