Adopting an adult dog with a past
Health screening, behaviour reading and the first thirty days that decide whether a large adult dog settles into a family home.
Read their storyCommunity Stories
Real accounts from families who've lost dogs to drug reactions, and the lessons we learned too late. Each story might save a life.
These are our stories. They’re not easy to read, and they weren’t easy to write. But every family who shares their experience helps ensure that fewer dogs suffer the same fate.
If you’d like to add your story to this collection, please contact us. Your experience matters.
Breathing Circuits: Adult, Paediatric, Neonatal
How adult, paediatric and neonatal breathing circuits differ, why heated wires still collect condensation, and how a circle system clears carbon dioxide.
Read their storyChew Materials: Wood, Metal, and Rope Safety
A practical look at untreated wood, natural branches, safe metals, and rope for pets that chew, from parrot toys to dog chews and the hardware that holds them
Read their storyFirst Three Weeks With a New Dog at Home
A calm three-week routine for a new dog or puppy: reward timing, short sessions, recall work, and medication safety woven into everyday life.
Read their storyHow Dogs and Cats Lose Heat vs Human Sweating
Dogs and cats cool through paw pads, panting and coat, not full-body sweat. A vet-led look at heat loss, MDR1 dogs and when to call the clinic.
Read their storyInfection control plan for an animal business
How a boarding kennel, groomer or daycare can write an infection control plan, a customer notice and a fair staff sickness and return-to-work rule.
Read their storyKelpie, cattle dog, terrier: reading breed profiles
How to read an Australian breed profile when your dog carries the MDR1 mutation: kelpie, cattle dog and terrier, and what each asks of an owner.
Read their storyReading Wildlife Signs on a Coastal Dog Walk
How to tell a grey kangaroo from a wallaby, spot wombat burrows and droppings, and identify kookaburra, rosella and black cockatoo calls on a coastal walk with
Read their storyShared Spaces and Dog Hygiene Routines
Clinic waiting rooms, groomers, kennels and pet shops: cleaning, ventilation and hand hygiene that keep shared dog spaces usable.
Read their storyShowing an MDR1 Herding Breed in Canada
What a Canadian conformation weekend asks of a dog carrying the MDR1 mutation: grooming products, travel, and the health paperwork a club or judge may request.
Read their storyTen Minutes, an Afternoon, a Season: Help for Shelter Dogs
Concrete ways to help a shelter dog when you have ten minutes, an afternoon or a whole season, from sharing a post to fostering in an emergency.
Read their storyWhat Scanners Do After a Suspected Drug Reaction
A plain guide to what an X-ray, CT or MRI scanner is actually doing when your dog is imaged after a suspected drug reaction, and why MRI avoids ionising
Read their storyYearly Prevention for an MDR1 Dog
How to plan vaccination, dental care and heartworm and lungworm testing for an MDR1-affected dog when several routine products are off the table.
Read their storyHip Dysplasia in an MDR1 Dog: Choosing Pain Relief That Will Not Backfire
A herding breed with hip dysplasia may need years of pain control. Here is which drugs stay safe with the MDR1 mutation and which ones deserve a second question.
Read their storyMDR1 Is Not the Only Test: Genetic Screening Every Herding Breed Owner Should Know
MDR1 gets the attention in this community, but a herding breed's screening panel covers more: PRA, collie eye anomaly, degenerative myelopathy, hips and elbows.
Read their storyHow the MDR1 Mutation Actually Works: P-glycoprotein and the Blood-Brain Barrier
Understand the biology behind every drug warning on this site — what ABCB1 does, how the broken pump lets toxins into the brain, and why dose changes everything.
Read their storyCyclosporine, Atopica and Allergy Medications in MDR1 Dogs
Atopica is a P-glycoprotein substrate that lands on the MDR1 problem list — but the nuance matters. Here's what owners managing a herding breed's chronic allergies need to flag.
Read their storyAccidental Ivermectin Poisoning in Herding Dogs: Horse Paste, Cattle Dewormer and Manure
The heartworm dose of ivermectin is safe. The real killer is accidental high-dose exposure on farms. Here's how much is dangerous and what to do in the first hour.
Read their storyAre Flea and Tick Chews Safe for MDR1 Dogs? NexGard, Bravecto and Simparica Explained
Owners panic that isoxazoline chews are an MDR1 risk. They're not — but a separate FDA warning still applies. Here's how to untangle the two and choose a protocol.
Read their storyAnti-Nausea and Anti-Vomiting Drugs in MDR1 Dogs: Cerenia, Ondansetron and Metoclopramide
Car sickness, post-op nausea, and tummy upsets are routine — but several anti-nausea drugs need dose care in MDR1 dogs. Here is how to handle each one.
Read their storyPain Management for MDR1 Dogs: Opioids, NSAIDs, and the Butorphanol Trap
How to control post-surgical and chronic pain in an MDR1 dog safely — which NSAIDs and opioids work, and why butorphanol is the one to question.
Read their storyThe WSU Problem Drug List Decoded: Every Medication MDR1 Owners Should Question
A plain-English guide to the Washington State University MDR1 problem drug list, sorted into three buckets you can actually use at the vet.
Read their storyUnderstanding Your MDR1 Test Results: What Mutant/Mutant vs Mutant/Normal Really Means
Your lab says mutant/mutant, mutant/normal, or normal/normal. Here is what each MDR1 genotype actually means for real-world drug dosing.
