The Kennel Club Charitable Trust has recently awarded over £6,000 to assist the department of Veterinary Clinical Science at the University of Liverpool to research the effects of head trauma in dogs.

Head trauma can have a number of long term consequences that impact on quality of life. We know that in humans, one important component of this is the development of hormonal abnormalities as a result of permanent damage to the pituitary gland, the controller of much of the body’s hormone production.

In one recent human study, 50% of patients had at least one pituitary hormone deficiency 12 months after traumatic brain injury (Tanriverdi et al 2006). Dr Peter Smith, specialist in Veterinary Neurology at the University of Liverpool, has recently treated a dog with severe, multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies following head injuries and is concerned that many dogs suffer similar problems, without the underlying problem being identified.

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust is concerned with the health and welfare of dogs and funds a variety of work ranging from supporting research into canine diseases, dog welfare organisations and the promotion of support dogs, all of which give dogs a healthier, happier life.

Dr Smith, in charge of the study at the University of Liverpool said: “Hormone deficiencies are relatively simple problems to treat and can have a dramatic impact on quality of life. Any animal in which an abnormality is identified will be treated appropriately, coordinated with their own veterinary surgeon.

“Thanks to the grant from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, I am able to get the study off the ground and, depending on the results, we hope to undertake a more extensive investigation into the time course over which hormonal abnormalities develop, and into the relationship between trauma severity and the prevalence of abnormalities.”

ENDS

6^th October 2010

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Charitable Trust, Dog Health and DNA 

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