Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 3rd December 2014
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Lafora DNA testing to become ABS requirement
Dachshund
Lafora DNA testing will be an assured breeder scheme requirement for miniature wirehaired dachshunds from 2015.

Changes come into effect from January 2015

Lafora DNA testing will be an assured breeder scheme requirement for miniature wirehaired dachshunds from 2015, the Dachshund Breed Council has announced.

The change is effective from January 1, 2015 and Assured Breeders have a period of grace of six months in order to come into line with these new requirements and/or recommendations.

The Dachshund Breed Council say that there is now "no excuse for ANY breeder to say 'its not a big problem and the test is just recommendation'".

The Kennel Club are expected to announce full details of the changes shortly.

The Lafora Screening Test analysed the latest set of litter registrations from the Kennel Club's Breed Records Supplement.

In the Autumn 2014 quarter, 67 per cent of litters bred were "safe" (i.e. will not contain affected puppies). The Dachshund Breed Council's probability model suggests that, of the 184 puppies born in the quarter, five can be expected to have Lafora's disease.

The model predicts that 45 affected puppies will have been bred in the last two years by people either not using the available test, or mating unsafe combinations of tested and untested dogs.

Image (C) Dachshund Breed Council

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.