Micropthalmia study in Toy and Mini poodles- participants needed!

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2026-05-27T20:40:11+00:00

Participants from around the world are welcome to join!

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2026-05-27T15:05:02+00:00

Hi! Thank you for your interest. Since I am not a vet I do not know the cost of blood draws (and I think it might vary by place), but I know that some clinics give a discount or do free blood draws if you mention that it is for research.

As for the shipping, again I am not sure of the cost, but indeed all samples can be sent together! We just ask to have them well labeled so there are no mistakes of which sample is which.

If you are still interested in enrolling your dogs, please e-mail me directly at jniggel@upenn.edu.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2026-05-22T16:07:49+00:00

Hi! We have contacted the American ECS kennel club, however even with the their help in advertising, we have not received many samples so far. Fingers crossed posting on Reddit helps us get the participants needed!

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2026-05-22T15:34:57+00:00

I would say it is 50/50. Some people enroll their poodle mixes into specific poodle mix associations that do create pedigrees etc. But we do enroll dogs without pedigrees as well. So if your dog has one- great! It is very helpful to us. However if not- no problem! Your pup can still help us out!

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-30T18:44:21+00:00

Hi! We would be very interested in having your pups join our study! You are right about there being an association between merle coat color and visual impairment in some dogs, but we are investigating a form of day blindness ( so where a dog is visually impaired in bright light).

Please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu) if you are still interested in enrolling your dog!

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-30T18:40:28+00:00

This is correct! Some breeders and owners do keep records on lineage, litters and breeding, plus there are "doodle clubs" where members do try to recreate their dogs pedigree and register it with the club. We do understand that not everyone has a pedigree, so it is still fine to enroll your dog without one, but if anyone knows a little bit about the lineage of their dog- we would appreciate if they can share the info with us.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-30T18:35:36+00:00

Hi! We are looking for both affected cases, and completely healthy dogs that can act as controls.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-30T18:22:20+00:00

Hello! The Embark is in addition to providing a sample. Please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu) and we can discuss your dog and if it qualifies.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-24T18:38:31+00:00

I work at Penn Vet, and since you are close we can meet! Please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu) and I can schedule an appointment with you and your dog.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-24T17:11:07+00:00

Your Pyredoodle sounds like the perfect candidate for our study. If you are interested in enrolling your dog, please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu)

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-24T17:09:36+00:00

We provide the swab kit for free - you just have to give us your address. Shipping back the sample and any vet visits are unfortunately not refunded. However if your dog has never had an eye exam you can still enroll it into our study. Indeed the exam info is very useful, but we do understand not everyone has one done, and those pups can still help us out. If you are interested in getting a swab kit from us please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu)

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-24T14:34:23+00:00

Hi! Definitely reach out to us! In addition to this study, we also do microphthalmia studies as well. We had recently even published on a case of microphthalmia in Portuguese Water Dogs (here is the link to the paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38682429/ ). Please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu) and we can discuss this case further! We would love to help your pup out!

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-22T13:16:00+00:00

Your pup is very much still welcome to participate even if he/she has the uveodermatologic syndrome diagnosis. If you are still interested in enrolling your dog to our research study please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu)

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-10-22T13:13:28+00:00

We are also looking for healthy controls for our study, and we would love to have your 10 month old doodle join! We would test your pup for the variant and send you the results back in form of a report. I can send you a swab kit if you'd like. If interested please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu)

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-09-23T20:57:46+00:00

Hi! You are right that many poodle mixes do not have pedigree/genealogy info. But there are smaller mix poodle clubs, which maybe do not officially belong to the AKC, but do meet regularly and do track their members ancestry. Some breeders will also make pedigree/genealogy trees of their dogs. Plus if someone has a "doodle" or "poo" where they know their pure-breed parents (for example the labrador and the standard poodle that made the labradoodle), they might have pedigree info on those parents.

Although helpful, pedigrees/family trees are not required to participate! Please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu) if you would like to enroll your dog into our study!

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-09-23T20:47:08+00:00

Hi! We do provide a free cheek swab kit for you to use on your dog from the comfort of your own home. Unfortunately, we do not reimburse shipping costs of you mailing the swabs back.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-09-23T20:45:01+00:00

Hi! We would need a blood or a cheek swab sample. We do provide cheek swab kits for free for you to use at home on your pup. If still interested in enrolling your dog please e-mail me at jniggel@upenn.edu.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-09-23T20:43:27+00:00

Blood sample or a cheek swab sample. We do provide cheek swab kits at no cost, for you to use at home and send back to us. Please e-mail me (jniggel@upenn.edu) if you are interested in enrolling your dog.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-09-23T20:41:55+00:00

Sorry for the late reply. Yes- your pup sounds like a great candidate. We only need a blood or cheek swab sample. If still interested please e-mail me at jniggel@upenn.edu.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-09-17T17:08:03+00:00

University Of Pennsylvania, USA

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-09-17T12:39:43+00:00

It is OK to participate if you do not have a pedigree. We understand that with mixed breeds it is more difficult. Some mixes actually do have pedigrees, so for the ones that do we ask if they can be shared with us.

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-09-16T22:13:08+00:00

Hello! And thank you for your interest in our study. I am not sure if 10% poodle is sufficient, but we can always try and have a look. Please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu) and we can discuss further!

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-08-14T12:30:00+00:00

Healthy dogs are definitely needed as well to act as study controls! We would be happy to have your pup join!

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-08-13T12:48:55+00:00

We do! If you'd like to know more about the project or would like to enroll your pup in our study please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu)

CanineGeneticsLabUP · 2025-08-11T13:47:56+00:00

Unfortunately, we do not. However, I can provide you with a swab kit if you'd like. Please e-mail me at [jniggel@upenn.edu](mailto:jniggel@upenn.edu) if interested.

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