My apologies to the original author of the following,... I copied it early on in the testing phase and failed to note its origins. I have excerpted it here because it is one of the easiest and best explained pieces on a terrible disease.T
JLPP (Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy) in Rottweilers
JLPP is an inherited neurological disease resulting in certain death for any puppy affected with it. This disease cannot be cured or prevented once the puppy is conceived. Neither can this disease develop during the life cycle of a dog nor be the result of complications from other illnesses. All puppies affected by this disease die very young – most before they are one year of age.
How is it inherited?
The JLPP gene is a recessive gene. This means that a puppy must carry two JLPP genes in order to be affected. This requires both parents to be carriers of the gene and for them both to pass on the gene to the puppy. Statistically, from a litter where both parents are carriers of the JLPP gene there is a 25% chance that a puppy will be affected (always lethal), 50% chance that it will be a carrier and 25% chance that the puppy will be clear of the gene. It is important to note that only an affected puppy (one that carries two JLPP genes) will have any symptoms from this disease. Any puppies born carriers (ones that have a single JLPP gene) or clears (ones with no JLPP genes) will never suffer from this disease.
What do the different JLPP statuses mean?
Clear: This puppy/dog does not carry any JLPP genes. If bred to another clear then 100% of puppies produced will be clear of the JLPP gene. If bred to a carrier then there is a 50% chance that a puppy will be clear and a 50% chance that it will be a carrier.
Carrier: This puppy/dog carries one JLPP gene. This dog will live a normal life, with no ill effects associated with this gene. A carrier should only ever be bred to a clear. Breeding a carrier to a clear will produce puppies with a 50% chance of being clear and a 50% chance of being a carrier. If the carrier is bred to another carrier (which should never be done) then they will produce puppies with 25% chance of being affected (always lethal), 50% chance of being a carrier and 25% chance of being clear.
Affected: This puppy carries two JLPP genes. Sadly this puppy will die at a young age – in most cases before it is one year old. Symptoms start at 10 weeks and will continue for a number of months until death. This dog should never be bred with under any circumstances.
What are the symptoms? The first noticeable symptom of this disease is shortness of breath from minor physical activities and the inability to bark properly (if at all). Most owners, however, first notice a weakness in the puppy’s back legs. The puppy begins to lose co-ordination - eventually losing all function in the backend. This then progresses forwards and into the front legs until the puppy can no longer move under its own power. Eventually the puppy dies as the nerves in its body continue to shut down. In most cases the puppy is euthanized before this point.
What causes it?
JLPP is caused through the mutation of the RAB3GAP gene and is hereditary. It is a neurological disease which causes the puppy’s nervous system to shut down. The first nerves to begin to die are those that control the larynx (the longest nerve in the body), which is why the first symptom is shortness of breath and the inability to bark properly. The nerves that control functions farthest from the brain (i.e. Back legs) die first, which is why there is a progression forwards towards the brain.

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