The IWCA
Research Committee invites your participation in a new, long-term study of cardiac health
in the Irish Wolfhound. We believe this study will contribute to an improved understanding
of the cardiac problems known to affect our breed. This study has been designed to cover
the entire lifespan of each dog entered, and will begin at the 2000 IWCA National
Specialty. We need as many IW’s as possible to generate meaningful results. Any
purebred Irish Wolfhound, of any age, is invited to participate in this study. You do
not have to be a club member to participate. Owners may enter dogs at the EKG testing at the specialty show site, or at a regional club specialty where testing is
available. Additionally, IW’s not present at these events may participate in the
study if their owners return a completed entry form along with an EKG (or formal EKG
report) to IWCA Research (address below). A downloadable entry form is available here at
the the IWCA website, or may be obtained at regional IW specialties or from IWCA Research.
After the initial EKG is submitted, owners will be contacted on
an annual basis and asked to submit yearly EKG’s along with brief follow-up
questionnaires. Requests for this information will be mailed each July, and will contain a
stamped, addressed envelope for the owner’s convenience. If there is no reply a
reminder postcard will be sent in six weeks. Those who do not respond will be dropped from
the study. Three groups of dogs will be followed. Group I will consist of dogs with normal
EKG’s and no cardiac symptoms. Group II will include dogs with abnormal EKG’s
but normal echo-cardiograms (if available) and no cardiac symptoms at time of entry into
the study. Group III will be dogs with abnormal EKG’s and abnormal echoes (if
available) and symptoms of cardiac disease at the time of entry into the study. Yearly
reports will be published in Harp & Hound, and the data may also be used in
other publications by participating veterinary cardiologists. Some owners may be asked to
take part in further auxiliary studies conducted by one of the contributing cardiologists.
However, all dogs will be identified only by a number in the study data base. Data
will be entered by clerical workers hired by the IWCA Research Committee.
Please remember that a high percentage of our breed suffers from
cardiac disease. It is important that long-term data be available on as many IW’s as
possible if we are to benefit from improved treatment options and newer diagnostic
methods. The larger the number of entrants, the more meaningful the data, as proven in
studies of human heart failure. New British and German studies of heart disease in
wolfhounds suggest cardiomyopathy is even more widespread then previously believed. Unless
we, the dedicated custodians of the breed, take the time, effort, and expense to provide
the data, our questions will remain unanswered.
Thank you for helping.
IWCA Research
c/o Jane Harris
1312 Professional Blvd.
Suite 200, Evansville, IN 47714
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