Working to facilitate clinician diagnosis, treatment and control of hereditary diseases and genetic predispositions in dogs and cats, thereby improving the health of patients now and in future generations
h3
Many of the characteristic breed traits and genetic diseases and predispositions seen in veterinary practice today have a heritable basis so the ability to diagnose and manage hereditary disease plays an ever more important role in veterinary medicine. However, with more than 900 hereditary diseases and genetic predispositions recognized in dogs and a further 200 in cats, it can be difficult for clinicians to keep up with rapid advancements in clinical genetics and testing and the latest information on treatment and control.
The WSAVA HDC aims to support veterinarians and improve the health of dogs and cats by:
- Maintaining a database of hereditary diseases, genetic predispositions and other genetic traits
- Providing clinical information, tools and resources for veterinarians
- Offering continuing education on practical and novel clinical genetic aspects at WSAVA World Congress and other global events.
The HDC is chaired by Dr Jerold Bell, a globally-recognized clinical genetics consultant and lecturer. He owns a practice in Connecticut, USA, and is Adjunct Professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. He says: “Many of the characteristic breed traits, diseases and predispositions we see daily in practice are recognized to have a heritable basis. The HDC works to support veterinarians around the world by providing educational resources to help reduce the incidence of genetic disease and to identify and treat it in affected animals.”
Read the HDC’s recent Position Statement regarding the Norwegian Court Ban against the breeding of English Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
large
Left to right: Dr Cathryn Mellersh, Dr Jerold Bell, Dr Åke Hedhammar, Dr Monique Megens, Dr Susan Little and Dr Claire Wade. Not pictured: Dr Helle Friis Proschowsky and Dr Leslie Lyons
The work of the WSAVA HDC is generously supported by the 
, the WSAVA’s Diamond Partner. We are very grateful for its support.