Tag Archives: research

I have been asked by some GSCA members about the origins of Gordon Setter Expert and, in talking to them, learned that there are many misconceptions about why I launched this site and about it’s name. I launched Gordon Setter Expert, because as chair of the GSCA Breeder Education committee, I had heard from many members who expressed there was a need for a web based resource tool for all Gordon Setter fanciers, not just GSCA members. So, my intent here was to create a blog wthat was going to be owned and hosted by the Gordon Setter Club of America, Inc. and managed by a team of GSCA member-experts. I called this blog Gordon Setter Expert because I believed the content would be contributed by the hundreds of Gordon Setter experts in the GSCA’s ranks. I purposely chose to use the word Expert , to gain trust and to attract Gordon lovers to the Gordon Setter Club of America where these experts so willingly shared their experience. I had planned to illustrate, through our web presence, the value of being a member of the GSCA.

My proposed prototype for this blog was sent to the GSCA Board of Governors for approval in January of 2015, where unfortunately approval to launch the site was stalemated. I understood then, that some members of the Board could not recognize the value of a site like this for our breed or club. as a labor of love for our Gordon Setter breed, It was then that I choose to launch the site on my own, as a personal contribution to the breed we all love. I believed then, and continue to believe today, in this blog’s ability to promote, protect and advance the purebred Gordon Setter.

It will always be my hope someday to transfer this blog to the Gordon Setter Club of America and that my offer will be accepted and GSCA will carry on the work that I began here.

Today GSE visitors will find over 250 articles related to breeding, showing, field events, performance events, training and health. Gordon Setter Expert is followed by 2,400 people who receive the new articles by email and other web services. Followers come from all walks of life, from all around the world and include some GSCA members. I am pleased that so many individuals, breed clubs, and parent clubs link to Gordon Setter Expert to share this resource with their friends, members and the visitors to their websites.

Gordon Setter Expert proposal sent to the GSCA To read my first proposal to the 2015 GSCA Board requesting their approval to create this blog on their GSCA’s behalf click this link.

To learn more about me and GSE click here to read the “About” page

Sally Gift, Mesa AZ

Please note that the views and opinions expressed on this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Gordon Setter Club of America.

Care, Health & Genetics

VACCINATION AGAINST CANINE CANCER STUDY

October 6, 2018 Sally Gift Leave a comment

Thank you Barbara Manson, Stoughton WI for bringing this to our attention!

Attention all Gordon Setter owners – our breed is included among those being recruited for this study. If interested, follow the link below to submit your information online.

Sally Gift, Mesa AZ

VACCINATION AGAINST CANINE CANCER STUDY

UW Veterinary Care’s Oncology Service is recruiting dogs for the Vaccination Against Canine Cancer Study (VACCS trial), the largest clinical trial conducted to date for canine cancer.

The goal of the VACCS trial is to evaluate a new vaccine strategy for the prevention, rather than treatment of dogs with cancer. Healthy dogs of certain breeds, 6 to 10 years old, will be randomized to receive either a series of vaccines similar to other routine vaccines that are given to dogs currently, or placebo vaccines. Dogs will live at home and be checked 2-3 times yearly for 5 years after enrollment. A financial incentive will be offered to defray the cost associated with diagnostics and treatment of any cancers that dogs develop, regardless of whether they are receiving vaccine or placebo.

In addition to potentially providing a new strategy for cancer prevention in dogs, if successful, this study could provide important justification for eventually looking at a similar approach in humans.

TO QUALIFY, DOGS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

Owners must live within 150 miles of one of the participating trial sites
- University of Wisconsin–Madison · Madison, Wisconsin
- Colorado State University · Fort Collins, Colorado
- University of California–Davis · Davis, California
Age: 6 to 10 years old
Weight: 12 pounds (5 kg) or more
No history of previous cancer
No significant other illness that could result in a life span of less than 5 years
No history of previous autoimmune disease
No current treatment with oral or injectable immunosuppressive medications such as prednisone, cyclosporine, mycophenolate, or tacrolimus

THIS TRIAL IS NOW BEGINNING THE PATIENT ENROLLMENT PROCESS.

