VetGen - The leader in veterinary genetic disease research and genetic disease detection services for purebred animals

Breeds Serviced

  • Australian Cattle Dog
  • Australian Labradoodle
  • Bulldog
  • English Bulldog
  • English Mastiff
  • French Bulldog
  • Labradoodle
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Landseer
  • Mastiff
  • Miniature Pinscher
  • Newfoundland

Cystinuria

Cystinuria in dogs is indicated by the presence of cystine stones in the kidney, bladder or ureter. Failure by the kidneys to reabsorb amino acids results in the formation of cystine crystals and sometimes stones in the urine which can lead to blockage of the urethra. While the disease is not genetically sex-linked, it is diagnosed in male dogs more frequently than females due to anatomical differences. We offer a tests based on the research done at the University of Pennsylvania which identified mutations responsible for cystinuria in several breeds.

Type I Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disease thus an animal affected with the disease has inherited one copy of the mutation from each parent. Inheriting only one copy from either parent yields carrier status. The disease is not present but the animal must be bred carefully to prevent creating affected offspring.



Clear

The disease in not present in your dog. When used for breeding, a Clear dog will not pass on the disease gene.

Carrier

One copy of the disease gene is present in your dog, but it will not exhibit disease symptoms. Carriers will not have related medical problems, but will pass on the disease gene 50% of the time.

Affected

This finding indicates that two copies of the disease gene are present in the dog. Unfortunately, the dog will be medically affected by the disease.


Breeds with recessive (Type I) Cystinuria

  • Newfoundland and Landseer
  • Labrador Retriever

Type II Cystinuria is an autosomal dominant disease which means there are no carriers. An animal will either test as clear, heterozygous affected (one copy), or homozygous affected (two copies). Homozgous affected animals tend to show symptoms earlier in life than those with a single copy of the mutation.

Breeds with dominant (Type II) Cystinuria

  • Australian Cattle Dog
  • Miniature Pinscher

Type III Cystinuria was formerly known as non-Type I Cystinuria. It is found in Mastiffs and related breeds. This disease is somewhat more complicated than the other types. It seems to only be expressed in intact, adult males. There is no causative mutation identified, but there is a linked marker available that identifies risk alleles in most lines.

Breeds with Type III Cystinuria

  • Bulldog
  • English Bulldog
  • English Mastiff
  • French Bulldog
  • Mastiff