Polyneuropathy     (last updated Nov 2010)

Polyneuropathy means "many abnormalities of the nervous system". The condition is generally characterized by a lack of coordination and instability that leads to a laboured gait. Many nervous system disorders that affect both dogs and people are inheritable.

In dogs, the breed most affected has been the Alaskan Malamute but cases have been discovered in the Leonberger.

A great deal of research and effort has now taken place to identify the rogue gene(s) that are responsible for the LPN1 condition.

Consequently there is now a genetic test that can be carried out to identify the LPN1 strain of the disease that accounts for

approximately 30% of the LPN cases. (It appears that there may be other LPN mutations causing the disease, but at the moment we have a test for only one of them. This one appears to account for approximately 30% of the LPN diseases.)

 

Dogs that are diagnosed are either:-

 

N/N (clear of this mutation)

N/D (a carrier of this mutation)

D/D (affected by this mutation) these dogs will go on to develop the full disease, usually in early life.

 

Current estimates are that approximately 17% of all Leonbergers are N/D carriers. This equates to approximately 1.5% of Leonbergers (D/D) therefore actually getting affected and suffering from the disease in early life (usually 12months to 4 years old first onset)

 

Current recommended breeding practice is that only N/N or N/D dogs should be bred from. Due to the limited gene pool (please read my Pedigree Dog Debate article 2008) we cannot exclude all N/D dogs from the breeding pool otherwise other diseases will become more prevalent.

 

Therefore only N/N to N/N dogs OR N/N to N/D dogs to be bred from. This will ensure that no D/D puppies will be produced.