We are pleased to announce that LABOKLIN will be at Crufts from 10^th to 13^th March 2016 and we look forward to seeing you there.

Our stand is located in Hall 3 opposite the restaurant, it is stand number 3-7a.

10% discount on all DNA tests submitted at Crufts !

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) refers to a group of genetic disease that occur in a number of dog breeds.

The disease is characterised by vision impairment caused by degeneration of the retina in both eyes leading to blindness. The mutation responsible for this disease has already been identified in a number of breeds and DNA tests have been developed to enable breeders to avoid breeding affected dogs.

PRA in shelties is clinically similar to PRA in other breeds but the mutation leading to the disease in shelties was not identified. In a recent study scientists found that in shelties there is more than one PRA variant. Scientists have been able to identify one of the mutations that causes PRA in this breed and a DNA test is now available from Laboklin. In Shelties, the disease shows a varying age on onset. In a study on affected shelties, PRA was diagnosed between the age of 2 and 11.   

  for more details please click here

We are pleased to announce the Exercise Induced Collapse DNA test has now been validated in Clumber Spaniel. We would like to thank the Clumber Spaniel Club and the Working Clumber Spaniel Society, and all Clumber Spaniel owners who submitted samples that helped in our research to validate the test in this breed.

Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) is an inherited condition that affects a number of dog breeds including Chesapeake Bay Retriever, German Wirehaired Pointer, Labrador Retriever, Old English Sheepdog (Bobtail), Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Cocker Spaniel, Curly Coated Retriever, Boykin Spaniel and Bouvier des Flanders. EIC has now been validated in Clumber Spaniel. Affected dogs can endure mild to moderate exercise but after 5 to 20 minutes of heavy exercise with extreme excitement, the dog shows weakness and then collapse. Severely affected dogs may collapse whenever they are exercised to this extend – other dogs only exhibit collapse episodes sporadically. Signs of EIC are not typically seen until the dog begin intense training. First symptoms are usually noted between 5 months and 3 years of age. However, it is confirmed that some affected dogs did not have collapse episodes until as late as age 10.

The test is now available for ordering.  

  for more details please click here

Effective from 1st September 2015

Dear Customer

Laboklin prices have not changed for the past five years, during this time, in order to cope with the ever increasing demand for our DNA testing services, we have been investing heavily in cutting edge technologies, state of the art equipment, new robotic systems and automated sample handing equipment, all operated by our highly qualified scientists. These developments did not only increase efficiency to highest attainable standards but also has now enabled us to pass on additional savings to you.

For an ISO 17025 Accredited laboratory, our prices are now exceptionally competitive.

New pricing System is effective from 1st September 2015. Until then all samples received are charged at existing prices.

Sunday 7th June 2015 The Elephant, Shavington, Crewe, Cheshire CW2 5DZ

We are pleased to announce that LABOKLIN will be at the UK National Dwarf German Shepherd Rally, The aim of the UK National Dwarf German Shepherd Rally is to raise awareness about Pituitary Dwarfism, an inherited condition suffered by German Shephered.

  for more details please click here

Adult Onset Neuropathy (AON) is an inherited neurological disorder in the English Cocker Spaniel breed. Symptoms typically begins between the age of 7.5 and 9 years. The Disease is characterised by progressive weakness that starts with the hind limbs leading to wobbly gait, wide-base stance and angled hocks. The disease... 

Dandy-Walker-Like Malformation (DWLM)in Purebred Eurasier Dogs with Familial Non-Progressive Ataxia DWLM is a genetic disorder found in Eurasier dogs characterised by non-progressive ataxia, symptoms have been noted in dogs at 5 – 6 weeks old. The severity of the ataxia varies between dogs, from mild truncal sway, mild lack of movement coordination, subtle dysmetric gait, imbalance and pelvic limb ataxia to severe cerebellar ataxia in puppies and episodic falling or rolling. Follow-up examinations in adult dogs showed improvement of the cerebellar ataxia and a still absent menace response. Epileptic seizures occurred in some dogs... 

