The Canine Genetics Centre team never gives up – an update on our Wobbly Welshies research

In November of 2024 we shared details of research that the Canine Genetics Centre had started, in collaboration with dog breeders and clinicians in Australia, to identify the genetic cause of an apparently novel inherited neurological disorder in Welsh Springer Spaniels. Continue reading

The Canine Genetic Centre investigates reports of sudden death in young Labradors

Geneticists from the Canine Genetics Centre, along with veterinary cardiologists and neurologists from the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital, are becoming increasingly concerned by reports of sudden, unexpected deaths in young Labrador Retrievers – often occurring during rest or sleep – in dogs that appeared otherwise healthy. Continue reading

Collaboration across the world to identify genetic cause for wobbly puppies

Our team at the Canine Genetics Centre are often contacted to collaborate with veterinary professionals and owners from around the world when it comes to challenging canine genetic problems. We recently received a communication from a Welsh Springer Spaniel breeder from Australia asking for our expertise regarding two wobbly puppies out of one litter of nine. Continue reading

CGC and veterinary hospital team up for innovative investigations

The two main specialist areas of focus for our work in the Canine Genetics Centre (CGC) are ophthalmology and neurology. For this week’s newsletter, Dr Sally Ricketts, Senior Research Associate, tells us about how the CGC joins forces with the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH) to enhance our research into these conditions. Continue reading

Canine Genetics Centre researchers collaborate with specialist veterinary neurologist to identify genetic cause of dog’s illness.

Most of the researchers who work in the Canine Genetics Centre (CGC) are geneticists and we regularly collaborate with colleagues from the veterinary profession to ensure that we fully understand the diseases that we investigate, and that the dogs we include in our investigations have been robustly diagnosed. Continue reading

Introducing Bruno Lopes – PhD student based in the Canine Genetics Centre

We would like to introduce you to Bruno Lopes. Bruno is a veterinary neurologist, from Southfields Veterinary Specialists, who has recently started studying for a PhD on a part-time basis at Cambridge University Vet School. Bruno, who will be based within the Canine Genetics Centre, will be investigating the genetics of intervertebral disc diseases in several breeds of dog, the aim being to improve our understanding of the genetics of this complex, debilitating disease that affects some of the UK’s most popular breeds. Continue reading