Breed health coordinators
What is a Breed Health Co-ordinator?
Breed Health Co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. The main role of the BHC is to facilitate, over time, the communication and collection of data on the health of their chosen breed. The BHC acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with the Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.
How are Breed Health Co-ordinators appointed?
BHCs are chosen and appointed by breed clubs and councils. Candidates for the position are usually nominated and then chosen by a majority vote. Breeds with more than one club must have a majority agreement before informing the Kennel Club of the newly appointed individual. A BHC may be appointed for a variety of different reasons, including their breed knowledge or their skill sets.
How to contact a Breed Health Co-ordinator?
If you have a health related questions concerning a particular breed, we recommend contacting the Breed Health Co-ordinator through the your local Breed club, a list of which is available via the "Find a dog club" link on the Kennel Club's Breed Information Centre.
Alternatively please e-mail your query to Health and Breeding Services and your e-mail will be forwarded to the appropriate BHC.
Resources for Breed Health Co-ordinators
The Kennel Club assist individuals within this role by offering them the tools and resources to help promote and improve the health of their breed where necessary.
Access to breed health reports
All breed health co-ordinators have access to bespoke KC breed health reports, free of charge. (This includes the reports generated on DNA tests, as well as the Hip, Elbow, Eye and CM/SM Schemes.).
The Kennel Club is in a unique position to help assist BHCs with the promotion of any ongoing health related research, whether it is a survey instigated by a breed club/ council, or an official research body.
Breed Health Co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. The main role of the BHC is to facilitate, over time, the communication and collection of data on the health of their chosen breed. The BHC acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with the Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.
How are Breed Health Co-ordinators appointed?
BHCs are chosen and appointed by breed clubs and councils. Candidates for the position are usually nominated and then chosen by a majority vote. Breeds with more than one club must have a majority agreement before informing the Kennel Club of the newly appointed individual. A BHC may be appointed for a variety of different reasons, including their breed knowledge or their skill sets.
How to contact a Breed Health Co-ordinator?
If you have a health related questions concerning a particular breed, we recommend contacting the Breed Health Co-ordinator through the your local Breed club, a list of which is available via the "Find a dog club" link on the Kennel Club's Breed Information Centre.
Alternatively please e-mail your query to Health and Breeding Services and your e-mail will be forwarded to the appropriate BHC.
Resources for Breed Health Co-ordinators
The Kennel Club assist individuals within this role by offering them the tools and resources to help promote and improve the health of their breed where necessary.
Access to breed health reports
All breed health co-ordinators have access to bespoke KC breed health reports, free of charge. (This includes the reports generated on DNA tests, as well as the Hip, Elbow, Eye and CM/SM Schemes.).
The Kennel Club is in a unique position to help assist BHCs with the promotion of any ongoing health related research, whether it is a survey instigated by a breed club/ council, or an official research body.
GOLDEN RETRIEVER BREED COUNCIL
Health Report - Update 3 November 2016
As promised, I have attached my report given at the October meeting and also Mike Starkey’s update on Mast Cell Tumours.
I would also like to update you all on a few matters:
GLAUCOMA
We were too late to get an agenda item on the Eye Panellist’s Working Party meeting later this month, but when Sheila Crispin visited recently she assured me that Glaucoma is already on the agenda and will be the focus of their meeting. She said she would give me feedback, and assured me no decisions would be made without consultation; and there would be no repeat of the MRD fiasco.
Sheila has just accepted a further year as Chief Panellist and we will continue to have a good working relationship. I will keep you updated.
ECTOPIC URETER PROJECT
I have attached a copy of the leaflet produced by Cambridge University please copy and distribute.
I know some Clubs have expressed support for this project, although exact figures have not been discussed. I would like Clubs to discuss this in committee now and come back to me with their thoughts.
