The Goal of the Health Research Committee

To identify the types and prevalence of health problems affecting the Irish Wolfhound, and to initiate, support and provide funding for study and research projects which address them.

To produce, publish, and distribute to IW owners and veterinary health care providers educational materials relating to diseases, genetic anomalies, and injuries which occur in the Irish Wolfhound.

To further the understanding of Irish Wolfhound health issues, thereby improving the quality of life for Irish Wolfhounds and their owners.

IWF Research Committee Members

Mariellen Dentino, MD, Chairman
Janice M. Bright, BSN, MS, DVM, DACVIM 
Margret Casal, Dr. Med Vet, Ph.D., Diplomate EUCAR
Robert N. Hoover, MD, PhD 
Nathaniel B. Sutter, PhD
Alice Timmerman, DVM 
William D. Tyrrell Jr., DVM, DACVIM 
Kathy Wilson, Research Coordinator

The following studies are supported in whole or in part by the Irish Wolfhound Foundation.

Blood Collection for Research - The Irish Wolfhound DNA Bank

With the assistance of the Ostrander Canine Genomics Lab at the National Institutes of Health, we are banking blood from all Irish Wolfhounds enrolled in the Lifetime Cardiac Study.

In addition, Irish Wolfhounds diagnosed with osteosarcoma, or wolfhounds eight years of age and older with no history of any cancer, are also requested to donate blood for osteosarcoma research. Blood samples will be collected at many of the upcoming specialties where Lifetime Cardiac Study testing is offered, the first of which is the Potomac Valley Irish Wolfhound Club Specialty, on Sunday, April 3, in Annapolis, Maryland .

If you are unable to attend an IW event where we are collecting blood, you can download the blood submission form on this website. Either your vet can supply the yellow-top or purple-top tubes required, or we can mail you tubes upon request. If you need help with forms, or require tubes or mailers, please send an email to IWPAW@VERIZON.NET with your request.

The Irish Wolfhound Osteosarcoma Treatment Study: Alendronate (Fosamax) for Palliative Treatment of Irish Wolfhound Osteosarcoma.

Approximately 25% of IWs die from osteosarcoma. This cancer is aggressive and painful and life expectancy without treatment varies from a few weeks to 3-6 months. Therapy is often very difficult for an IW.

In 2000 after an article was published documenting the success of Fosomax(alendronate) as use for palliative therapy for osteosarcoma in two dogs, the Irish Wolfhound Foundation sponsored a study with Dr. William Dernell, veterinary oncologist from Colorado State University. Dr. Dernell is reviewing the data from the thirty dogs who participated, and will submit a paper outlining his conclusions for publication in the veterinary literature within the year.

This study is closed; however, Karen Malone has a form for people whose dogs have bone cancer to fill out, and she is still fielding inquiries about using Fosamax.  Owners wishing to try Fosomax to help hounds with osteosarcoma can contact Karen Malone at IWPAW@VERIZON.NET for additional information on use of this therapy and the most cost-effective ways to obtain it.

The Irish Wolfhound Lifetime Cardiac Study

A landmark study following 1,000 Irish Wolfhounds. This study has been ongoing since April of 2000. There is a high incidence (over 30% of all wolfhounds has some abnormality by age 6) of unique cardiac problems in the Irish Wolfhound.

This study is designed to identify warnings of early cardiac disease. It will follow the course of cardiac problems in individual dogs to gain insights into the course and prognosis of cardiac disease in the Irish Wolfhound.

The health questionnaire returned yearly for each dog in the study also provides information on longevity and other health concerns for the breed. This study involves 5 veterinary cardiologists to interpret the EKGs and data.

This study requires a large number of dogs to participate for their entire life-time but will provide the framework for future investigations into heart disease in our breed.

An Evaluation of Heart Rate in Irish Wolfhounds with Lone Atrial Fibrillation with Assessment of Digoxin as a Sole Means of Providing Heart Rate Control.

When an Irish Wolfhound is diagnosed with atrial fibrillation the usual treatment for dogs with EKG heart rates greater than 150 is digoxin. This has not been effective in people for heart rate control with activity. This drug also has the possibility of multiple side effects.

