Dr. Jeff Vidt

With a special interest in the medical problems of the Chinese Shar-Pei

Author: Dr. Vidt

Research

Mast Cell Cancer Research Study

Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, PhD, Broad Institute at MIT and Harvard and Cheryl London, DVM, PhD, Ohio State University are conducting a study on mapping genes associated with canine mast cell tumors. They will be collecting DNA samples of dogs affected with mast cell tumors and older healthy controls (preferably over 8 years of age) from Shar-Pei. Shar-Pei have about a 5-fold increased risk for mast cell cancer and the study hopes to get samples from 100 affected dogs and 100 unaffected dogs. More information, consent forms, sample submission, etc. can be found at www.broad.mit.edu/mammals/dog/sending_samples.html. The costs of sample collection and shipping would...

Research

CALL FOR SAMPLES FROM HEALTHY GERIATRIC SHAR-PEI

Drs. Francesca Puppo, Elaine Remmers and Dan Kastner at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have asked me to put out another request for samples. We need the owners of dogs that are 12 years of age or older and that have NO history of (or even suspicion of) Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF) events or Amyloidosis (i.e. no signs of kidney or liver problems) AND preferably dogs with no known immediate relatives with signs of either FSF or Amyloidosis (parents, siblings or offspring) to send 2 ml of EDTA whole blood to the NIH. As you all well know, the...

Editorial

The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA)

Over the last several years there has been a subtle but aggressive attack on the companion animal fancy in this country by animal rights activists such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and others. These groups have learned confrontation, protests and violence are not the way to help their cause and have enlisted the help of politicians to further their agenda through anti-purebred dog legislation, dog control legislation, dog sterilization legislation and breed specific dog bans. They operate in the name of animal welfare but their purpose is completely...

Editorial

The Attack On The Human-Companion Animal Bond

With the recent discussions on breed specific legislation (BSL) with the Louisville animal control ordinance and the Denver Pit Bull ban as examples dog owners have been forced to come face-to-face with a powerful opponent – the animal rights movement. I haven’t been too concerned when their efforts were directed against laboratories using laboratory animals, the veal calf industry and the foie gras industry but the attack on companion animal owners has crossed a line that has existed for thousands of years – the human-companion animal bond. A good friend of mine, Alice Fix, has written an excellent article which reveals the agenda...

Research

Study To Map the Chinese Shar-Pei Genome

The University of California-Davis has an ongoing study to map the Chinese Shar-Pei genome headed by Dr. Neff. This is a FREE study and requires the cheek swabs from several hundred dogs. Their goal is to study the genetics of “breed-defining traits” in the Shar-Pei and through this to gain more information on the etiology of Familial Shar-Pei Fever. Below is the link to order the free cheek swab kits (4 cheek swabs per dog). You will be provided with directions and forms as well as a FedEx mailing number to use for the return post. Follow the directions and...

Health Issues

Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is an antibody-mediated or complement-mediated cytotoxic destruction of circulating red blood cells (RBCs). The term “hemolytic” refers to the release of hemoglobin from the damaged red blood cells which imparts a reddish color to the normally clear serum. IMHA can be either primary, also known as idiopathic or autoimmune, or secondary. Primary IMHA is the most frequent cause of IMHA in dogs and it is an autoimmune disorder with no recognized underlying cause. IMHA typically affects young adult and middle-aged animals, and is most common in Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, English Springer Spaniels and Old English Sheepdogs....

Frequently Asked Questions

Pigment Changes

Lentigo Lentigo is a genetic cause of hyperpigmentation. In dogs the condition occurs as black spots called lentigines which occur most commonly on the ventrum (underside of the trunk). These appear in mature dogs and can increase in number and size over a period of several months. They have been called “tar spots”, “age spots” or “pigment spots”. These are due to localized increases in the number of melanocytes (pigment cells) and melanosomes (pigment packages within the cells). I usually associate these with dilute pigmentation in Shar-Pei. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation This is the most common form of hyperpigmentation. Dogs typically produce...

Health Issues

BLOAT

This condition is one of the most devastating acute syndromes seen in dogs. It is also known as gastric torsion, gastric dilatation-volvulus, or GDV. Torsion or volvulus refers rotation of the stomach on its mesenteric axis which results in malposition of the stomach obstructing the inlet at the cardia and the outlet at the pylorus. Dilatation refers to stretching the stomach beyond its normal dimensions. In my experience it is not uncommon to see post-anesthetic gastric dilatation without torsion in Shar-Pei. As they recover from anesthesia many have “stormy” recoveries with excessive air swallowing and salivation. Whether these go on...

Research

UPDATE ON DR. AVERY RESEARCH PROJECT AND REQUEST FOR SAMPLES FROM DOGS WITH FSF DURING A FEVER EVENT AS WELL AS IN BETWEEN FSF EPISODES

As part of our CSP Charitable Trust-AKC/CHF funded study, Dr. Anne Avery is looking for blood samples from dogs with FSF (Familial Shar-Pei Fever) at the time they are spiking a fever. Please have your veterinarian obtain 6-10 ml of EDTA whole blood (lavender top tube) and the serum from 3-5 ml blood (red top or serum separator tube) and contact Dr. Avery at (970) 491-1170 to arrange overnight shipment of the samples to: Dr. Anne Avery, Dept. of MIP, 1619 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1619 by overnight express. You will need to provide a signed consent form, the...

Health Issues

Thromboembolism and Splenic Infraction

Thromboembolism is the process of blood clots forming in the cardiovascular system. These can remain stationary or can break loose and travel throughout the blood vessels eventually lodging in smaller capillary beds located in the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys. Worse case scenarios involve clots ending up in the brain and heart which can rapidly lead to life threatening consequences. I have seen a syndrome of thromboembolism in Chinese Shar-Pei especially leading to splenic infarction or thromboembolism. In fact, the only breed I’ve seen this in during the last 26 years have been in Shar-Pei and only those suffering with...