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

Breeds Serviced

  • Arabian

  • Arab cross bred

Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS)

Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) is an inherited lethal neurologic disorder known to affect Arabian foals and named for its characteristic expression of a dilute coat color. LFS is a recessive genetic disorder where newborn foals have problems standing, often after a difficult birth. Clinicial signs include seizure-like limb rigidity, hyperextension of the head, neck and spine (opisthotonus) and involuntary movement of the eyeballs (nystagmus). All affected foals are usually euthanized within days after birth. VetGen has licensed the direct DNA test for detecting LFS from Cornell University.

Testing is easy and highly accurate, and can be performed at any point in time in the life of the animal with pulled hair, whole blood, in EDTA or bristle style cheek swaps. Any of these sample types will work for SCID, CA & LFS. The cost of testing is a small fraction of the value invested in the animal. There is no reason to gamble on fate. All breeding animals need to be tested to avoid major losses and heartache to the humans and to prevent morbidity in the animals.

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