MDR mutacija in njene posledice:
I am passing this on as an example of that the MRD1 gene mutation can apparently do. It's quite common in Collies and been found in Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties). Australian Shepherds, mini Aussies, Old English Sheepdogs, German Shepherds, Long-haired Whippets, Silken Windhounds, and a variety of mixed breed dogs.
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/#BreedsPlease pass this on to anyone you know with these breeds, interersted in getting one and your vets.
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 23:23:02 +0000
Subject: [MASCAMembers2] Buster's Tragedy - PLEASE Read!
Dear fellow dog lovers,
I'm writing to tell you about a terrible tragedy we just had with one of our
Mini Aussie Rescue & Support (MARS) foster dogs. Buster was a 3 year old
beautiful red merle Miniature Australian Shepherd. He came into rescue from a
shelter in the midwest. We had him neutered and moved into a foster home to be
cared for while he healed. Buster was one of the sweetest dogs we ever met. He
had such a great temperament that we had approved his adoption into a home with
a one-year old child, which is something we are extremely cautious about ever
doing.
Buster arrived at his foster home with a wet, very productive cough. It was
definitely not kennel cough and the vet felt it needed to be treated
aggressively, partly fearing it was canine flu. He prescribed two antibiotics
and a cough suppressant. Buster received these drugs for several days during
which time his cough improved. On the fifth day, startled by knocking at the
door Buster's eyes completely dilated and he flew into a rage that lasted for 20 minutes after the person had left.
Confused, his foster mom contacted us. Going over Buster's medicines, we were
horrified to discover that the cough suppressant he was given, Torbutol, is
primarily used as a pain suppressant and is on the list (under its generic name
Butorphonal) of problem drugs that should not be given to dogs who may carry a
mutated mdr1 gene.
For those of you not familiar with this mutation, dogs carrying the mutated gene
cannot pump certain drugs out of their brains in the normal way. This can cause
a dangerous build up of the drug in the brain resulting in neural toxicity,
essentially poisoning the dog's brain.
Buster was immediately pulled off the medications, but continued to get much
worse day after day. When we reviewed his medical records, we discovered that he
had received another drug on the list during his neutering. So Buster was given
two of the problem drugs by different vets within a very short period of time.
We immediately tested him for the mdr1 genetic defect. Buster's test results came back as "normal/mutant" meaning he carried one copy of the mutated gene.
The official diagnosis was "Undifferentiated Rage" meaning that Buster, due to
neurological problems, was viciously attacking anyone and anything whenever his
fears were triggered. And his fears were multiplying daily, with his rage
seizures (as the vet called them) lasting longer and longer. Eventually his
pupils remained fully dilated all the time.
In his final days, Buster's foster mom took him for a walk in a sunny field,
hoping to bring him a little bit of joy. A bird flying overhead triggered such a
violent rage that Kathie ended up hiding behind a tree in fear for the forty
minutes it took Buster to recover. Even when Buster was kept gated into a spare
room in an attempt to protect him from all fear triggers, any little noise or
movement brought on rage seizures many times each day.
The MARS Board of Directors held a two-hour long emergency meeting to discuss
Buster. We heard testimony from his caretakers as well as examined the input from all of the medical experts we had consulted. Although there has been some research done on dogs recovering from ivermectin toxicity, we were told there is no research that has been done on treatment from and recovery from the other toxic drugs on the
list or from combinations of the problem drugs. No one could offer us any hope for Buster's recovery.
We also had to consider the fact that Buster was clearly a danger to any human
or animal in his vicinity. But for me the most compelling fact was that Buster's
life had become one giant nightmare for him. There was no way we could protect
him from everything he was afraid of since he was afraid of everything.
After much heart-wrenching discussion and many, many tears, the Board of
Directors of MARS voted to euthanize Buster. He died peacefully in his foster
mom's arms last week.
If you're a praying person, please say a little prayer for Buster and for the
many people who worked to rescue him and are devastated by his loss. The only possible good that can come out of this tragedy is if Buster's death can educate people about the mdr1 genetic mutation and help save the lives of other dogs. Please read Kathie's post below and visit the web link she gives to learn more about the mutation and how to test your dog for it. Kathie attached pictures of Buster (the only pics we could get as the sight of the camera triggered a seizure) for those lists that accept attachments.
With sorrow,
Paddy Marcotte
President, Mini Aussie Rescue & Support (MARS)
MARS email:
info@miniaussierescue.orgMARS website:
www.miniaussierescue.org