The Rising Storm: What Breeders Need to Know About the Immune System

Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics Institute: Article: The Rising Storm: What Breeders Need to Know About the Immune System

excerpt:

"It is up to us.
The storm is upon us and will not soon dissipate. Due to the complex nature of immune-mediated disease, its total eradication is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Potential impact on breed health is great. Even though we lack the ability to eliminate this kind of disease, damage control must be instituted. We can shelter our dogs from this rising storm if we commit to working in cooperation with fellow breeders to make that reduction a priority. While no breeder can guarantee he will not produce a dog affected with immune-mediated disease, with good record keeping, diligence and foresight the risk of producing these costly, potentially devastating, and sometimes-fatal diseases can be significantly reduced."