The extent of material covered by this first Georgie report illustrates the vast amount of genetic variation present in Portuguese Water Dogs as well as the wealth of data available from good pedigree and health records compiled with owner-scientist cooperation.  In two years the Georgie Project has brought this data into a computerized format which allows us to access it easily.

We have used this data to determine that the project is feasible and that there are enough cooperative owners to proceed.  We are now in a phase of data collection in which information or materials (DNA and phenotypes) are being collected from owners.  We will analyze these data as we proceed to collect enough material and information for the analysis to be productive.

Our immediate goals in the realm of complex phenotypes and genotypes are to unravel the genetic basis for skeletal functional morphology and for Canine Hip Dysplasia.  However, the project is also involved with simple Portuguese Water Dog genetic diseases:  We have helped the NYU group to speed the process of a DNA test for GM-1, removing uncertain diagnosis; we will supply DNA from deceased dogs for PRA testing by the Cornell group; we ave identified the mode of inheritance for Cardiomyopathy and helped Joe Alroy in his successful search for the basis of the disease.   We are able to carry out risk analyses for all of the simpler genetic diseases in the breed.

Most importantly, the Georgie Project has served as a focus for a renewed attack on Addison's disease.  It has provided some testable genetic models and introduced the concept of Autopsy as a key to the accurate diagnosis of the disease and accurate diagnosis is essential to further progress.

This breed may be genetically predisposed to autoimmune diseases.  Autoimmunity could lie at the root of IBD, of thyroid and adrenal disorders, as well as blood, kidney and liver malfunction.  If this is true, we should take a careful took at vaccination practices and in particular at the frequency of vaccinations and at the nature of the vaccines used.  If a threat of autoimmune disease exists, it seems foolish to provoke the immune system recklessly.