Announcing the official launch of the Canine Epilepsy Network web site!
This site, sponsored by the University of Missouri College of Veterinary
Medicine, provides a resource for breeders, owners, veterinarians, and
researchers concerned with canine epilepsy. The site includes basic epilepsy
information, an invitation to participate in Canine Health Foundation funded
research into the genetics of inherited epilepsy, updates on the research,
a discussion panel, and links to additional information. We invite you to
visit the site at www.cvm.missouri.edu/cen/
<http://www.cvm.missouri.edu/cen/>  , and welcome your comments.

We also encourage you to post this announcement to chat lists, newsletters,
and club publications where dog owners who may be interested in the
information and the research project can be made aware of the site.
Unfortunately this devastating problem can affect any breed. It is our hope
that this site can provide information for those who have an epileptic dog
or have produced the problem, and the research will help concerned breeders
to eliminate this problem from their breed while keeping all the good traits
breeders strive for.

I hope that you will find this a useful addition to the growing list of
resources for owners of epileptic pets. I want to especially encourage those
of you who own dogs with idiopathic, or suspected genetic-based seizures to
participate in the research project underway to identify the genetic cause
for seizures, hopefully leading to a test which will allow breeders to avoid
producing puppies who will develop seizures.  When you visit the site, go
to the "Research" area to get information on this project and how to
participate. We need families that include affected dogs to help the
researchers discover the markers and mutations that are associated with
epilepsy. This is one reason for the focus on pure-bred dogs, but I will say
that we have samples from a family of mixed breed dogs coming in as well.
It's unusual to be able to sample siblings and parents from a mixed breed
litter, as often the owners don't know where the family members are.
Where these are known, though, they may be  quite useful for the research
project, and are encouraged to participate as well.

If you need additional information not provided in the site, or have any
questions, please contact me. Thank you in advance for sharing this
information with others!

Liz Hansen
Coordinator of Veterinary Information
Dr. Gary Johnson's lab - Dept. of Vet. Path.
209A Connaway Hall
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
573-884-3712 (office)
573-884-5414 (department fax)
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>  (office email)