Has anyone any experience of this? When Wispa was about a year old she collapsed after playing retrieving games in the garden with my son - she tends to get over-excited when playing with him anyway. She suddenly became very wobbly on her legs, which then gave way under her once she was back in the house, and she collapsed on the floor panting heavily for several minutes. It was about half an hour to an hour before she was just resting comfortably. This happened on another occasion too. Since then we've been careful to avoid over-excitement and excessive play with her, but when walking at the weekend my family were throwing frisbees for the dogs and again, just as we were nearing the end of the walk, Wispa suddenly became very wobbly, although not with excessive panting this time. We took her to a nearby puddle on the (very muddy) field, where she splashed around and had a drink, then walked her steadily back to the car. She was fine when we got home and has been perfectly normal when playing and walking since then.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse I have seen this in a German Pointer. However, first of all my suggestion would be to take her to the vet to make sure there is no other reason for this wobbling and falling over, just to be on the safe side.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse Yes I think that would be a sensible first move. There's a short article about EIC here - http://totallygundogs.com/raising-awareness-of-exercise-induced-collapse/.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse Have you got copies of her parents health tests? If tests for EIC were done, you might be able to rule this out. Shown on Charlie's documents is the EIC status - mother was a carrier, father clear. So Charlie is either clear or a carrier, but either way cannot suffer himself (both parents need to be carriers for a pup to have EIC). If you don't have copies of the health certificates, you can type the parents' names into the kennel club mate select (if you are in the UK) to check what is held there.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse Thanks very much for the replies. I've just checked her parents' health records on the Kennel Club website, but the only results given are those we checked before we bought her as a puppy: hip & elbow dysplasia, PRA and the Eye Scheme. We were aware that Labradors were at risk from these conditions, but knew nothing about EIC and have never had a dog with these symptoms. I mentioned the previous incidents to the vet when she had her booster last year and was told to monitor and record any future episodes, but she's been fine until now, as we've been careful not to overdo the excitement (it's when my youngest son is here and 'winds her up' that she seems to be at risk!). She will soon be due for her next booster, so I shall ask the vet again, unless an earlier visit would be better. She's completely normal now.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse I have a spaniel who is prone to episodes of wobbliness. With her it is a combination of overheating, extreme excitement in hunting situations, excertion and drop of blood sugar levels. I now feed her a special food which is supposed to have a very even conversion to energy. I also top her up with pemmican bars on hard working days to keep her blood sugar levels on an even keel. It seems to work but careful management is very important. Her condition is not EIC though.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse It is well worth spending $60 on the DNA test for EIC http://www.cvm.umn.edu/vbs/faculty/Mickelson/lab/EIC/retrievereic/home.html At least this way you will get a definite answer as to whether or not your dog is affected by EIC. There is another condition found in labradors which can cause similar collapses, and for which there is not yet any definitive test. But EIC is a far more likely diagnosis and I would definitely recommend you have the test done. Incidentally, in the UK, EIC is found more commonly in dogs from show lines.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse [quote author=paddy link=topic=9276.msg133296#msg133296 date=1419963486] Incidentally, in the UK, EIC is found more commonly in dogs from show lines. [/quote] Er....I'm not sure that's at all true.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9276.msg133300#msg133300 date=1419963782] [quote author=paddy link=topic=9276.msg133296#msg133296 date=1419963486] Incidentally, in the UK, EIC is found more commonly in dogs from show lines. [/quote] Er....I'm not sure that's at all true. [/quote] I'm not saying that EIC is not to be found in UK dogs from working lines - but in this country, the mutant DNM1 gene which is believed to be implicated in EIC, is definitely found mostly in dogs from show lines. In the US however, EIC is mostly found in working dogs - their working dogs are usually descended from British show lines.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse Thanks Paddy, that is certainly news to me. Could you post your references please so I can have a read through the research and sources?
Re: Exercise-induced collapse I think the suggestion of the genetic test is a good one. If it turns out that it is EIC then I would inform the breeder, as it'd mean that two dogs carrying EIC have been bred together and other puppies may be affected. Of course, such a thing should never happen, given the availability of genetic testing which should be routine for all breeding dogs. Thanks for sharing your story, Granca. I know others on here have had to manage this kind of thing as I remember threads about it.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9276.msg133316#msg133316 date=1419965453] Thanks Paddy, that is certainly news to me. Could you post your references please so I can have a read through the research and sources? [/quote] I would not post names on a public forum - this is not about a witch hunt but about the health of the Labrador breed. My own dog, several years ago, was the first UK labrador to be identified as carrying the DNM1 gene, and since then I have researched EIC and EIC lines. It is now an accepted fact among many well-respected persons from the UK labrador world that certain top stud dogs have been catalysts as far as this condition is concerned, and those well-known dogs were mainly show champions (the use of "flavour of the month studs" has a lot to answer for!). Unfortunately many show line breeders have continued to bury heads in the sand and are still reluctant to test for EIC despite the knowledge that EIC exists in their lines. Incidentally, my own dog comes from a mix of show and working lines. You will note that the Health Sub Committee of The Labrador Breed Council quotes "Thought to be more common in show lines at present in the UK" on their list of inherited diseases - http://www.labradorbreedcouncil.co....cs/Inherited tests for the Labrador 2013 upda Granca - I hope you will decide to have the test run - at least that way you will know one way or the other. Laboklin UK also offer the EIC test under licence - I think it is just slightly more expensive than the Uni of Minnesota where EIC was researched and the DNA test developed. If this did turn out to be EIC then at least you would be able to learn how best to prevent collapses.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse These people charge £72.50 http://www.laboklin.co.uk/laboklin/showGeneticTest.jsp?testID=8152 Just found them in an Internet search. Looks like it can be a blood test or mouth swab - this company does a mouth swab: http://www.petdnatest.co.uk/Exercise_Induced_Collapse_EIC_Dog_DNA_Health_Test.html
Re: Exercise-induced collapse I wasn't sure how much Laboklin were charging these days - thank you Oberon for posting the link. It should perhaps be mentioned that Laboklin UK do not run the test themselves - it is simply a postal address and samples are sent off to their head office in Germany for testing.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse Thanks very much for the genetic test links. It would be useful to know whether it is definitely EIC. I know the breeder has used the same stud dog for more than one litter, but I've only met one of Wispa's (same litter) sisters, who doesn't seem to be affected. Wispa is mainly from show lines, but with some working line further back in her pedigree. Somebody at one of the UK universities is doing a study on EIC, as I filled in a questionnaire for both of my dogs a little while ago, through the Kennel Club, I think. My younger lab (from working lines) doesn't show any symptoms, but she paces herself and doesn't throw herself into retrieving as energetically as Wispa does. Her idea of retrieving is just trotting along with her toy, refusing to drop it and letting Wispa do all the work.
Re: Exercise-induced collapse I lost my beloved 'show type' lab Teddy (aged 4 ) to EIC and strove to ensure that our next family addition, Buddy, came with genetic testing. i contacted the Canadian vet in the article cited on Wikipedia for advice and she gave me some useful information. Good luck in your quest for information,
