Pituitary-Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism (Poodles Type)
Affected Genes: CRHR1
Inheritance: Complex Inheritance
Variant(canFam6):
chr9:10571348: G>A
Breed: Poodle
General Information: Pituitary-Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism (Poodles Type) is an inherited disorder in dogs characterized by the overproduction of cortisol due to a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. This condition, also known as Cushing's disease, leads to a range of symptoms including increased thirst and urination, excessive panting, increased appetite, weight gain, lethargy, thinning of the skin, hair loss, and a pot-bellied appearance. Dogs with two copies of the associated mutation in the specific gene are predisposed to this condition, which typically manifests in middle-aged to older dogs. If left untreated, the chronic excess of cortisol can lead to serious health complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney damage.
How to Read Your Dog's Test Results for this Genetic Variant:
Two Variants Detected: Dog Likely Affected
One Variant Detected: Dog Unlikely Affected
No Variants Detected: No Effect
Gene / Testing Information: Genetic testing of the specific gene associated with Pituitary-Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism (Poodles Type) can determine if a dog is a carrier of this condition. This condition is inherited in an Autosomal Recessive manner, meaning that dogs must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent, to develop the disease. Carrier dogs, possessing only one copy of the mutation, typically do not show symptoms but can pass the gene to their offspring. When two carriers are bred, each pup has a 25% chance of developing the disease and a 50% chance of being a carrier. Reliable genetic testing is crucial for informed breeding practices to eliminate this mutation from breeding lines, and breeding two carriers together is not recommended to avoid producing affected pups. Dogs that are not carriers have no increased risk of having affected offspring.
References:
De-Marco,VI Carvalho LR, Guzzo MF, Oliveira PSL, Gomes LG, and MendoncaI BB. An activating mutation in the CRHR1 gene is rarely associated with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in poodles. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2017 72(9): 575–581.