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We are trying to breed a healthy working dog, with a stabile and calm personality, who is also nice to look at

Medication that can kill your dog !

                            THE IVERMECTIN STORY  
                                Submitted by
                             Dr. Cindi Bossart, DVM
                  Chairman, Collie Club of American Health Committee
                        Director, Collie Health Foundation
                         


There is a genetic syndrome in Collies that can be deadly, if not addressed. Some of our Collies do not have the proper transport system in the brain to move chemicals back and forth between the brain tissue and the blood that supports the brain tissue. These Collies are very susceptible to certain toxic drugs that enter the brain and cannot get back out. The dogs that do not have the proper transport system can become intoxicated, seizure and possibly die when exposed to certain drugs. Among the drugs that can affect our Collies are ivermectin and ivermectin sister drugs (the active ingredient in certain heartworm preventatives and ear medications, Imodium (anti-diarrheal medication), and a number of the drugs used for chemotherapy. Exposure to these drugs, in a large number of our Collies, can be fatal.
When dealing with the genetic make-up of our breed, APPROXIMATELY 35% OF OUR COLLIES ARE CARRIERS OF THE AFFECTED GENES , and will become intoxicated when exposed to those drugs listed above.
APPROXIMATELY 45% OF OUR COLLIES ARE CARRIERS OF THE AFFECTED GENES. These Collies may or may not react to thsoe drugs listed above. If they react, it is usually not as severe a reaction as the affected Collies; however, when two carriers are bred, they can produce affected, affected carriers, and unaffected non-carriers.
APPROXIMATELY 20% OF OUR COLLIES ARE NOT AFFECTED AND ARE NOT CARRIERS. There is now a genetic test available to determine if your Collie is affected, a carrier, or not affected. It is a simple cheek swab.


In literature a range of drugs that can cause oversensitivity reactions in dogs (especially in Collie breeds) is reported. Whenever an animal suffering from the genetic disorder needs medication, the latest version of the "dangerous drugs" list should be checked. It is likely this list will grow to include more drugs as research progresses. Biochemical studies have shown that the MDR1 gene has the potential to act on over 50 different drugs.
 

The list of December 1st, 2005 includes the Problem Drugs, the drugs that have been documented, or are strongly suspected to cause problems in dogs with the MDR1 mutation:

 
Acepromazine(tranquilliser)  
Butorphanol(pain control) 
Cyclosporin(immunosuppressive agent) 
Digoxin(heart drug, controls rate and rhythm of the heartbeat) 
Doxorubicin(anticancer agent) 
Ivermectin(antiparasitic agent) 
Loperamide(Imodium ®; antidiarrheal agent) 
Vinblastine(anticancer agent) 
Vincristine(anticancer agent)

and the Potential Problem Drugs, the drugs that may potentially cause problems when given to dogs that have the MDR1 mutation:

Domperidone(stimulation of stomac activity) 
Etoposide(anticancer agent) 
Mitoxantrone(anticancer agent) 
Morphine(tranquilliser, pain control) 
Ondansetron(prevents nausea and vomiting) 
Paclitaxe(anticancer agent) 
Quinidine(anti-arrhytmic heart drug) 
Rifampicin(antibiotic)
Chinidin(heart drug) 
Dexamethasone(anti-inflammation, against allergic reactions) 
Ebastine(against allergic reactions) 
Grepafloxacin, Sparfloxacin(antibiotics)



 

Approximately three of every four Collies in the United States have at least one mutant mdr1-1Δ allele. The frequency is about the same in France and Australia, so it is likely that most Collies worldwide have the mutation. The MDR1 mutation has not only been found in Collies and related breeds like Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties), Border Collies, Bearded Collies, Australian Shepherds, Australian Cattledogs and Old English Sheepdogs, but also in German Shepherds, White Swiss Shepherds, Long-haired Whippets, Silken Windhounds and a variety of mixed-breed dogs.

In general, we should be aware that in the past, when breeds were developed, often breeding stock of other populations (breeds) was used to improve certain characteristics. In the process of introducing the desired qualities (genes) into a breed, it cannot be avoided that many neutral as well as undesirable genes cross the barrier between breeds.

For the time being, in all cases where similar clinical symptoms of oversensitivity for drugs are found in breeds with "family ties" with the original British working sheepdogs or their descendants, checking with the MDR1 test would be advisable. If it can be proven that the defective allele mdr1-1Δ is present, applying that DNA test will help the breeders in their selection against the disorder. Even more important, it will help the owners of pet dogs in avoiding the negative effects of wrong medication in animals suffering from this devastating genetic disorder.
 

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