I explained at our meeting that the we had been advised by the AHT that there was no necessity to genome sequence a “healthy” Golden oldie, as there were sufficient sequences from other breeds to use as a control. This was agreed and the general consensus was that we have to be guided by the experts and on that basis, it was agreed the Mast Cell Tumours would be the condition to sequenced first. Mike Starkey already has sufficient data and DNA, and is all set to go. I have since confirmed this to Mike and his team, and this is underway.
MARGARET WOODS
Breed Health Coordinator
(3/11/2016)
Health Report - Update 3 November 2016
As promised, I have attached my report given at the October meeting and also Mike Starkey’s update on Mast Cell Tumours.
I would also like to update you all on a few matters:
GLAUCOMA
We were too late to get an agenda item on the Eye Panellist’s Working Party meeting later this month, but when Sheila Crispin visited recently she assured me that Glaucoma is already on the agenda and will be the focus of their meeting. She said she would give me feedback, and assured me no decisions would be made without consultation; and there would be no repeat of the MRD fiasco.
Sheila has just accepted a further year as Chief Panellist and we will continue to have a good working relationship. I will keep you updated.
ECTOPIC URETER PROJECT
I have attached a copy of the leaflet produced by Cambridge University please copy and distribute.
- FUNDING I have just learnt from Dr Laura Owen that she has not yet secured funding for this project. Her application to The Dogs Trust failed and she is now going to apply to The KC Charitable Trust. The total cost is around £6000, and Laura is asking for support from the Breed Clubs. Assuming the KC agree to fund; we will be asked to contribute 50%.
I know some Clubs have expressed support for this project, although exact figures have not been discussed. I would like Clubs to discuss this in committee now and come back to me with their thoughts.
- SCREENING There was a good response following Dr Laura Owen’s visit to Eastern Counties Ch Show and breeders have come forward with dogs for screening. Dates have been allocated by the University and they will screen up to 5 dogs per day. These are in the main “control” dogs and I am working with her in the selection of siblings of affected (in corroboration with Cathryn at the AHT).
I explained at our meeting that the we had been advised by the AHT that there was no necessity to genome sequence a “healthy” Golden oldie, as there were sufficient sequences from other breeds to use as a control. This was agreed and the general consensus was that we have to be guided by the experts and on that basis, it was agreed the Mast Cell Tumours would be the condition to sequenced first. Mike Starkey already has sufficient data and DNA, and is all set to go. I have since confirmed this to Mike and his team, and this is underway.
MARGARET WOODS
Breed Health Coordinator
(3/11/2016)
GOLDEN RETRIEVER BREED COUNCIL
Health Report to Meeting 19 October 2016
ECTOPIC URETER PROJECT
It is so refreshing to work with Cambridge University as they are enthusiastic and very eager to start. Even though the funding is not yet in place, they have already produced a leaflet and Dr Laura Owen attended the Eastern Counties Ch Show where she was very well received.
In order to compliment the AHT project for EU, Dr Cathryn Mellersh has been consulted to establish the criteria for the screening of the dogs/bitches. It has been agreed that 25 bitches and 25 dogs will be screened. 50% will be siblings of affected EU bitches and 50% will be from a control group. The paperwork has not yet been agreed, but Cambridge plan to screen 5 a day over several weeks and already have dates put aside. I have asked to be kept informed at all stages.
MAST CELL/CANCERS PROJECTI have received an update from Mike Starkey and his report is attached. Mike is still wanting DNA samples from Grade 3 Mast Cell Tumours as these are the most aggressive, and have a high risk of spread/metastasise. For obvious reasons these are proving the most difficult to get. He is having little success with the Veterinary practices and wondered if we could help. I suggested we could encourage owners to get their Vet to contact him if a biopsy came back as grade 3.
Following a KC initiative where owners of Golden Retrievers were contacted by email, the AHT were able to collect DNA samples from over 50 to act as “controls”, ie they were from Goldens aged 8+yrs where they had not suffered from Mast Cell Tumours. The same initiative asked for information on Uveal melanomas but there was little response to this. Despite the eye specialists reporting an increase of this cancer, Mike had very little evidence so far that this is the case.