Muellerian ducts (paramesonephric ducts) are small structures that exist in both male and female embryos during the early fetal development, at 35-36 days of gestation, the embryo begins to differentiate into male or female. In the female, Muellerian ducts will develop to form the uterine tubes, uterus, cervix, and the upper one-third of the vagina. In the male, Muellerian ducts are lost because the testes starts producing a hormone that causes regression of the Mullerian ducts. In Miniature Schnauzer males which are affected by Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS), the Müllerian ducts fail to regress during sexual differentiation, and therefore, all Müllerian duct derivatives, bilateral oviducts, a complete uterus with cervix and the cranial portion of the vagina, are also present... 

  for more details please click here

  for more details please click here

Although the disease is rare in general, within an affected line it is important to control the gene frequency so as to prevent producing puppies affected with the disease. The mutations causing CD in these two breeds occur in the same gene (CNGB3) but are distinct mutations and arose separately. CD disease causes day blindness due to degeneration of the retinal “cones” – cone-shaped cells in the retina that respond primarily to bright daylight. CD can be diagnosed in the early weeks of the affected dog’s life. Between 8 and 12 weeks of age, when retinal development is normally completed in dogs, signs.. 

The Harlequin coat colour pattern is a white coat colour with irregular patches of black or other dark colour. The Harlequin gene does not cause the Harlequin pattern without the merle gene. A Harlequin Great Dane must have both the Harlequin gene and the Merle gene. Harlequin is a merle modifier, it turns the areas between the dark patches into white, this is why Harlequin is only visible on dogs with the merle gene. Harlequin will not affect the coat colour of dogs that don't have the merle gene. Dogs without the merle gene can have the Harlequin gene but without expressing it... 

The Lagotto Romagnolo storage disorder is a genetic disroder characterized by movement in-coordination, which is seen as a staggering, uncoordinated gait. Other symptoms such as involuntary eye movements (nystagmus) and behavioral changes, such as aggression, have also been seen in affected dogs. The onset of the disease varies from 4 months to 4 years. The condition is progressive and symptoms in affected worsens to a degree where they need to be euthanized... 

Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy (JLPP) * is a genetic disease that affects the nerves. In affected dogs, JLPP starts with the longest nerves in the body, one of the longest nerves is the one that supplies the muscles of the voice box (larynx) leading to muscle weakness and laryngeal paralysis as the first symptom. The vocal folds vibrate noisily and can obstruct the flow of air into the lungs when the dog is exercised or when it is hot. The dog may also choke on their food or water or regurgitate, and this can cause pneumonia... 

Fanconi Syndrome is a genetic disease of the kidney.

In affected dogs, the Kidney's proximal tubules fail to reabsorb vitamins, minerals, sugars and other nutrients back into the body, instead they are dumped into the urine. The loss of these nutrients results in dehydration and electrolyte imbalances along with other problem.

Fanconi Syndrome is considered as one of the most common inherited disease in Basenji . Symptoms include polydipsia (excessive drinking), polyuria (excessive urination), and glucose in the urine (glucosuria). Untreated Fanconi Syndrome will lead to muscle wasting, acidosis and poor condition, and eventually death...

Hereditary Ataxia (HA) is a neurodegenerative disease that affect the cerebellum causing progressive gait disturbance in both humans and dogs.

Old English Sheepdogs and Gordon Setters suffer from a juvenile onset, autosomal recessive form of canine hereditary ataxia primarily affecting the Purkinje neuron of the cerebellar cortex. The clinical and histological characteristics are similar to hereditary ataxias in humans....

This disease is caused by a mutation in the SEL1L gene. Affected dogs will show first indications of cerebellar neurodegeneration at the age of 4-12 weeks. First clinical signs are loss of balance, minor incoordination of gait and intention tremor while later symptoms can be a progressive incoordination or a complete loss of mobility.

