Cardiac Laminopathy (CLAM) in the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Cardiac Laminopathy (CLAM) is caused by a deletion in a single gene. The condition appears to be inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that two copies of the CLAM variant are needed for the disease to be expressed. Affected dogs are homozygous for the variant and present with sudden death associated with dilated cardiomyopathy. No treatment is available at this time and the condition is typically lethal in young adult dogs. Affected dogs studied to date experienced sudden death by 1.5 years of age.  This research is not yet published, however the genetic variant causing this disease was recently discovered by Dr. Bannasch here at UC Davis in the School of Veterinary Medicine and she has shared this finding with the VGL pre-publication so that we can more rapidly offer genetic testing to toller breeders as soon as discoveries are made. The VGL will update this website when more information is available.

Testing recommendations: DNA testing for cardiac laminopathy can determine the genetic status of dogs. Dogs with one copy of the CLAM variant are normal but are carriers. Matings between two carrier dogs may, on average, produce 25% of puppies with cardiac laminopathy, which is a lethal condition in young adult dogs.