Cypher's Health Stats Update

Good news received today, Cypher’s TNS test results came through on the email. Turns out he’s clear and not a carrier, so that’s good to know. TNS stands for Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome and it is a fatal disease for those affected. Now the test is available breeders will be able to start to eliminate the disease from their lines as it can cause much heartbreak. The following is an extract taken from the Border Collie Health website
"TNS stands for Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome, an hereditary disease where the bone marrow produces neutrophils (white cells) but is unable to effectively release them into the bloodstream. Affected puppies have an impaired immune system and will eventually die from infections they cannot fight. Once thought to be rare, it is now believed that the disease goes undiagnosed for several reasons. First, not very many veterinarians know about the disease to look for it. Second, even when looking, blood counts do not always show lower than normal neutrophil (white blood cell) counts. Finally, because it is an autoimmune-deficiency disease, young puppies present a variety of symptoms depending upon what infections they fall prone to. Thus many cases are not properly diagnosed and have just been thought to be "fading puppies". Making the diagnosis even more difficult is the fact that age of onset varies depending on which infection is involved at the time. Most puppies become ill before leaving the breeder but some do not have symptoms until later. The oldest known survivor was 2 years 8 months. Most affected puppies die or are euthanized by about 4 months of age. TNS cases have been identified in New Zealand, Australia, United States and Great Britain. The most recent case positively diagnosed as TNS was born in the US, but the pedigree contained lines from the US, NZ, Australia and Great Britain. Research now suggests that the gene is widespread throughout the Border Collie breed. It is autosomal recessive, which means that both parents have to be carriers to produce an affected puppy. "
To read more about TNS click on this link.
So it was good news to read his results...so far his health tests have all come back positively: Hips 1:4 - Elbows 0:0, DNA CEA/CH - Clear/Normal, CL - Clear/Normal and now TNS - Clear/Normal. This is good to know for any future puppy plans!