Leonberger Health History                                                 September 2008

The Leonberger Club of America (LCA) was founded in the fall of 1985 by a small group of dedicated Leonberger owners. At that time, there were only a few Leonbergers in the U.S. and they seemed remarkably healthy. By 1995, the LCA had over 800 Leos registered and genetic diseases began to appear. Genetic diseases are inevitable in the closed gene pools of all purebred dogs. Geneticists have found that every purebred dog has a predisposition for at least 4 genetic diseases.

With this in mind, some members of the Breeding Committee of the Leonberger Club of America were determined to learn as much as possible to limit potential health problems, disability and early death in their breed.

In 1995, the first Health Survey was conducted by the LCA’s Breeding Committee. Of 800 dogs in the registry, 431 surveys were returned. There were 4 cases of late-onset Addison’s disease. Hypothyroidism, ear infections with allergies and Hip Dysplasia were the most frequently reported problems. Seven cases of bone cancer (Osteosarcoma) were reported in Leos over 7 years of age. In addition, several cases of other, rarer cancers were reported.  - See Health Survey 1995 for the complete report.

In 1998 the LCA’s Health, Research and Education Committee (HREC) was formed by 3 members of the Breeding Committee of the LCA. The emergence of the LCA HREC was precipitated by the drastically increased numbers of Addison’s cases since 1995. At that time, Addison’s was a very big problem in the Bearded Collie and some members of that club had looked into research possibilities. The LCA HREC met with the Bearded Collie people and health-conscious members of the Poodle Club to get research started. Blood from affected Leos and their close relatives was collected and the research was conducted by Dr. Ry Wagner, at the University of Oregon. The LCA HREC simultaneously held successful fundraising events to support this research. In 2000, the Addison’s research project was moved to the University of California at Davis, under the direction of Dr. Anita Oberbauer. See Final research update from Dr. Oberbauer.

In 1999, Diane Shelton, DVM, PhD, at the University of California, San Diego, wrote to the Breeding Committee what she had discovered regarding “Laryngeal Paralysis Associated with Polyneuropathy” in Leonbergers. At that time, it was the belief that only young males show signs of this new identified disease. – See Leowatch 1999 for more information.

In 2000, the second Health Survey was conducted by the LCA’s HREC . In this Health Survey, Osteosarcoma was reported more than any other cancer. It was clear that the incidence in the breed was on the rise. This cancer scare prompted the Chairperson of the LCA’s Health Committee to form an organization whose sole purpose would be to raise money, collect blood samples for DNA and find research projects to help the Leonberger breed conquer those diseases that were beginning to plague the breed. This was the birth of the LHF. See Leowatch 2001 for more information.

In 2002, the Leonberger Health Foundation (LHF) was established as a private nonprofit association. It is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization that functions independently of other Leonberger Clubs to serve the needs of all Leonbergers in the United States and abroad.

By 2004, the population of Leonbergers in America had risen significantly. With the increase in population, two more diseases emerged and became causes for concern: Hemangiosarcoma and Laryngeal Paralysis Associated with Polyneuropathy.

The Leonberger Health Foundation has been actively collecting blood and raising money to support major university and federal government researchers who are studying these diseases. Leonbergers are a part of the research populations for these major studies and will be among the breeds to benefit from the findings.

Responsible Leonberger breeders who are committed to the health and long-term vigor of the breed are now paying attention to the health history of dogs that they breed. However, it is vital that blame not be leveled on breeders or specific dogs without a thorough understanding of the complexity of trait inheritance. Most canine diseases are part of complex genes—that is, genes that cluster together and are inherited as a group. So, it is extraordinarily difficult to use simple Mendelian genetics and expect to eliminate a disease. However, at this point, until DNA tests are discovered and available for common use, the only thing breeders can do is:

1. Abstain from inbreeding (father/daughter, siblings etc.).
          2. Minimize the number of times Leos appear as common ancestors in the
              pedigrees of both Leos.
          3. Avoid doubling up on known health problems when selecting the breeding
              pair.

The genetic disease community is enthusiastic about utilizing populations of purebred dogs in the search to cure human diseases. In fact, purebred dogs have been called a genetic gold mine. Since all purebred dogs come from a closed gene pool, it is much easier to study genes in dogs than it is in people. Furthermore, a canine genome is very similar to that of a person. This is important because it means multiple resources are being used to learn the causes of and find cures for many diseases that affect both people and dogs.

The LHF is as determined as ever to be part of DNA research in all the problem areas of the Leonberger. Addison’s disease was the first focus and it is now under control in the US Leonberger. We are currently participating actively in studies devoted to Osteosarcoma, Hemangiosarcoma and Leonberger Polyneuropathy.

If you, or someone you know, have a Leonberger that has been diagnosed with a disease, please contact the LCA Health Committee (HREC) and give them the information. And, be sure to participate in donating blood whether or not your dog is affected by a disease. Blood is still being collected for university-based research and you can find the forms for it on this website.

You and your dog can make the difference

                                                   for all the Leonbergers to come!