AHT GENOME PROJECTFurther to the recent update, I have had confirmation from the AHT that Glaucoma will be one of the conditions that will be sequenced and that they will fund this. Therefore, this is one condition we will not be asked to pay for.
VET COMPASS - DAN O’NEILLDan gave a presentation at our Breed Health Coordinators meeting last month and I will forward a copy of the slides. It did not contain any new information, but I managed to speak to Dan after the symposium. He said he would engage one of his students this year to again look at Golden Retrievers and hopefully this time they will come up with some meaningful information.
BREED HEALTH COORDINATOR SYMPOSIUM 2016*3x presentations available on: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/breed-health-co-ordinators/
Breed Health Coordinator
(18/10/2016)
Health Report to Meeting 19 October 2016
ECTOPIC URETER PROJECT
It is so refreshing to work with Cambridge University as they are enthusiastic and very eager to start. Even though the funding is not yet in place, they have already produced a leaflet and Dr Laura Owen attended the Eastern Counties Ch Show where she was very well received.
In order to compliment the AHT project for EU, Dr Cathryn Mellersh has been consulted to establish the criteria for the screening of the dogs/bitches. It has been agreed that 25 bitches and 25 dogs will be screened. 50% will be siblings of affected EU bitches and 50% will be from a control group. The paperwork has not yet been agreed, but Cambridge plan to screen 5 a day over several weeks and already have dates put aside. I have asked to be kept informed at all stages.
MAST CELL/CANCERS PROJECTI have received an update from Mike Starkey and his report is attached. Mike is still wanting DNA samples from Grade 3 Mast Cell Tumours as these are the most aggressive, and have a high risk of spread/metastasise. For obvious reasons these are proving the most difficult to get. He is having little success with the Veterinary practices and wondered if we could help. I suggested we could encourage owners to get their Vet to contact him if a biopsy came back as grade 3.
Following a KC initiative where owners of Golden Retrievers were contacted by email, the AHT were able to collect DNA samples from over 50 to act as “controls”, ie they were from Goldens aged 8+yrs where they had not suffered from Mast Cell Tumours. The same initiative asked for information on Uveal melanomas but there was little response to this. Despite the eye specialists reporting an increase of this cancer, Mike had very little evidence so far that this is the case.
AHT GENOME PROJECTFurther to the recent update, I have had confirmation from the AHT that Glaucoma will be one of the conditions that will be sequenced and that they will fund this. Therefore, this is one condition we will not be asked to pay for.
VET COMPASS - DAN O’NEILLDan gave a presentation at our Breed Health Coordinators meeting last month and I will forward a copy of the slides. It did not contain any new information, but I managed to speak to Dan after the symposium. He said he would engage one of his students this year to again look at Golden Retrievers and hopefully this time they will come up with some meaningful information.
BREED HEALTH COORDINATOR SYMPOSIUM 2016*3x presentations available on: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/breed-health-co-ordinators/
- *Dr Dan O’Neill and *Dr Cathryn Mellersh gave presentations and I have recapped on these already.
- Annual Health Reporting – this task has previously been left to Breed Club Secretaries, but from this year the report will be done by the Breed Health Coordinator.
- *UK Breed Clubs and the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) – Dr Brenda Bonnett (CEO for IPFD) gave an excellent talk and offered to share information, statistics and expertise. She has access to Swedish Health statistics and also Agria Insurance information that she is willing to share. I have her contact details and I will be keeping in touch with her.
- Breed Health Coordinators Job Description – We worked in groups to develop a job description for our role; incorporation duties, personal attributes, experience and knowledge. A bit late for those already in the role, but hopefully will assist newly appointed coordinators.
- Breed Health Coordinator of the Year Award – This was the first time I had heard of this but apparently all Breed Club Secretaries and Breed Council had been notified by the Kennel Club. Closing date was 1st October 2016.
Breed Health Coordinator
(18/10/2016)
report_from_mike_starkey__on_mct_oct_2016.pdf |