MDR1

Do Not Use Drugs For Australian Shepherds
Compiled by Nannette Newbury

 

The following list is compiled from the Rough Collie Council of the U.K. and the Washington State University websites. 

 

It has taken years, but we now “scientifically” know that herding breeds can be sensitive to certain drugs (MDR1). However the MDR1 gene test ONLY focuses on drugs that are known to be pumped out of the brain by P-glycoprotein, the protein encoded by the MDR1 gene. Therefore the MDR1 test is only a tool. 

It is wise to treat all Australian Shepherds as though they are carriers (Mutant/Mutant). Australian Shepherds without the MDR1 gene (Normal/Normal) have had severe reactions to the list of drugs below. NOTE: The drugs on the list are also distributed in “generic” forms with different names (i.e., Metronidazole is the same as Flagyl).

 

MANY other drugs can cause severe, even deadly reactions in the herding breeds, most having to do with the Central Nervous System disorders including encephalitis, seizures, etc. The reactions may not be immediate…they may even take years to manifest. The list of these drugs has been compiled with the help of breeders and owners over many years who have personally experienced the disastrous results. 

I have combined the two lists for ease of use. If the drug has an asterisk (*) after it, it is from Washington State University (MDR1) and is on their “problem” drug list. If the drug is on both lists there will be two asterisks (**). All others are solely from the Rough Collie Council of the U.K.

 
Acepromazine** 
Aldosterone 
Amitriptyline 
Antiemetics
Apomorphine* 
Buprenorphine 
Butorphanol** 
Chinidin
Cimeditine
Cortisol 
Cyclosporin A 
Dexamethasone 
Digoxin 
Diltiazem 
Domperidone 
Doxorubicin** 
Doxycycline 
Ebastine
Erythromycin 
Estradiol 
Etoposide 
Fentanyl 
Fexofenadine 
Grepafloxacin 
Hydrocortisone 
Ivermectin** 
Itraconazole 
Ketoconazole 
Loperamide** 
Losartan
Methylprednisolone 
Metoclopramide 
Metronidazole 
Milbemycin** 
Mitoxantrone
Morphine
Moxidectin** 
Ondansetron 
Paclitaxel** 
Phenothiazines 
Phenytoin 
Quinidine 
Ranitidine 
Rifampin
Rifamicin 
Selamectin** 
Sparfloxacin 
Tacrolimus 
Tetracycline 
Verapamil 
Vinblastine**
Vincristine**
 

Please Note: Not every Australian Shepherd will have a negative or deadly reaction to the drugs listed above. However enough of them have had severe reactions and/or died to warrant caution. YOU must be an advocate for your Australian Shepherd.

If you have an Australian Shepherd that becomes severely neurologically impaired after being administered one of the drugs above and does not survive…please consider making arrangements for a brain and spine necropsy. 

 

If you like, send the results of the brain necropsy to stonepine@hughes.net so we can continue to store the anecdotal results in one location.

 

Washington State University: (https://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu/problem-drugs)
Rough Collie Council of the U.K.:(http://www.roughcolliebreedcouncil.co.uk/health/drugsensitivity.html)

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