If you believe your pet meets the study criteria and would like to receive more information, please click the button below to enter your contact details and preliminary information about your dog.

A member of the Oncology team will contact you within a week of your entry to collect further information and schedule an appointment.

Questions? To learn more about this study, please email us: vaccs@vetmed.wisc.edu.

Breeding, Health & Genetics

Gordon Setter Health Clearances before Breeding

January 30, 2015 Sally Gift 6 Comments

As with any question, ask several breeders the same question and you’ll get several different answers. When it comes to acting responsibly as a breeder to bring healthy Gordon Setter puppies into the world it’s agreed that completing certain health clearances on breeding animals before any mating occurs should be a priority. However, ask any breeder which tests are necessary or which certifications are the most important – that could become a topic for debate. For purposes of this article, we are listing the screening tests that address health issues that pertain to the Gordon Setter along with where to obtain or find proof of existing certification. These screening tests are suggested tools that will prepare you to make informed breeding choices that will affect the health of many future generations of Gordon Setters.

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) – screening/certification organizations. Click any of the active links below to be taken directly to that website for complete information.

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
PennHip
Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) (Has been discontinued however certifications from 2007 – 2012 are available in a searchable database.)

Elbow Dysplasia

OFA
OVC (discontinued – certifications from 2007 – 2012 are available in a searchable database.)

Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Opthalmologist:

OFA (Eye Certification Registry Procedures)

RCD4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA Late Onset)

OFA – approved laboratory

Cerebellar Degeneration (CD) ( Cerebellar Cortical Abiotrophy CCA or Cerebellar Ataxia CA)

OFA (Laboratory Form for testing) (OFA form for submitting results)
OFA – Cleared by Parentage Certification replaces the need for testing.

As a breeder it would be also important to understand the role CHIC plays for future genetic research. Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) Please see our previously published article by Jerold S. Bell DVM The CHIC DNA Repository for Gordon Setter for more complete information regarding this organization. Briefly Dr. Bell’s opening stated… “The CHIC DNA repository is a joint project of the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), and the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC). It is open to all breeds of dogs. The stated objectives of the program are to: Facilitate more rapid research progress by expediting the sample collection process; Provide researchers with optimized family groups needed for research; Allow breeders to take advantage of future DNA based disease tests as they become available; and to Foster a team environment between breeders/owners and the research community improving the likelihood of genetic discovery.” Additional Links: GSCA Health Survey 2004 Results

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We are dedicated to building a knowledge base and a sharing site for those who are involved in all of the various aspects of competition with Gordon Setters, competitions that showcase the Gordon Setter’s Beauty, Brains and Bird-Sense.

Gordon Setter Expert

Tag Archives: research

Together we will build a resource

Sally Gift, Mesa AZ

VACCINATION AGAINST CANINE CANCER STUDY

Attention all Gordon Setter owners – our breed is included among those being recruited for this study. If interested, follow the link below to submit your information online.

VACCINATION AGAINST CANINE CANCER STUDY

TO QUALIFY, DOGS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

THIS TRIAL IS NOW BEGINNING THE PATIENT ENROLLMENT PROCESS.

DOGS MUST BE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING BREEDS:

Gordon Setter Health Clearances before Breeding

We are dedicated to building a knowledge base and a sharing site for those who are involved in all of the various aspects of competition with Gordon Setters, competitions that showcase the Gordon Setter’s Beauty, Brains and Bird-Sense.

Sally Gift, Mesa AZ

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Attention all Gordon Setter owners – our breed is included among those being recruited for this study. If interested, follow the link below to submit your information online.

TO QUALIFY, DOGS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

THIS TRIAL IS NOW BEGINNING THE PATIENT ENROLLMENT PROCESS.

DOGS MUST BE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING BREEDS:

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Share this:

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We are dedicated to building a knowledge base and a sharing site for those who are involved in all of the various aspects of competition with Gordon Setters, competitions that showcase the Gordon Setter’s Beauty, Brains and Bird-Sense.