This study is designed to see if digoxin is an appropriate therapy for Irish Wolfhounds with atrial fibrillation and no other heart disease.

The principal investigator is Dr. Jan Bright,veterinary cardiologist from Colorado State Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Standard Electrocardiograhic Examination Versus Holter Examination in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation in The Irish Wolfhound

Decisions to initiate or change therapy for heart rate control are usually based on heart rate shown in the standard electrocardiogram. This study will investigate the correlation between a standard electrocardiogram and the hourly rates from the 24 hour EKG holter monitor recording. Data will help determine therapy in Irish Wolfhounds with atrial fibrillation.

Dr. Sarah Zimmerman is the principal investigator and is working with Dr. Janice M. Bright on this study. A total of 40 dogs in atrial fibrillation are needed to complete this study.

Changes in Hormonal Measurements in Irish Wolfhounds with Atrial Fibrillation

Racial variation in humans help determine when detrimental hormonal elevations begin in atrial fibrillation. There are surely breed differences. Therapy to prevent/treat heart failure is optimized when treatment is started in a timely fashion. This study will determine levels of these hormones in normal IWs. These levels will be compared to those in dogs with atrial fibrillation with normal echocardiograms and abnormal echocardiograms. This will provide unique and breed specific data to guide the timing of therapy in IWs with atrial fibrillation.

Dr. Dan Hogan and Dr. Henry Green veterinary cardiologists from Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital are principal investigators for this study.

Clinical and Immunological Outcomes in Dogs with Osteosarcoma Treated with Intratumoral Interleukin-12 Microspheres.

Dogs who undergo amputation and chemotherapy often have extended lives but 99% of these dogs develop metastatic disease. This study investigates a novel way to possibly delay the onset of metastatic disease. The Irish Wolfhound Foundation has pledged $3000 in financial support for this study. This study will involve all breeds and is sponsored by the Canine Health Foundation.

Dr. Stuart Helfrand from the Universuty of Wisconsin Veterinary Teaching Hospital is the principal investigator.

The Pathology of Irish Wolfhound Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Irish Wolfhounds have a high incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition which frequently leads to congestive heart failure and early death. Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, occurs when the heart enlarges and the muscle weakens and beats less strongly. It is usually asymptomatic until the disease is quite advanced.

Although the pathology of cardiomyopathy in the Doberman and Boxer breeds has been studied, the microscopic pathology of Irish Wolfhound DCM has not been well-documented. Dr. Neil Harpster, veterinary cardiologist at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA, reported on the pathology of a small number of IWs with atrial fibrillation, but the nature of the gross and microscopic lesions of IW DCM is unresolved.

The Irish Wolfhound Foundation is now funding a study to examine these lesions in wolfhounds with DCM. Knowledge of the histopatholgic features of this disease may assist in formulating treatment strategies.

Dr. Philip R. Fox, veterinary cardiologist from the Animal Medican Center, New York, is principal investigator. Co-investigator is Gaetano Thiene, M.D., from the University of Padua in Italy. Knowledge of the histopatholgic features of this disease may assist in formulating treatment strategies.

*Donors Needed for this Study*

In order to further his investigation into this disease, Dr. Fox needs actual wolfhound hearts to study. Although it may be difficult and upsetting to think about while your wolfhound is still alive, the best results can be achieved by contacting Dr. Fox before your hound dies so he can contact your veterinarian and establish the proper protocols. To fit study criteria, wolfhounds must have either an echocardiogram showing decreased left ventricular function, or a clinical history along with a chest film showing pleural fluid. Heart failure does not need to be the cause of death of the hound. Your wolfhound may have received any medication prior to his death, as long as a record of these medications can be provided.

If you feel you can donate the heart from an IW with DCM, please contact Dr. Fox directly at philip.fox@amcny.org or Dr. Mariellen Dentino at mdwolfhound@aol.com for further information.

 Funding approved by the IWF Board will provide up to $200 per dog for the preservation of the heart and its shipment to Dr. Fox in New York.