Vaccination

(The Purdue University Great Dane Health and Vaccine Study has now been concluded. If you would like to view the results of this study, please click on the following links):

Summary of results from the Great Dane Health and Vaccine Study

Full report of results from the Great Dane Health and Vaccine Study

Purdue University Great Dane Health and Vaccine Study
Many Great Dane owners and veterinarians are concerned about the increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases, cancer, and other health problems. One question frequently asked is "Could repeated vaccination be responsible?" To address this concern, we are conducting a study of Great Dane owners whose dogs have different vaccination histories, diet, and so on. This study, conducted by veterinarians at Purdue University and funded by the Great Dane Health Foundation of America and the Hayward Foundation, consists of an owner questionnaire and laboratory tests using a blood sample collected by a veterinarian.

Each participant may enter as many dogs as desired in this survey. A blood sample must be submitted from each participating Great Dane. Eligible dogs must meet all of the following criteria:

1. The dog is currently alive and at least 2 years old (Updated)
2. You have a complete lifetime history for the dog
3. You have a complete medical history for the dog
4. You are willing to have a blood sample taken by you or your veterinarian (Updated)
5. The dog has not been vaccinated in the last 30 days (if it has, you can still participate by waiting 30 days following vaccination)

Active recruitment of Great Dane owners begins on May 1, 2002. The owner questionnaire is available to you at the link
below, along with the cover letter describing the study.

The owner questionnaire is also available to you on the Great Dane Health Foundation's web site: www.gdhfa.org. If you are interested in participating in this study, contact Dr. Malathi Raghavan by telephone at 765-494-2634 or by email at raghavam@purdue.edu for more details.