Educational Resources

Herding Breeds and MDR1

What is MDR1? MDR1 stands for Multi Drug Resistance 1 gene that affects Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Collies, Long Haired Whippets, McNab and the Silken Windhound. It is the inability of this gene to remove certain medicines that causes the body to not properly excrete them from the system causing toxicity. Many of these medicines are routine for heatworm and other procedures. 

MDR1 can be deadly, we urge you if you have any of the above breeds to please order and MDR1 test kit from the University of Washington. It could save your dogs life. 

Please visit the University of Washington's Page on MDRI, list of drugs that have been known to cause reactions and how to order our test kit. 

More on MDR1-  http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vcpl/  
How to Order a Test Kit-  https://apps.vetmed.wsu.edu/vcplkitrequests/kitrequest.aspx
Problem Drugs -  http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/drugs.aspx

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Other Valuable Resources:

Australian Shepherd Genetics Institute:  http://www.ashgi.org/

Animal Genetics Testing US https://www.animalgenetics.us/Canine/Canine

Optigen Genetics  http://www.optigen.com_

ASHGI Merle Health page  http://www.ashgi.org/home-page/genetics-info/color/merle-health_