The Great Pyrenees Club of America welcomes you to our Health Website.
This site is designed to help bring current information to GPCA Members, owners of Great Pyrenees, and to those who wish to learn more about Great Pyrenees. There are many points within this site that will direct you or link you to other websites. On those sites you may find ads for products and services. Please be aware that a link to another site for information contained therein does not constitute an endorsement by GPCA of those products or services.
COVID-19 INFORMATION
follow the links below from Canine Health Foundation (CHF)
Information for Dog Owners: COVID-19
Top Health Concerns and Infectious Disease Information
New updates October 2021
The GPCA Health Committee would like to offer clarification regarding the test for dwarfism in Great Pyrenees. There is apparently some confusion about the labs that are able to conduct the test. Currently there is only one lab that can definitively let you know if your dog is affected, a carrier or cleared for this defect. This test is offered through the University of Minnesota. If anyone is testing for dwarfism through one of the big testing sites, the results will not give you the information that you seek. There are many forms of dwarfism in canines and some of the big labs can test for them. However they are not able to test for the specific change in the genetic code that produces dwarfism in Great Pyrenees.
The test can be found at the following address: Great Pyrenees Health Panel, College of Veterinary Medicine-University of Minnesota (umn.edu).
Peggy Watson and Flo Laicher
GPCA Funded Project – Dwarfism Marker 2020 Final Report 
New updates July 2020
2020 Champion of Health
Canine Health Foundation Research Updates
We have received progress reports on a number of the projects that we are supporting. These reports take up considerable print space in the Bulletin. Since we now have the website update continuing, the reports will be posted as PDFs under the section on GPCA Grants, Funded Research and Studies, reports.
PDF Documents
The documents marked on this site are PDF files. You will need a suitable reader to view them. Don't have one? Click on the link to the right to download free Adobe Reader.
Special Gratitude to Our Donors
On behalf of the GPCA Health Committee we acknowledge our members and friends who have been so generous in their donations. We have dedicated a special section to express our gratitude in assisting us in maintaining the health of our beloved breed.
Postings
- Neuronal Degeneration (NDG) Swab Collection: To request a Test Kit or have questions please contact Sue Blevens at NDG.Kit2Go@gmail.com or call/text 781-771-2022. For additional information on NDG
https://vetmed.umn.edu/research/labs/canine-genetics-lab/genetic-testing/neuronal-degeneration
- Up date to the Health Awards Award Recipients
- Up date to National Seminar and Health Clinic page National Clinic and Seminar Page
Other News in Canine Health
The FDA has some useful information on purchasing your pet medicines online.
There is also a new pain medication for your pet. If your dog or other companion animal has had trouble taking the standard pain meds available, or if you would like to consider another approach to pain control, there is a new pain control product based on ancient Chinese medicine. It is derived from a snake venom.
Don't forget to check the Genome Barks Podcasts for the latest news in canine health issues.
At your next vet visit ask about new canine flu vaccines. You and your pet both need a flu shot every year!
Up-to-date information on pet food recalls, new drugs approved for veterinary medicine or links to pet health research and other resources from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Please check this important info on flea & tick control products from the EPA.