AWESOME AUSSIES

Many herding dog breeds are afflicted with a mutation of the multi-drug resistance (mdr1) gene. This gene encodes a protein (P-glycoprotein) that is responsible for removing certain drugs and toxins from the brain. Dogs that carry the mdr1 genetic defect cannot rid their brains of the problem drugs. The result is a neurotoxic buildup that can cause abnormal neurological symptoms and/or death.

Breeds known to carry the mdr1 mutation include Australian Shepherds of all sizes, Collies, English Shepherds, Longhaired Whippets, McNabs, Old English Sheepdogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Silken Windhounds. Research has shown that three of every four Collies have at least one copy of the mutated gene.

This also means that if your mixed breed dog has, or you think s/he might have, any of these breeds in its pedigree, you should test your dog and avoid the drugs on the list until you have test results.

There is now a test available to screen for the presence of the mutated mdr1 gene. Test results indicate if the dog carries two, one or no copies of the mutated gene. For further information on the mdr1 genetic mutation and the test, visit the website of the Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine at http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/

From C.A.Sharpe http://www.ashgi. org

I was recently contacted by someone asking whether a dog could have an MDR1

reaction due to eating feces from Ivermectin-treated livestock. I wasn't

sure about that, so I checked with Dr. Katrina Mealy at Washington State

University. Dr. Mealy is the scientist who discovered the MDR1 gene.

She told me that Ivermectin and the related drug, selamectin, were shed in

feces of treated animals in active form. She went on to say that .they have

had a number of reports on dogs that had ingested enough feces to have

serious to fatal MDR1 reactions.

If you have Aussies or dogs of any other MDR1 breed who are prone to poop

eating and may have access to excrement from livestock, it would be wise to

do whatever you can to prevent them from doing so.

Download the MDR1 Vet Fact Sheet/Problem Drug list Problem Drugs

Dogs from affected breeds who carry the mutated gene OR who have not been tested for the mutation should avoid using drugs from the MDR1 Problem Drugs List (see next page). The list is divided into drugs known to cause mdr1 mutation problems and drugs suspected of causing mdr1 mutation problems.

The most commonly prescribed drug on the list is ivermectin, a wormer used in many canine heartworm preventative treatments including Heartguard, Iverhart, Tri-Heart and Advantage DUO. Dogs in the affected breeds should use milbemycin oxide (Interceptor) for heartworm preventative instead of ivermectin as it’s generally considered a safer alternative. Ivermectin can also be found in many livestock wormers (dogs should be kept away during and for several days after livestock worming), and in home and yard insecticides (under the names avermectin or abamectin).

Other frequently used drugs on the list include loperamide for diarrhea (most commonly sold as Imodium); morphine; butorphanol for pain and cough suppression; and acepromazine (prescribed as Ace, ACP, or Atravet) for tranquilizing, calming, and anesthesia use.

These problem drugs are dispensed in many forms including pills, liquids, injections, and ointments. Check ALL drugs you are considering giving your dog against this list if your dog either carries the mutated gene or has not yet been tested for the gene.

BusterAlert.org

Canine MDR1 Mutation

Info Center

MDR1 Problem Drugs List

with North American Brand & Trade Names

Dogs who test as having a mutated mdr1 gene OR dogs from afflicted breeds* who have not been tested for the mutation should avoid these drugs.

Drug names in bold are the generic drugs identified as problems by the scientists from the VCPL at Washington State University. Below each generic drug is a list of some of the synonyms, brand, and trade names for the generic drug provided by BusterAlert.org. More drugs are likely to be added as mdr1 research progresses.

Drugs PROVEN to Cause Neurotoxicity Acepromazine

Ace

Acepro

Aceproject

Acevet

ACP

Atravet

PromAce

Butorphanol

Dolorex

Stadol

Torbugesic

Torbutrol

Torphajet

Cyclosporin

Atopica

Cicloral

Ciclosporin

Cyclosporine

Gengraf

Immulem

Modusik-A

Neoral

Optimmune

Restasis

Sandimmune

SangCya

Supremunn

Digoxin

Digibind

Digitalis

Lanoxicaps

Lanoxin

Mapluxin

Doxorubicin

Adriamycin

Adriblastina

Caelyx

Doxil

Doxolem

Doxotec

Hydroxydaunomycin

Hydroxydoxorubicin

Hydroxyldaunorubicin

Myocet

Oxicina

Rubex Ivermectin

Abamectin

Acarexx

Advantage DUO

Avermectin

Bimectin

BMD/Ivomec

Ecomectin

Equell

Equimax

Equimectrin

Eqvalan

Heartguard

Ivercare

Ivercide

Iverhart

Iver-On

Iversol

Ivexterm

Ivomec

Mectizan

Megamectin

Noromectin

Panomec Phoenectin

Primectin

Privermectin

SparMectin

Stromectol

Tri-Heart

Unimectrin

Virbamec

Zimecterin

Loperamide

Acanol

Acqta

Anti-Diarrheal

   Formula

Cryoperacid

Deroser

Diahalt

Diamode

Diarr-Eze

Diarrhea Relief

Hurplex

Imodium

Imogen

Imperim Kao-Paverin

Lomotil

Lop

Loperacap

Nodiamex

Permidal

Pramidal

Raxamida

Rediarin

Top-Dal

Valfam

Vinblastine

Lemblastine

Velban

Velbe

Vincristine

Citomid

Leurocristine

Oncovin

Vinblax

Vincasar

Vincrex

Vintec Drugs SUSPECTED to Cause Neurotoxicity (research is ongoing)

Domperidone

Motilium

Etoposide

EPEG

Etopophos

Etopos

Toposar

Vepesid

VP-Tec

Mitoxantrone

Formyxan

Mitroxone

Neotalem Novantrone

Morphine

Analfin

Apokyn

Astramorph

Avinza

DepoDur

Doloral

Duralmor

Duramorph

Graten

Infumorph

Kadian

M-Eslon

MOS

MS Contin (MSC)

MSIR

Oramorph

RMS

Roxanol

Statex

Ondansetron

Zofran

Paclitaxel

Abraxane

Asotax Bris Taxol

Onxol

Paclisan

Praxel

Taxol

Quinidine

Biquin

Chinidinum

Cin-Quin

Quinact

Quinaglute

Quinalan

Quinatime

Quinidex

Quinora

Rifampicin

IsonaRif

Rifadin

Rifamate

Rifampin

Rifater

Rimactane

RMS

Rofact

Roxanol