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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
What
is an open health database?
An
open health database is a registry in which all information on all animals
is available to the general public. This is in contrast to a closed
registry, in which the only information available to the public is that an
animal has passed screening tests for certain abnormalities known or
suspected to be genetic in origin. Examples of closed registries include
the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye
Registration Foundation (CERF).
What
do you mean by the phrase "abnormalities known or suspected to be
genetic in origin"?
We
suspect an underlying genetic cause for many of the abnormalities listed
in the database because, among other things, we can trace familial
patterns of occurrence in them. Understanding the difference between an
animals genotype (its genetic constitution) and its phenotype
(its physical appearance and/or observable characteristics) will help you
understand the information in the database.
The
genes carried within an animal's DNA constitute its genotype. The ways in
which those genes are expressed in the animal's phenotype are highly
complex and are affected by many factors, including interactions with
other genes and many environmental factors. Virtually all of the tests
currently used to screen animals for abnormalities known or suspected to
be genetic in origin actually evaluate phenotypic characteristics, not the
actual DNA involved in producing the disorder. In other words, the tests
look at the animal's phenotype in an attempt to gain a clearer
understanding of its genotype.
Why
do we need an open health database for Great Danes?
Great
Danes are susceptible to a large number of diseases and illnesses
suspected to be genetic in origin. In fact, just as there are no perfect
humans, there are no perfect Great Danes. ALL Danes carry defective genes.
This is true of any dog, be it a purebred dog, a mixed breed dog, or a
wild dog. Because of the prevalence of some problems that occur in many
breeds, such as canine hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
and certain types of cataracts, tests have been developed which are used
by breeders to screen potential breeding animals for these conditions. By
carefully evaluating potential breeding animals for diseases known or
suspected to be genetic in origin, breeders can work to reduce - and
perhaps ultimately eliminate - these disorders in the animals they breed.
At
least that is the goal of doing these screening tests. Unfortunately, the
information provided by the tests generally relates only to the animal's
phenotype, which is a product of both genetic and environmental factors.
Further complicating the picture is the fact that we do not fully
understand either component of the phenotype: the specific genes
responsible for most known or suspected genetic diseases in dogs have not
been identified by clinical studies, and the impact of complex
environmental factors is similarly not well understood.
However,
by sharing as much information as possible concerning the overall health
and occurrence of known or suspected genetic disorders in our dogs, we may
ultimately be able to identify patterns of occurrence of these disorders
which may help us reduce or eliminate their occurrence through careful,
selective breeding.
Who
are the people involved in creating the Great Dane Sentinel Foundation's
open health database?
The
Sentinel is a grassroots effort started in 2007 by owners of Great Danes.
Some of the people involved in creating the database are breeders, others
are not. Some show their dogs, some do not. All have one thing in common:
an honest desire to put in place a system which may some day contribute to
the betterment of the breed. From the beginning, the effort has been
strictly voluntary; none of the people involved in creating and
maintaining the database receive any form of material compensation for
their efforts.
Current
board members of the Great Dane Sentinel Foundation are as follows:
Tammy
Kinkade, Christine McNally, Kathleen Davis, Toni Bagnato Gregory, Dawn
Ruhl, Wendy Donati, Lisa McIntosh, Dr. Allison Paxton, Sandra Brigola.
Officers:
President:
Tammy
Kinkade
Vice
President: Kathleen
Davis
Secretary:
Lisa
McIntosh
Treasurer:
Christine
McNally
Fundraising
Committee Chairperson: Christine
McNally
Publicity/PR
Committee Chairperson: Sandra
Brigola
Database
Committee Chairperson: Wendy
Donati
If
you are interested in volunteering on a committee, as a board member, as a
data operator, or a committee chairperson, please contact Tammy
Kinkade.
What
information is contained within the database?
There
are two basic types of information concerning Great Danes within the
database. The first consists of general information about the dogs that
are listed: titles earned, owner's/breeder's names, sire &
dam/pedigree, optional photos, etc. The second type of information relates
to the health and medical history of the dog.
There
are three general classes of health-related information contained within
the Sentinel database. These classes of information are differentiated by
the degree of proof and certainty obtained in diagnosing the condition and
are clearly indicated in each entry.
The
first class of health-related information consists of the results of
well-established, formal tests, such as OFA, CERF, and PennHip. In each
case, a formal rating or result is supplied, together with the date the
test was performed and the number of the accompanying certificate. We hope
to be able to provide these certified test results via PDF, directly
linked to each dogs' file.
The
second class of information concerns things which are veterinary
diagnoses. In these cases, the owner indicates that the dog is affected by
a specific condition, and provides verifiable veterinary documentation. We
encourage owners to include as much veterinary diagnosed information as
possible, throughout the lifetime of a particular Dane, including necropsy
results. If hard copies or electronic copies are provided, PDF links will
be provided for these documents.
