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L2 Hga is a disorder of the nervous system seen in Staffordshire Bull Terriers, it usually occurs between the age of 6 months to a year but can occur later. Symptoms of the condition include; epileptic fits, wobbly gait, stifness as a result of exercise and altered behaviour. What causes the disorder? L2Hga is caused by a muted gene, probably arising from a single dog, but has been inherited and passed on genetically like any other gene throughout the breed. How can L2Hga be eliminated? In order for the disorder to be affected in a dog, they must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent. The Animal Health Trust (AHT) have identified this gene and can test your dog by a blood sample to see if it is either;
AFFECTED - inherited L2Hga gene from both parents and will be develop L2Hga and be affected by the illness.
CARRIER - inherited L2Hga gene from 1 parent will not develop L2Hga but will pass carrier gene onto 50% of its offspring.
CLEAR - inherited 2 normal copies of gene and will not become affected by L2Hga or pass L2Hga onto any of its offspring.
To eliminate the disorder all dogs should be tested making sure not to put carrier dogs to other carrier dogs as approx. 50% of litter will be affected and 50% will be carriers. Carrier dogs can be put to clear dogs and approx. 25% of the litter will be carriers, therefore the whole litter should be tested to see which pups are clear and which are carriers.
To test your dog click on the link above for the AHT Do not buy a pup from untested parents.
HC - hereditary cataract is a condtion of the eye where the dog develops cataracts (cloudness) on both eyes from an early age resulting in complete blindness in the dog by 2-3 years old. What causes HC? Just as L2Hga, HC is caused by passing defective genes from dog to dog and can be prevented by testing your dog at the animal health trust.
The test is done by a blood sample taken at your vets and sent of to the AHT. Results will appear as L2Hga i.e.
AFFECTED - Dog has inherited 2 defective genes from both parents and will develop HC.
CARRIER - Dog has inherited 1 defective gene from 1 of its parents and will pass it onto 50% of its offspring but will not develop HC.
CLEAR - Dog has inherited 2 copies of the normal gene from its parents and will not develop nor pass on HC to offspring.
Again carrier dogs can be put to clear dogs but approx. 25% of the litter will also be carriers. 2 carriers put together will cause half the litter to be affected by HC and half the litter to be carriers so should never be done.
The test costs £63 from the AHT, more info and forms can be found by clicking the link above. If both DNA tests are done at the same time it will only cost you £105
