Can anyone please tell me if AF is hereditary? (I'm enquiring for a friend)
Any info would be appreciated

Thanks

Dee

Anal furunculosis appears to have a hereditary componenet, but is probably one of those conditions where the mode of inheritance is complex, and as yet unknown.  Friends that have had dogs with this condition have found that theres are relatives also afflicted.

Hi
I agree with Brainless. They are fairly sure that heredity plays a big part. It also seems to be prevalent in certain breeds, especially GSD's. My GSD had AF and was involved in a drugs trial at the Royal Vet College in Potters Bar, and they were doing a lot of research into AF. 99.9% of the dogs were GSD's. They are still in the dark to a large degree as to the cause, and also to the treatment. The drugs we were trialling worked for my girl, but not for all the dogs. If someone has a dog with AF in their lines, then definitely don't be tempted to breed it/or buy a pup from a dog with AF in its ancestry. It is a horrible disease, and more than one dog on the trial was put to sleep because of it
Kat

Hi, I have seen Af in my mother in-laws long haired GSD and it was a very sad site, she contacted the breeder to ask if anyother of her dogs had had AF and she refused to speak to her. That just tells you the breeder knew that she was breeding GSD's with this terrible disease.Kaun had to be cross over to rainbow bridge at the age of 6 years as he and my mother in-law could not cope anymore also his hips had gone..

Sleep tight Kaun...

Jane...

Thank you for your replies, I will pass this on to my friend.
(Havent been able to reply earlier as my pc broke down and died!)

Thanks

Dee

Aw Jane, that's so very sad. It's a bl**dy awful disease. One of the dogs on the trial at RCVS was pts at 4 years old. Otherwise he was so very healthy, but the disease had ravaged him. So sorry.
Kat

What is AF?
Thanx