The type 1 neuropathy (LPN1) in Leonberger starts at the age of 2-4 year and shows a severe progression. The symptoms of this polyneuropathy include wobbly gait and paralysis especially from the backhand. Affected dogs are not able to stand up in the final stage of the disease. Breathing noises, strange barking voice and difficulties in swallowing are other typical symptoms. The causative mutation causes around 20% of all polyneuropathy cases in the Leonberger breed. Other aetiologic mutations exist.

rcd3 PRA is usually found in Cardigan Welsh Corgi, it has now been identified in Chinese Crested.

Chinese Crested can now be tested for two forms of PRA, the prcd PRA and rcd3 PRA, in addition to Primary Lens Luxation (PLL).

The rcd3 PRA mutation was found in Chinese Crested only recently and therefore we have no information about its prevalence in the breed.

Great News ..

Ichthyosis is Back

We are pleased to announce that, after we stopped offering this test for the past few weeks, it is now back on the list and CHEAPER than before, it is now £55.00.

  for more details please click here

We are pleased to inform you that LABOKLIN will be at Crufts from 5^th to 8^th March 2015 and we look forward to seeing you there.

Our stand is located in Hall 3 opposite the restaurant, it is stand number 3-7a.

10% discount on all DNA tests submitted at Crufts !

We are pleased to announce that LABOKLIN acquired the exclusive European license to perform the Degenerative Myelopathy Exon 2 DNA test.

DM is a slowly progressive disease of the spinal cord. It is typically seen in older dogs after the age of 7. The disease begins with difficulty in getting up, difficulty in walking and loss of coordination in the hind limbs. It usually starts with weakness in one leg and the dog maybe seen dragging its hind paws, the disease progresses to the other leg, the dog wobbles when walking and can knuckle over. The disease continues to progress leading to complete paralysis.

DM is a devastating incurable genetic disease that has been seen frequently in a number of dog breeds in particular German Shepherd Dogs, Corgis, Boxers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and Standard Poodles. It has also been diagnosed in American Eskimo, Golden Retriever , Labrador Retriever , Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever , Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) , Bernese Mountain Dog , Kerry Blue Terrier , Wire Fox Terrier , Pug , Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound) , Hovawart , Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier , Canaan Dog , Great Pyrenees, and other breeds. A key feature of DM is that it is not a painful disease.

DM is caused by a DNA mutation in exon 2 of a gene called superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). It is referred to as DM EXON 2. This risk factor of having this gene was identified in 2009.

Recently another DM mutation was identified in Bernese Mountain Dogs in exon 1 of the SOD1 gene it is referred to as DM EXON 1.

Testing for DM EXON 2 is available for all dog breeds (including Bernese Mountain Dog). Testing for DM EXON 1 is only available for Bernese Mountain Dogs, we also offer DM EXON 1 + DM EXON 2 bundle in Bernese Mountain Dogs.

Laboklin is the only lab licensed to perform the DM EXON 2 test in Europe and samples should only be sent to our lab.

  for more details on DM EXON 1 in Bernese Mountain Dog please click here

for more details on DM EXON 1 + 2 Special Offer in Bernese Mountain Dog please click here

When selecting a lab for your genetic testing, you need to be sure that you will be supplied with accurate and reliable results. The technical competence of a lab depends on a number of factors which are assessed against internationally recognised standards to demonstrate the laboratory’s competence, impartiality and performance capability. it is like a qualification LABOKLIN is a DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025 Accredited laboratory. Accreditation is provided by the German National Accreditation Body DAKKS, (in the UK by UKAS). This means that all our tests are performed according to reliable standards and verified procedures. Our laboratory is not only subject to strict daily internal controls but also to regular external controls ensuring our adherence to the strictest standards

LABOKLIN is not just about providing a test result, our genetic testing department is supported and backed by in-house specialised departments including Molecular Biology, Haematology, Serology, Pathology, Allergy, Histology, Endocrinology, Microbiology, Bacteriology and many more areas in the diagnostic spectrum since 1989.

