The Kennel Club has approved a new official DNA test reporting scheme for Laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (LPPN3) for Leonbergers, following consultation with the breed’s health co-ordinator on behalf of the breed clubs.
Laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy is an inherited condition that can affect a dog's nerves, causing problems with swallowing, breathing and walking. There are different genetic mutations which can cause this disease, and the LPPN3 test identifies whether a dog carries one of them.
Affected dogs may have difficulty breathing, may make strange noises when breathing (noisy breathing, wheezing or sounding hoarse when barking), problems swallowing (gagging) and difficulty walking (high stepping, finding it difficult to walk in a straight line or tripping over). Dogs in some breeds (such as Leonbergers) may be affected at a young age (2-3 years old), while other breeds may be affected later on in life.
The disease is described as autosomal-recessive. This means that a dog must inherit two copies of an abnormal gene (one from its mother and one from its father) before its health is affected.
Tested dogs will be recorded on The Kennel Club systems as either:
Clear
The dog does not have any copies of the abnormal gene associated with the disease. The dog is highly unlikely to be clinically affected and will only pass on a normal copy of the gene to a puppy.
Carrier
The dog has one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the abnormal gene associated with the disease. The dog is highly unlikely to be clinically affected, but may pass one copy of the normal gene, or one copy of the abnormal gene on to a puppy.
Affected
The dog has two copies of the abnormal gene associated with the disease. The dog will likely be clinically affected by the disorder and will pass one copy of the abnormal gene on to any potential offspring.
Test results will be added to the dog’s registration details which will trigger the publication of the result in the next available Breed Records Supplement and also on the Health Test Results Finder on The Kennel Club website.
Results for dogs already tested can also be recorded, but owners will need to submit copies of the DNA certificates themselves. DNA test certificates should be scanned and emailed to Health results (The Kennel Club)
Owners are reminded that:
- from August 2018, it is mandatory that the dog’s microchip (or tattoo) is recorded along with either the dog’s registered name or registered number on any DNA certificates. Any test results issued after that date that do not carry these identifying features will not be accepted.
- The Kennel Club has a set of criteria that we request DNA testing laboratories to meet to enable us to record their results, helping to maintain and protect the integrity of results that appear on a dog’s records. We have updated the list of laboratories that we accept results from and strongly advise that customers ensure their chosen laboratory is included on our revised list - thekennelclub.org.uk/approvedlabs - if they wish the Kennel Club to record and publish the results. Results from laboratories not included on this list will not be recorded.
To find out which laboratories the Kennel Club is able to record results from for this test, and which labs will send results direct to the Kennel Club, please refer to our page about LPPN3 at thekennelclub.org.uk/LPPN3. Please note that these listings are not necessarily comprehensive and other labs may offer the tests. To find out which DNA tests are relevant to your breed, visit thekennelclub.org.uk/breeds.
The Kennel Club constantly reviews DNA testing schemes in conjunction with breed clubs to ensure that breeders are supported with resources which help them to make responsible breeding decisions. The Kennel Club works alongside breed clubs and breed health coordinators in a collaborative effort to improve the health of pedigree dogs and is happy to consider a club's request to add a new DNA test to its lists. A formal request from the breed's health coordinator or a majority request from the breed clubs is normally required to do this.