We Need Your Help

20 years ago the Irish Wolfhound community came together to attempt to eliminate seizures from our breed.  Money was raised, DNA was analyzed.  A paper was published.  The study has been ongoing since then, off and on.  Now we have a chance to make some real progress again.  Dr. Yoshihiko Yu, who spoke at the IWCA National about his work on the SOD-1 gene mutation for degenerative myelopathy in Irish Wolfhounds, has been hired at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Yu has a grant from the Canine Health Foundation to determine the current incidence of seizures in the Irish Wolfhound.  This is a quick survey for ALL US Irish Wolfhounds (born between January 2015 and December 2025) that are currently living, as well as those that are no longer with us.  So far only 70 dogs have responded.  We know there are more of you out there.  Since we are looking for the overall incidence we need dogs that have not had seizures as well as dogs that have had them.

We have a goal of 800 wolfhounds to equal the survey of 20 years ago.  It would be great to have twice that.  Both the IWF and the IWCA are supporting this study through their donor advised funds.  The intent is to continue the work on finding a genetic test for this devastating disease. 

Often, when we participate in these studies, it is only the people who have the problem that fill out the form.  We need all US wolfhounds, regardless of whether or not they have had seizures.  The form takes only minutes to fill out.  
Please give us the numbers we need using the link below: 

https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3El7789dvcCU8tw 

If you have already completed the survey, thank you!

For more information on the study, visit the Canine Health Foundation website.