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2009 - The AKC Canine Health Foundation National Parent Club Canine Health Conference (NPCCHC)
On October 23-25, 2009 I attended the AKC Canine Health Foundation 2009 National Parent Club Health Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri. This was the seventh conference which is held biannually and was sponsored by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. The purpose of the conference is several-fold. It brings together many of the top researchers in the canine health field to bring the attendees up to speed on their AKC-CHF grant projects. It also allows the various parent club health representatives to catch their vision of the future – future diagnostic tests, future areas of research, and future therapies for canine health issues. On Friday there were several Round Table Discussions focusing on areas such as canine health surveys, the CHIC program, use of genetic tests, fundraising techniques and ideas, etc. We were privileged to have a number of veterinary students from across the country in attendance who received corporate and private scholarships to be there. They attended a special round table session held by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals).
On Saturday the key note speaker set the theme of this year’s conference as “One Health, One Medicine”. This reminded us that the health of humans and animals are intricately linked to each other.
This was further reinforced by the next speaker Dr. Matthew Breen who spoke on “Canine Cancer and Comparative Genomics” and reminded us that there is an 80-90% homology between the human and canine genome. Practically speaking this means research in human diseases will benefit dogs and conversely, research in canine disease will directly benefit human medicine. He also showed how the work on the Canine Genome Project which was completed in 2005 has exponentially increased the advancement of research in genetic disease and the advancement in technology to facilitate this research. In the afternoon there were presentations on new diagnostic and therapeutic investigations in canine neurologic disease and advances in canine cardiac research. The conference finished up Sunday morning with a presentation on the genetic basis of urate bladder stones in Dalmatians and how this research has helped in two other breeds prone to urate stones – the Bulldog and the Black Russian Terrier. In between sessions there were some good meals, entertainment and fellowship with other breed health chairs.
I came away with the following insights:
- The Chinese Shar-Pei is not alone in having genetically-based disease problems.
- While the CSPCA Charitable Trust often funds canine health research in areas that do not
specifically focus on our breed this research does help other breeds and also people. Many of the cancer research projects we helped sponsor have helped the Shar-Pei as demonstrated by the release of Palladia® for canine mast cell cancer.
- We are a part of the canine community and we need to help and support each other.
- We are fortunate to have many dedicated scientists, laboratory workers, doctors, universities, research centers, corporations, dog breed clubs, dog owners and many other benefactors to help us in our goal of having healthier dogs.
- Our money is not wasted. The AKC Canine Health Foundation is very selective in its grant funding and solicits the very best researchers. The CHF requires periodic feedback on the projects it funds to determine if the grant money is being used in the best possible way.
Jeff Vidt, DVM
Here is a copy of a letter by the Heart of America Chinese Shar-Pei Club and the Centennial Chinese Shar-Pei Club requesting financial support for the CSPCA Health Through Education Committee and the Chinese Shar-Pei Charitable Trust. I received permission to put it on my web site in order to bring this need before Shar-Pei owners who are not members of the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America. I know you are concerned about the health needs of our breed as well and will respond appropriately. I thank you in advance for your support:
 Read Letter |
