PDE, new info from my vet

Rebecca and the Pugs 4/29/2011, 1:00 am

From my vet Dr. Byam's facebook page:

Pug peeps~exciting news from UC Davis! There is now a genetic test for Pug Dog Encephalitis markers. Spread the word!
This is such great news for the breed! 11% of Pugs carry both genes for this disease, and 1 in 8 of those who have 2 copies of the gene will develop PDE. Breeders should screen for this and try to eliminate it from their lines.
note don't try complete eradication or we will lose genetic diversity. But if pugs are even heterozygous for the gene (meaning only one copy and not 2), it will be great news! Pugs with 2 copies of the gene are 12 times more likely to develop PDE than those who are negative or heterozygous. http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/PDE.php

thminis 4/29/2011, 1:09 am

Wow, that sounds like a really great, promising discovery. Like your vet mentions, breeders who don't know what there doing could really mess up any biodiversity, but bad breeders will always mess something up. The good breeders (and owners, vets, etc) will really benefit from this.

I have to say, though, the question looming in my head is, do I test my pugs at home...

Not Afraid 4/29/2011, 1:30 am

thminis wrote:
I have to say, though, the question looming in my head is, do I test my pugs at home...

Yes, my first very selfish thought before saying "what great news".

Aussie Witch 4/29/2011, 3:32 am

I saw Kelly's post and was over the moon at the news! I wanted to post it on the PDE site but it's down at the moment. Better look into it.

And as to testing, I wouldn't. It doesn't mean your Pug will definitely get it if the results show the gene, but you would be panicking for the rest of the Pug's life. The devastation and sense of foreboding would be unendurable. Unless they find a cure or a way to stop it developing, there are some things you don't need to know. We're incredibly lucky in Oz that it is so extremely rare you don't really consider it happening.