CTCV Health Watch Committee Report                                                  30/1/2010

Thanks to everyone who sent in their Medical Reports and Litter Reports this year.

Confidentiality

All reports are treated as confidential unless the box has been ticked indicating that the information may be shared.

Number of Reports Received

We have received 29 Reports this year, of which 4 were medical reports and 25 were Bile Acid Testing Reports, (Litter Reports).

The four medical reports are as follows:

Hermangio Sarcoma - Bacterial Pneumonia
HS is a malignant cancer of the cells that form blood vessels – an extremely aggressive tumour that can
spread rapidly to many organs. Unfortunately the cairn passed away following a cardiac arrest.

Portal Shunt
Two reported cases, both diagnosed by scintigraphy at 12 weeks. Happily both cairns had successful surgery and excellent outcomes for the future are excpected.

Portal Hypoplasia
This puppy was first thought to have Portal Shunt but further investigations showed the possible diagnosis as Portal Hypoplasia, (this is the condition previously known as microvascular displaysia.)

Litter Reports

We received 25 Bile Acid Test Reports with all puppies testing clear except for the three mentioned above. The scores are included at the end of the report.


Research Grant

The Cairn Terrier Bile Acid Testing Program which was conducted at the Werribee Clinic of Melbourne University’s Veterinary Hospital has now finished with the 100th puppy having been tested in January this year. Dr Linda Abraham, BSc BVet Med PhD(Lond) MRCFS MACVSC will be reporting to us on the results of her research later in the year.

The aim of the Study was to investigate the minimum age that Cairn Terrier puppies may be tested in order to identify those with portosystemic shunts and those that are normal. During the study Dr Abraham identified individuals with elevated levels of bile acids who were diagnosed with Shunts and other individuals who were tested at later stages of development whose scores returned to normal.

It should be noted that not all of the litters tested by Dr Abraham have been reported to the Health Watch Committee. The reporting of litters to our Committee is at the discretion of the owner. Also, that all of the litters reported were not necessarily tested by Dr Abraham. Indeed our Reports come from far and wide across the nation and although the Research at Werribee has been completed it is hoped that breeders will continue to have their litters tested and send in reports. For those who find it convenient, Werribee will continue to test at very competitive prices and appointments should still be made with Dr. Abraham at the Clinic.

Summary

Thanks to all who took part in the Werribee Research and thanks again to those who sent in their reports. Please continue to send your reports to the Committee by either completing the Report Form (which may be downloaded on the CTCV website) or by emailing Lyn Barclay at lkbarclay@bigpond.com.au or, post reports to: Lyn Barclay, 20 Outawood Rise, Gisborne, Vic 3437, phone (03) 5428 4739, fax to (03) 5428 4179 or mobile 0409 424 668.

Download Health Watch Committee Report Form