Example of a Bad Rear
Bad Top Line - the back should be straight
Straight Top Line - Good
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Good Front |
Good Rear |
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not so good front |
good front |
Genetic Health Screening/Testing
Common Genetic tests (testing for each breed varies)
CERF - Canine Eye Registration Foundation
done by Canine Opthomologist at an eye clinic
Screening for Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Cataracts.
This test should be done annually, and for as long as the dog is in an active
breeding program.
OFA - Orthopedic Foundation for Animals -
-for hip + elbow displasia
OFA, often done after 2years of age, and under anesthetic done by your Vet. and sent in to OFA
Hip joints Standard VD view
Elbow joints flexed lateral view
This test is usually performed once, & after the dog reaches 24months
Thyroid Panel III - done by Vet and sent to OFA for certification
Heart Testing (usually done by a heart Clinic like CERF)
Baur Testing
Allergy Testing
DNA Testing
Blood Collection - for blood panel and electrolites
Click here
to see an acceptable vet certificate for Legg Perthes Disease. This is NOT an
accepted OFA certificate for Hip Displasia. If your breed is not prone to
displasia, this is fine. The Xray test for hip displasia and legg perthes is the
same. If your Breed is prone to hip displasia, you need to have the OFA
Certificate.)
Leg Perthes Disease - LPD, done by the Vet at same time as OFA exrays
Pictured here is a young male with LPD that has had
corrective surgery.
LPD, leaves the effected dogs lame and in pain, until the operation. It is
surgically repairable and quite expensive. It is important when breeding to make
sure you do not combine a pedigree with LPD on both sides. Also any
breeder that has LPD in their lines, (it is quite common in toy breeds), should
be doing the x-ray on the breeding dogs to ensure no microscopic signs of LPD
are present as an ongoing precaution to keep the breed healthy. As well it is
very important and ethical, to inform the owner of the other breeding dog, of
this and any other genetic problem. With LPD, the mode of inheritance is still
in question. NEVER repeat a breeding if a LPD dog is born in a litter. LPD
shows up in young dogs at about 6 to 8 months old.
Luxating Patella Cert.,Patellar
Luxation -
can be done by your Vet, and is a Displaced Knee-cap
The Knee Cap doesn't stay in it's groove properly, this condition is more common
in Toy breeds.
Chrondodisplasia cert., CD (also can be checked by Vet)
CD is height vs. length vs. depth and width of the chest to
shoulder placement; general structure is important
Liver Shunt
For puppies that do not thrive as well as the rest of the litter, the
Bile Acid test is a very good and easy test to see if they pup has a liver
shunt, and the liver is not functioning normally.
Congenital liver disease is one of the problems breeders try to eliminate and it
seems to be genetic.
The most common congenital liver problem is a portosystemic shunt. This is often
the result of blood bypassing the liver thus flowing directly into the system.
This bypass of the liver is normal during fetal development. The bypass normally
closes after birth. The liver effects metabolism, temperature regulation,
circulation, detoxification and waste removal. When a dog has a shunt, the liver
cannot function properly and there will be non-detoxified blood circulating
through the body, which will slowly poison the body's cells and tissues. This
poisoning can impair body functions; the pup may fail to thrive, have poor
weight gain, sleepiness, vomiting, blindness and seizures. Early diagnosis and
fast treatment offer the best outcomes. The success of surgery depends on how
severe the shunt is, and the location of the shunt. Medical management may be
tried for inoperable shunts but can be difficult and very expensive with limited
success. Responsible breeding can drastically reduce/eliminate this
problem.
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In long haired breeds proper structure is easier to see when
you wet your dog down.
Pictured here is a nice back end, with straight legs, and no CD |
Chrondrodysplasia also called fiddle front, because its
shaped like a fiddle.
This is a strong sign of bilateral Chondrodysplasia which is a skeletal and
developmental abnormality.
A dogs Bite needs to be good on a breeding dog. In the ring, a Judge
Always asks to see your dogs "Bite". Pictured here is A nice scissor bite.
A show dogs teeth, must be kept clean. Even a dog that is a pet deserves
to have healthy teeth.
For each breed, there are certain tests that are
highly recommended. What one checks for in one breed, may differ from the tests
recommended by another breed. Find out what the main important tests for your
breed are. It is then suggested by some vets and breeders, to do some of these
tests every two years on your breeding stock, male or female. It can be costly,
but then you can honestly put on a proper health guarantee. Some vets say one
series of testings is not enough to carry thru the dogs breeding years. Every 2
years will 90 % pick up any changes. CERF testing on eyes is recommended
yearly, Whereas OFA on hips is often only done once when the dog is 24months.
Click here to see a
proper Cerf form
Each individual dog should have one. A letter from a Vet stating
a dog's eyes are good, like on the Patella form, is NOT a Cerf.
Click here
to see an acceptable certificate for Patella certification of no evidence of
luxating patella on either stifle. This is NOT an acceptable eye Cerf
certificate. This test, performed by your vet is now registerable with OFA. and
has a special form.