The
third class of information consists essentially of pertinent comments from
the dog's owner about things related to the first two types of
information, or about things that are difficult or impossible to quantify
with formal tests currently in existence. This includes things such as
descriptions of a dog's temperament, working ability, conformation,
environmental factors and so forth. While these comments are only as
reliable as the ethics and honesty of the person who made them, they are
nonetheless valuable in the context of trying to understand the dog in
question and to identify patterns that may be inheritable.
My
Great Dane already has his/her CHIC number. Why should I participate in
this registry?
The
CHIC program is a wonderful addition to the health testing that has helped
many breeders and owners track health information related to four specific
tests. Unfortunately, there are far more than four health issues that face
the Great Danes of today, and of the future. This database gives breeders
and owners the opportunity to input information on bloat, cancer, skin
diseases, and so much more. While these illnesses/diseases may not be
considered genetic in nature at this time, future advances in veterinary
medicine may show us otherwise. Having the ability to look back through
generations of dogs within a pedigree to look for familial patterns may be
a catalyst for research into genetic predispositions that are otherwise
unknown at this time.
Where
does the information in the database come from?
All
information provided in the database is given voluntarily by owners and/or
breeders of the Great Danes listed. For a number of reasons, it is
important to understand that this information is presented as submitted,
with only minor editing due to typographical errors. Although the users of
our database have agreed to abide by the terms and conditions governing
the database, the information is only as good as the intentions and
honesty of the people who provided the data. The people involved in
creating and maintaining the database make every effort to ensure that the
information provided in the database is added correctly, as provided.
Errors and omissions are completely accidental and will be corrected upon
notification.
Who
uses the information from the database?
Information
contained within the database may be used by anyone interested in the
health of the Great Dane as a breed. It may be used by breeders who are
interested in reducing or eliminating the occurrence of diseases known or
suspected to have genetic origins from their breeding programs. It may be
used by people seeking to acquire a Great Dane from a specific breeding in
order to understand the occurrence of health problems in the pedigree
behind the breeding. It may be used by researchers as an adjunct to or as
a means of helping to design a formal, clinical study aimed at pinning
down the causes of a particular disease. In short, there are many kinds of
people who could use the information in the database, but all share a
common interest in helping to improve the health of the breed.
I
know that "X" dog is dysplastic. I am not the owner or breeder.
Why can't I enter this information in the database?
In
order to minimize misinformation or exaggeration, we feel it is important
that only breeders and/or owners document information about their dogs.
The owner (or occasionally the breeder) is the person that presents the
animal and pays for the examination, and is the person who is given the
results of the diagnostic evaluation. While someone else may obtain or
learn about the test results, that information rightfully belongs to the
owner (or breeder), to share or not, as they see fit. While many of us
embrace this open sharing of information, we realize that not all owners
and/or breeders are comfortable with sharing the data on their dogs and we
must respect their privacy.
Why
do Great Danes have so many health problems?
It
is important to remember that ALL dogs have genetic problems. Purebred
dogs, mixed-breed dogs, wild dogs; none are immune from genetic disorders.
The same is true for humans and of all complex living organisms. Dog
breeds that appear to be free of genetic problems are probably either not
numerous enough for a pattern to have emerged, or they are not being
screened for genetic problems in the first place.
Why
isn't "X" dog in the Sentinel database?
Participation
in the Great Dane Sentinel Foundation's open health database is completely
voluntary. The only reason that a dog's health records ever appear in the
database is that the dog's owner or breeder has entered that information
in the database. The absence of any specific dog from the database
indicates that the dog's owner or breeder either has chosen not to make
the dog's health information publicly available or that they are unaware
of the registry. It is suggested that those interested in this registry,
who notice the absence of certain dogs they would like to see included,
may want to let the dog's owner know about the registry and how they can
enter the dog's information should they choose to do so.
Breeders
are encouraged to include information about the Sentinel database in their
puppy packets for new puppy owners. As a breeder, if you wish to have
offspring of your own dogs included in the database, please address that
request to all potential puppy buyers, so that they know and understand
your philosophy on the issue.
How
do I use the database to breed healthier Great Danes?
The
Sentinel database is useful to investigate possible patterns and
frequencies of disorders known or suspected to be hereditary. Because
every dog has defective genes, learning what the weaknesses are in your
lineage and searching for occurrences of the same or related problems in
other bloodlines may help you choose a safer prospect when making breeding
and/or purchasing decisions. The database may also be useful for those
inquiring about purchasing a dog to ensure that they will not be buying
into a line with a problem that is beyond their personal comfort level.
While no dogs' lines will be totally clear of all disorders, we hope that
this registry will be helpful in reducing the likelihood of perpetuating
the problems in future generations.
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