Cobalamin malabsorption (merslunf-Gräsbeck Syndrome (IGS)) refers to a genetic disorder by which the vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, fails to be absorbed from the intestine. Lack of cobalamin leads to changes in the hematopoietic system and to neurological symptoms due to irreversible damage of the brain and nervous system. Symptoms include anorexia, lethargy and failute to gain weight. Cobalamin malabsorption can be managed by supplementation with regular doses of cobalamin..

MDR1 is a genetic disorder found in many dog breeds. Affected dogs, when treated with certain common drugs such as Ivermectin and loperamide (Imodium), are unable to pump out these drugs from the brain resulting in poisoning and neurologic symptoms ranging from tremors, anorexia and excess salivation to blindness, coma and even death. Some of these drugs such as Ivermectins, which vets prescribe extensively for the treatment of parasite infections, are able to cause toxicity at 1/200th of the dose required to cause toxicity in healthy dogs..

Also known as Hereditary Polyneuropathy of Alaskan Malamute (HPAM), and Idiopathic Polyneuropathy of Alaskan Malamute (IPAM). Polyneuropathy causes undersupply of the peripheric nervous system followed by nerve degeneration. Due to the lack of nervous stimulation the muscles degrade gradually. The causal mutation in Alaskan Malamute differs from the known mutation in Greyhound breed. The Mutation in Alaskan Malamute has been investigated by Prof. Dr. Merete Fredholm together with an international team of researchers. The onset of clinical symptoms occurs during the first two years of a dog's life. These symptoms include progressive amyosthenia, exercise intolerance, loss of reflexes and ataxia of all limbs. So, the dog may fall down, walk on the tops of its feet or the gait may just look a little off. When palsy affects the larynx, changes in voice and problems in swallowing and regurgitating have also been described. The general condition is not influenced by the disease.

Subaortic stenosis is one of the most frequent hereditary heart failures in dogs. Due to abnormal tissue in the left ventricular outflow tract the blood flow is impeded. Symptoms show a huge variety: although dogs with a mild form of the disease may have a normal lifespan and life quality, severely affected animals may undergo life-threatening arrhythmias, congestive heart failure and sudden death. The investigated genetic variant shows a strong association with this disease. So a genetic test can help to decrease prevalence of mutation in this breed....

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS)

This disease is also called “Corny Feet” as the main symptom is thickening and hardening of the footpads. Affected dogs suffer from painful cracks and crevices sometimes leading to secondary infections. Additionally, nail growth is accelerated so that nails become deformed and crumbly. As footpads and nails are cared for, the dog's lifespan and quality of life are normal....

Digital Hyperkeratosis (DH) (Hereditary Footpad Hyperkeratosis / Corny Feet)

Thrombopathia (Thrombopathy) is an inherited disease found in Basset Hound and Landseer. It affects the blood ability to stop bleeding from damaged / injured blood vessels. Thrombocytes (Platelets) are small blood cells that respond to damage or injury of blood vessels by sticking to each other at the damaged site to plug holes until blood clotting and tissue repair can occur. In affected dogs, thrombocytes fail to respond to the damage in the blood vessel and therefore thrombocyte clumping does not occur. Affected dogs ...

Thrombopathia

October 2014

It was lovely meeting club members on Saturday in Catthorpe Manor to talk about coat colours in Brittany, in particular the sable coat colour.

Mansour

Notes can now be downloaded from the the following link

Brittany Coat Colours

February 2014

At the request of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever breed club, the KENNEL CLUB has approved an new official DNA testing scheme for Degenerative Myelopathy in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Canine degenerative myelopathy (also known as chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy) is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an insidious onset typically between 7 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination (ataxia) in the hind limbs ...

for more details please click here

January 2014

We can now offer this test in French Bulldog in addition to Boston Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

December 2013

December 2013

December 2013

MDR1 Gene Defect + DM  (Degenerative Myelopathy) - Great Offer only £115 Incl VAT (Save £32.50)

read more ...

December 2013

October 2013

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July 2013

July 2013

July 2013

July 2013

July 2013

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