This Site Chosen By Microsoft As THE Afghan Web Link for Encarta
Saluki Gazelle Hound Database and Breed Information ExchangeSALUKI HEALTH - SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME A letter sent from the UK Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club to Saluki Clubs around the world February 1995 Dear Sir/Madam
Sudden Death Syndrome
About 3 years ago 3 hounds from one litter died at the relatively young age of 4 years old. The deaths occurred suddenly and without warning. The owner of one of the hounds is a member of our committee and when she heard of the other two deaths she considered the matter to be so serious that she brought it to the attention of the committee. A sub-committee was set up to look into the problem.
This sub-committee included Christopher Lewis B.Vet.Med. Cert.SHP. MRCVS who is a veterinarian in our breed. He works for The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Veterinary Investigations Centre and was well placed to set up a programme of investigation into the matter. To further the investigations Christopher Lewis prepared a questionnaire to be completed by those unfortunate enough to suddenly loose a hound up to 6 years old. He also listed the detailed requirements for a post mortem so that a veterinarian would know precisely what was required for investigation. A copy of these documents and other publications to our members is enclosed for your information.
The problem of Sudden Death is not unique to Salukis as a breed, it occurs in other breeds and species. In the past a number of people have tried to investigate health problems in the breed with varying degrees of success but in the main have come up against a general apathy. In some ways this is a natural defensive reaction. No one wants to be accused of breeding defective animals, there is a closing of ranks and a tendency to point fingers at others.
We consider that this matter is potentially such a serious problem that something has to be done for the benefit of the Saluki as a breed and that the breeders personal ambitions should take second place to the welfare of the breed as a whole. Whilst we have identified the problem in this country we have learnt that the same or a similar problem is occurring elsewhere in the world and therefore we wish to enlist your support and those of every other Club around the world in investigating the problem of Sudden Death.
The main problem to start with is that we do not know what the problem is in the first place. Many hypotheses have been put forward but none can positively point us in any one direction. We are swimming around in the dark and the only positive action we can take is to gather data. Unfortunately in order to investigate trends we do need alot of data, a handful of cases is insufficient
You will see from the information obtained from the one thorough post-mortem investigation that has been carried out that Nodular Endocarditis was adjudged to be the cause of death. Another hound appeared to be perfectly normal at 2.00 am when the owners returned home and had had her usual exercise that day, but when they came down in the morning she was curled up in her chair as if asleep but unfortunately she was dead, the cause of her death was put down to E Coli Septicaemia How the infection occurred in the first place is unknown, it has been suggested that it could have occurred at birth via the navel with the streptococcus infection from the bedding material in the whelping box or the use of infected materials when the navel cord been cut by human intervention, hands, scissors or tying material.
There appears to be no simple answer to this problem but of course breeders are alarmed at the implications and would like quick answers. We anticipate that it will take some time to gather enough information to even get near an answer as to the cause or causes of this problem. At the moment we have very little evidence to indicate what the problem is, or even what direction we should be looking. We need facts to form a data bank of information to see if there is any common strand that runs through the cases that have occurred. We are therefore writing to you and all Saluki Clubs around the world to enlist your support and through you the members of your Club, in the search for information that may have a bearing on the problem.
We are prepared to co-ordinate the gathering of any information that can be offered and we would gladly welcome help from anyone who has also looked into this or potentially related problems. In the United Kingdom all information is dealt with in the strictest confidence with only Christopher Lewis having access to the technical data from the post-mortems and the names of the hound, owner and or breeder. At present we keep our members informed from time to time as information comes available via the media of our Newsletters. In the same way we would circulate to all Clubs around the world any information that comes to us in a factual and unbiased manner.
We hope that this letter and the information supplied with it will be of use to you and your members and that you can join with us in our endeavour understand the problem of Sudden Death for the benefit of the Saluki as a breed.
Any correspondence should be sent to
Peter Yardley, 81 St Marks Road, Hanwell, London. W7 2PN, England. Thank you, Yours sincerelyClick here to return to SD MAIN MENU (Link to Afghan Hound Site)