Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Disc calcification and FGF4L2 gene link in dachshunds
By Sullivan, Stacey et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The relationship between radiographic disc calcification score and FGF4L2 genotype in dachshunds.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at the relationship between disc calcification and a specific gene in dachshunds. It found that dachshunds with one copy of the FGF4L2 gene had lower scores for disc calcification, which means they are at a lower risk for disc disease compared to those with two copies. This suggests that breeding dachshunds to have one copy of this gene could help improve spinal health in future generations. The findings highlight the importance of considering both disc calcification scores and genetic factors when selecting breeding dogs.
People also search for: dachshund disc disease symptoms · dachshund breeding health issues · FGF4L2 gene dachshund
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The relationship between radiographic disc calcification score and FGF4L2 genotype has been reported in only a small number of dachshunds. HYPOTHESIS: A genotype with either 0 or 1 FGF4L2 copy will be associated with a lower number of calcified discs (lower K-n) compared with a genotype with 2 FGF4L2 copies. ANIMALS: Dachshunds registered with the Norwegian or Finnish Kennel Clubs for which both K-n and FGF4L2 genotype are known (n = 407). METHODS: Retrospective study (2012-2024). The frequency and percentage of dachshunds within each K-n group (K0, K1/2, K3/4, K5+) by FGF4L2 genotype (FGF4L2/FGF4L2, N/FGF4L2, N/N) were reported. The K-n distribution differences among genotypes were analyzed by the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test in SAS 9.4. Significance was defined as P < .05. RESULTS: A difference in K-n distribution was found between dachshunds that have 0 or 2 FGF4L2 copies. However, no difference was found in the K-n distribution between dachshunds that have 1 or 2 FGF4L2 copies. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Most dachshunds with 1 FGF4L2 copy have radiographic disc calcification scores that are associated with substantially lower risk of symptomatic disc disease. Radiographic disc calcification scores are similar in dachshunds with 0 and 1 FGF4L2 copies. Given the high allele frequency of FGF4L2, breeding to produce progeny with 1 FGF4L2 copy is expected to be a more achievable short-term goal for dachshund spinal health breeding programs than breeding for 0 copies. It is recommended that both K-n and FGF4L2 genotype status be considered when choosing dachshund breeding stock.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39715441/