Quick Summary
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Phenotype: Dogs with this disease fail to reabsorb cystine in their kidneys, thus leading to the formation of crystals in the urinary tract, which result in urinary obstruction, stranguria (difficulty in passing urine) and hematuria (presence of blood in the urine). Affected male dogs typically show signs between 6 and 14 months of age but female dogs tend to develop signs later. Dogs with cystinuria often have frequent episodes of urinary tract inflammation that can lead to kidney failure and death, if not treated.
Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Alleles: N = Normal, C = Cystinuria type I-A
Breeds appropriate for testing: Labrador Retriever
Explanation of Results:
- Dogs with N/N genotype will not have cystinuria type I-A and cannot transmit this cystinuria type I-A variant to their offspring.
- Dogs with N/C genotype will not be affected by cystinuria type I-A, but are carriers. They will transmit this cystinuria type I-A variant to 50% their offspring. Matings between two carriers are predicted to produce 25% cystinuria type I-A-affected puppies.
- Dogs with C/C genotype will have cystinuria type I-A and will transmit this cystinuria type I-A variant to all of their offspring.
Results of this test can be submitted to the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)
Labrador Retriever Health Panel 1
$165 per animal
Labrador Retriever Health Panel 2
$180 per animal
Sample Collection
Dog DNA tests are carried out using cells brushed from your dog's cheeks and gums. The preferred cytology brushes are sent to you by mail, or you may provide your own brushes. For accepted alternative brushes, click here
We recommend waiting until puppies are at least three weeks old before testing.
Step-By-Step:
- Make sure the dog has not had anything to eat or drink for at least 1 hour prior to collecting sample.
- When swabbing puppies, isolate each puppy from the mother, littermates and any shared toys for 1 hour prior to swabbing. Puppies should not have nursed or eaten for 1 hour prior to collecting sample.
- If collecting samples from more than one dog, make sure to sample one dog at a time and wash your hands before swabbing another dog.
- Label brush sleeve with name or ID of dog to be sampled.
- Open brush sleeve by arrow and remove one brush by its handle.
- Place bristle head between the dog’s gums and cheek and press lightly on the outside of the cheek while rubbing or rotating the brush back and forth for 15 seconds.
- Wave the brush in the air for 20 seconds to air dry.
- Insert brush back into sleeve.
- Repeat steps 5 - 8 for each unused brush in sleeve on a fresh area of cheek and gums. Make sure to use and return all brushes sent by the VGL. In most cases, it will be 3 brushes per dog. If using interdental gum brushes, please note that the VGL requires 4 brushes per dog and only moderate or wide interdental gum brushes are accepted.
- Do not seal brushes in sleeve.
- Place all samples in an envelope and return to the address provided.
ATTENTION:
- Do not collect saliva/drool – the key to obtaining a good sample is getting cheek cells on the swab
- Do not rub swab on the dog’s tongue or teeth – this will result in poor quality sample
- Do not collect a sample from a puppy that has recently nursed – the mother’s genetic material can rub off on the puppy’s mouth and contaminate the sample
Cystinuria Type I-A is an inherited metabolic disorder that affects kidney function. Affected dogs fail to reabsorb cystine in their kidneys, which leads to the formation of cystine crystals and uroliths in the urinary tract. Signs of this disease include urinary obstruction, stranguria (difficulty in passing urine), and hematuria (presence of blood in the urine). Obstruction of urine flow is more common and occurs earlier in males because of their urinary tract anatomy. Affected male dogs typically show signs between 6 and 14 months of age while female dogs tend to present these later. Dogs with cystinuria often have frequent episodes of urinary tract inflammation that can lead to kidney failure and death, if not treated.
Cystinuria Type I-A in Labrador Retrievers is caused by a single nucleotide deletion (c.350delG) in exon 1 of the solute carrier family 3, member 1 (SLC3A1) gene. The mode of inheritance for this disease is autosomal recessive, which means that males and females are equally affected and that two copies of the deletion are needed to cause cystinuria type I-A. Screening of a random set of Labradors Retrievers at the VGL determined that the cystinuria type I-A disease allele is rare in this breed, with a frequency less than 1%.
Testing for cystinuria type I-A can assist clinicians, owners, and breeders in identifying affected and carrier dogs. Breeders can use results from the test as a tool for selection of mating pairs to avoid producing affected dogs.
