This was posted on another board and Karyn and has asked me to cross-post here. I'm going to send in Cowboy's and Chester's swabs....it just takes a minute and hope other Newf owners will participate as well. 
Arayo, my heart newfy, was born with an ectopic ureter. What this means is that the tube from one kidney didn't drop into her bladder but emptied into other body parts and she leaked constantly.
Arayo is lucky. She has a breeder with a heart the size of Texas who must have spent a small fortune having the ureter surgically replaced. Then, she entrusted this sweet sweet girl to me because I'd fallen head over heals in love with her the moment she first crawled into my lap and wet all over me.
Most puppies born with this condition aren't so lucky. It is assumed that most ectopic ureter puppies are put to sleep shortly after they are diagnosed. Those that aren't face what I face with Arayo. After surgery, usually ongoing leaking which is controlled with meds IF we are lucky, and
continuous UTI's. I live in constant fear that the meds will take their toll on her and/or stop working altogether and that the infections will one day kill her.
Here's where you can help. Right now a study is underway at UC Davis to try to find the genetic marker which would tell us if a dog carries the gene for the ectopic ureter. It is thought that finding this marker may also help pinpoint which dogs have certain kidney problems which can be fatal.
Funding is available for the initial phase of the research but what they lack is the information from the dogs. In fact, they need swabs taken from as many newfs as they can possibly get. Not only from dogs that have this problem - and they VITALLY need these - but also from those that don't.
So, I'm begging you, for Arayo, for everyone who has loved a newf with this problem and for those who may fall in love with one yet to be born. Please, PLEASE help with this research. There is NO cost to you. All that is
needed is about 5 minutes of your time.
Here's how it works -
Send a quick e-mail to me with your name, mailing address and number of newfs that you own or have access to. I'll forward it to Davis. If you own a dog with this condition, please make note of that as I'm attempting to put a double track on those dogs to make sure we get their results back as they are the most important.
They will send you an envelope with swabs, a prepaid return envelope and a short questionnaire. You run the swab around in your dog's cheek, pop it back in the envelope, complete the questionnaire and put it out in your mailbox for the postman to pick up. If you have 5 dogs and 6 friends with
newfs - he'll send you 11 packages. If you have an upcoming newf club meeting, he'll send you a bunch of packages so all the dogs can be done on the spot!
Remember, they need swabs from every newf out there who has an ectopic ureter. They need swabs from their litter mates and parents (breeders - please help here!) and they need swabs from newfs who may not be showing signs of having or carrying this gene.
PLEASE, let's show the world that the Newfoundland owners want to see this condition wiped out of the breed! PLEASE support this research
BTW - while they are searching for this marker for the ectopic ureters they are also checking for one for Irish spotted and Landseers, as well as for tail carriage which, I understand, might point towards things like mood disorders and temperaments.
Arayo and I thank you!
-- Karyn Carpenter & Arayo
Photographer & Super Model
Newfoundland cards, prints and portraits
www.KarynCarpe nter.com
