Together we make the difference in the fight against Polymyositis in the Kooikerhondje!

The Expertise Centre for Veterinary Genetics has successfully completed the research into polymyositis in the Dutch Kooikerhondje, thanks to the contributions of the donors of Friends of Veterinary Medicine Research.

The long-running study into polymyositis in the Dutch Kooikerhondje has been successfully concluded. This fatal disease causes inflammation in the muscles, preventing Kooikerhondjes from walking and swallowing properly. The disease has a progressive course and is always fatal.

Neurologist and specialist Dr. Paul Mandigers examined the first Kooikerhondje with these symptoms and initiated research into the genetic background together with geneticist Dr. Peter Leegwater. Drs. Yvet Opmeer obtained her PhD on 10 February based on the research into polymyositis in the Dutch Kooikerhondje.Thanks to this important research, breeders can now make use of DNA tests and targeted breeding programs, such as Fit2Breed, to prevent the risk of polymyositis in future generations of Kooikerhondjes. 

With these objectives achieved, the research is now formally concluded.Thanks to the support of Farm Food, contributions from the breed clubs, and individual donors via Friends of Veterinary Medicine, it was possible to carry out this research successfully.

This would not have been possible without the support of the many lovers of this breed, for which, on behalf of the research team as well, our sincere thanks!