Comparative Genetics and Orthopaedic Laboratory at UW Veterinary Medicine

09/28/2026

Exciting news! Just Labs Magazine featured our Dr. Sample in their Sept/Oct 2026 issue, discussing the latest on her LarPar research.

09/18/2026

🐾 Calling all Labrador owners! 🐾
Want to find out your dog's risk of Cruciate Ligament rupture (CCL) before it happens? We're running our Cruciate Rupture Risk Prediction Test and need 9 more samples to fill our current batch of 24, so if you've been thinking about it, now's the perfect time!
This test is open to Purebred Labrador Retrievers of any age. Choose between an at-home saliva kit or, if you're local to UW Madison, an in-person appointment.
Fill out this form to get started: https://forms.gle/mfxZKEyJFmk77C9q6
(One form per dog, if you're testing multiple dogs, please submit it once for each one!)
Cost is $250/test (or $225/test if testing more than 5 dogs), billed once results are ready.
We're hoping to fill this batch soon, so if you're interested, now's the time! Reach out with any questions. 🐕

07/06/2026

If you weren't able to watch the webinar live, here is a link to the recording! Dr. Susannah Sample of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine discussed her research on canine laryngeal paralysis, commonly diagnosed in senior Labrador retrievers. Her research is conducted on an all-volunteer basis with impacted pets and their families. Watch to learn about LarPar including treatment/management, as well as its genetic and pathological basis.

https://app.explore.wisc.edu/e/es?s=1427524768&e=2469272&elqTrackId=6bf940c8fcbe4d2896cdc087ece57e37&elq=82e78673a23f45aa9fd094a42dc84980&elqaid=84326&elqat=1&elqak=8AF585F54EB2EE711014F5B5E314540B9CF9F9E750E76924616378E6787209BF7D42

06/24/2026

**Please share!**
Do you have a German Shepherd affected by fibrotic myopathy? And do you live within driving distance to Madison, WI? If so, contact us!

We are in search of German Shepherds with fibrotic myopathy that are able to come into our clinic. We are investigating a candidate gene we believe may play a role in this disease. We are also developing a genetic screening test for this disabling disease.

Please reach out to us by email ([email protected]) or phone (608-265-5828) to discuss enrollment of your dog in our study!

06/08/2026

On Wednesday, June 17, at 7 p.m. (CST), Dr. Susannah Sample of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine will host a FREE online event to discuss her research into canine laryngeal paralysis, commonly diagnosed in senior Labrador retrievers and conducted on an all-volunteer basis with impacted pets and their families. She will also discuss recent advancements in testing and treatment and answer questions from the audience. I hope you'll join the event! The event will be recorded if you'd like to view it later on. Register here: https://go.wisc.edu/caninelpn.

03/11/2026

We are excited share that our paper 'Risk assessment for condylar stress fracture in elite racing Thoroughbreds using standing computed tomography-based virtual mechanical testing' has been published in the Equine Veterinary Journal!

We have also attached a link to the infographic summary published by Asto CT!

Thank you for your continued support!

Can we predict fetlock stress fractures before they happen? New research in Equine Veterinary Journal shows how standing CT combined with virtual mechanical testing can assess fracture risk in elite Thoroughbreds by measuring strain in high-risk regions of the distal MC3.

02/25/2026

Hello! We are excited to share our article published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science reached over 2,000 views and 360 downloads! Thank you all for your continued interest in this research! Read the study here:

IntroductionCanine cruciate ligament rupture (CR) is a common, complex, polygenic, orthopaedic disease in dogs that results in serious financial burden and p...

08/27/2025

Our very own Dr. Muir is featured in a blog by the AKC Canine Health Foundation! He discusses the growing role that genetics plays in understanding and preventing torn cruciate ligaments in dogs. Our research is an exciting step forward in improving canine health and helping our furry companions live longer, more active lives. 🐾

Read the full blog here:

A Familiar Injury with Surprising Roots If you are a sports fan, or one of the thousands of people who will tear an ACL in your lifetime, you understand how devastating a knee injury can be. A single wrong step can lead to painful surgery, costly treatment, and a long road to recovery. Dogs face [.....

08/26/2025

Exciting news in veterinary science! 🐾 A new study from the University of Wisconsin–Madison shows that genome-enabled polygenic risk scores (PRS) can predict cruciate ligament rupture in Labrador Retrievers with up to 88.5% accuracy when clinical factors like age, weight, s*x, and neuter status are included, and still an impressive 77% accuracy using genetic data alone. This innovative tool could help breeders and vets identify high-risk dogs early for personalized care or selective breeding decisions. By combining genetics with simple health data, we can work toward smarter prevention and better outcomes for our canine companions. Truly a game-changer in how we approach orthopedic health in dogs, thank you to everyone who participated!

Click the article below to learn more! https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1625953

08/25/2025

Adam is a long-time student and current veterinary summer scholar who presented at the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Symposium on his work investigating the genetic basis of fibrotic myopathy in the German Shepard Dog. Adam had CROWDS at his poster with lots of questions and engagement! Adam has moved this project forward substantially over the summer months. We are excited to see such positive movement forward with our goal of finding the genetic basis of this disease. Brilliant job Adam!