Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Discovered in the Dachshund)
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a disease of fragile bones and loose joints.
Found in
1 in 5,000 dogs
in our testing
Key Signs
Bones that break easily, Weak teeth, Dentinogenesis imperfecta, Hyperlaxity
Age of Onset
At birth
Present at birth
Inheritance
Autosomal Recessive
For autosomal recessive disorders, dogs with two copies of the variant are at risk of developing the condition. Dogs with one copy of the variant are considered carriers and are usually not at risk of developing the disorder. However, carriers of some complex variants grouped in this category may be associated with a low risk of developing the disorder. Individuals with one or two copies may pass the disorder-associated variant to their puppies if bred.
Likelihood of the Condition
High likelihood
At risk dogs are highly likely to show signs of this disease in their lifetime.
What to Do
Here’s how to care for a dog with OI
Partner with your veterinarian to make a plan regarding your dog’s well-being, including any insights provided through genetic testing. If your pet is at risk or is showing signs of this disorder, then the first step is to speak with your veterinarian.
For Veterinarians
Here’s what a vet needs to know about OI
The clinical signs of osteogenesis imperfecta include pain, factures and lameness due to brittle bones, and weak or underdeveloped, slightly pink teeth. Other possible signs are impaired hearing, dwarfism, and blue tinted sclera. Clinical signs are already visible at a young age. Bones of affected dogs fracture easily, for example during the course of normal puppy play.
Treatment is supportive care and activity restriction to prevent fractures. Affected puppies are typically smaller than littermates and are often euthanized by 3 months of age due to welfare concerns.
For Breeders
Planning to breed a dog with this genetic variant?
There are many responsibilities to consider when breeding dogs. Regardless of test results it is important that your dog is in good general health and that you are in a position to care for the puppies if new responsible owners are not found. For first time or novice breeders, advice can be found at most kennel club websites.
This disease is autosomal recessive meaning that two copies of the mutation are needed for disease signs to occur. A carrier dog with one copy of the OI mutation can be safely bred with a clear dog with no copies of the OI mutation. About half of the puppies will have one copy (carriers) and half will have no copies of the OI mutation. Puppies in a litter which is expected to contain carriers should be tested prior to breeding. Carrier to carrier matings are not advised as the resulting litter may contain affected puppies. Please note: It is possible that disease signs similar to the ones caused by the OI mutation could develop due to a different genetic or clinical cause.
Technical Details
| Gene | SERPINH1 |
|---|---|
| Variant | T>C |
| Chromosome | 21 |
| Coordinate | 23,033,735 |
All coordinates reference CanFam3.1
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References & Credit
Credit to our scientific colleagues:
Drögemüller, C., Becker, D., Brunner, A., Haase, B., Kircher, P., Seeliger, F., … Leeb, T. (2009). A missense mutation in the SERPINH1 gene in Dachshunds with osteogenesis imperfecta. PLoS Genetics, 5(7), 1–9. View the article