Read their storyAnxiety Medications and MDR1: What Herding Breed Owners Need to Know Before Treating Fear
Acepromazine, trazodone, fluoxetine — anxiety drugs are common in herding breeds. But some are dangerous for MDR1-affected dogs. Here's a complete guide to safe options.
Read their storyLoperamide (Imodium) and MDR1: Why an Over-the-Counter Medication Can Be Deadly
A thorough breakdown of why loperamide (Imodium) is one of the most dangerous over-the-counter medications for MDR1-positive dogs, the mechanism behind neurotoxicity, and safe alternatives for canine diarrhea.
Read their storyMDR1 and Chemotherapy: How Oncology Protocols Must Be Adjusted for Herding Breeds
A practical overview of chemotherapy dose adjustments required for MDR1-positive dogs. Vincristine, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and the protocols that prevent life-threatening toxicity.
Read their storyPreparing for Surgery: An MDR1 Owner's Complete Pre-Operative Guide
When your MDR1-affected dog needs surgery, preparation can mean the difference between a safe recovery and a life-threatening reaction. Here's everything you need to plan before the operating room.
Read their storySafe Deworming for Herding Breeds: The Complete Guide to Parasite Control Without MDR1 Risk
Internal parasites are a real health threat. So is using the wrong dewormer in an MDR1-affected dog. Here's how to handle both safely.
Read their storyAfter the Reaction: Recovery, Reporting, and Rebuilding Trust With Veterinary Care
Your dog survived a drug reaction. Now what? The steps that come after the crisis — medical recovery, documentation, reporting, and how to move forward.
Read their storyExplaining MDR1 to Family Members, Dog Sitters, and Everyone Else Who Loves Your Dog
You know about MDR1. But what about your partner, your parents, your dog sitter? Here's how to transfer this potentially life-saving information to everyone in your dog's circle.
Read their storyMDR1 in Senior Herding Dogs: Managing Drug Sensitivity as Your Dog Ages
Older herding breeds face more medications, more procedures, and more health challenges — and MDR1 risk doesn't decrease with age. Here's how to protect your senior dog.
Read their storyMDR1 and Your Dog's Care Team: What Boarders, Groomers, and Daycares Need to Know
Your vet knows about MDR1. But what about the people who care for your dog when you're away? Here's how to protect your herding breed outside the veterinary setting.
Read their storyHow to Talk to Your Vet About MDR1 Without Damaging the Relationship
You need your vet to take MDR1 seriously. Here's exactly how to have that conversation — what to say, what to bring, and how to handle it if they push back.
Read their storyDoes My Mixed Breed Dog Have MDR1? What Shelter Dogs and Mixes Need
You don't need a purebred Collie to carry the MDR1 mutation. Millions of mixed breed dogs are at risk. Here's how to know if yours is one of them.
Read their storyWhen Your MDR1 Dog Faces Cancer: Chemotherapy, Pain Management, and What to Ask
A cancer diagnosis is devastating. When your herding breed has MDR1 sensitivity, treatment decisions become even more complex. Here's what you need to know.
Read their storyMDR1 in Puppies: What Every Breeder and New Owner Needs to Know
When should you test a puppy for MDR1? What medications are most dangerous in the first year? How responsible breeders handle MDR1 disclosure.
Read their storySedation and Anesthesia in MDR1 Dogs: What You Must Tell Your Vet Before Surgery
Sedation protocols for herding breeds with MDR1 sensitivity require special care. What to communicate before any procedure, and which drugs need modification.
Read their storyHeartworm Prevention and MDR1: What Every Herding Breed Owner Must Know
Heartworm preventives and the MDR1 mutation can be a dangerous combination. Here's what's safe, what isn't, and how to protect your herding breed year-round.
Read their storyBreeds Beyond Collies: Every Dog That Carries the MDR1 Mutation
MDR1 drug sensitivity isn't just a Collie problem. Dozens of breeds and countless mixed-breed dogs carry the mutation. Here's the complete list and what it means for your dog.
Read their storyTraveling With an MDR1-Affected Dog: Boarding, Trips, and Emergencies Away From Home
What happens when your MDR1-affected dog needs veterinary care far from your regular vet? A practical guide to traveling, boarding, and staying safe away from home.
Read their storySafer Drug Alternatives for MDR1-Affected Dogs
When common medications are off the table, what can your vet prescribe instead? A practical guide to safer alternatives for herding breeds with MDR1 sensitivity.
Read their storyMDR1 Testing: The $75 Test That Could Save Your Dog's Life
Everything you need to know about getting your herding breed tested for the MDR1 gene mutation - where to test, what the results mean, and what to do next.
Read their storyWhat to Do in the First 60 Minutes of a Drug Reaction
A step-by-step emergency guide for the critical first hour after your herding breed shows signs of drug toxicity. Every minute matters.
Read their storyFinding Support: Groups and Resources for Affected Families
You're not alone in this. Here are the communities, organizations, and resources that helped us through our darkest moments.
Read their storyThe Vet Visit Checklist That Could Save Your Dog's Life
A printable checklist of questions, actions, and information to bring to every veterinary appointment with your herding breed.
Read their storyCommunity Stories: 20 Families Share Their Experiences
Real testimonials from families across the country who've lost dogs to drug sensitivities. Their stories could save your dog's life.
Read their storyWhat Your Vet Might Not Tell You About Collie Drug Sensitivity
Why many veterinarians don't warn about MDR1 risks, and how to advocate for your dog without damaging the relationship with your vet.
Read their storyWe Lost Cooper: Our Family's Story
How a routine vet visit and a common medication took our beloved Collie. The story that started this community.
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