The Good Dog Guide to Health Testing

Shetland Sheepdog

Thinking about getting a dog? It's important to understand the potential health issues that could affect your breed and the steps your breeder is taking to reduce your puppy's chances of inheriting health conditions. Here's what you need to know.

Thinking about getting a dog? It's important to understand your breed's potential health issues and the steps your breeder is taking to reduce your puppy's chances of inheriting health conditions. Here's what you need to know.

What is health testing?

A: Every breed is susceptible to certain health conditions or diseases. Just like humans, dogs can inherit health conditions from their parents. Responsible breeders make an effort to lessen the likelihood of their puppies inheriting these issues by screening their breeding dogs for heritable conditions and making informed matches when breeding.

Can health testing ensure that my puppy is healthy?

A: Health testing is a vital piece of a responsible breeding program when heritable conditions are present, but diet, exercise, environment, and genetics can all factor into whether a dog develops a health condition or disease. When breeders use health testing to identify risk factors in potential breeding dogs, it can significantly decrease the likelihood of many conditions appearing during your dog's lifetime. Performing the proper health tests is key, but it's just as important to work with your breeder to understand how diet, exercise, and environmental conditions affect your specific breed.

Health issues vary widely across breeds

It's important to note that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to health testing. Breeders perform specific health tests on their dogs based on the common conditions and diseases found in their breed.

*Keep in mind: Reliable screening tests still don't exist for many hereditary diseases. Additionally, some health tests for complex conditions are not always predictive of the development or severity of the condition in the puppies. However, it's a powerful tool that responsible breeders utilize to produce genetically, physically, and emotionally sound puppies.

Good Dog's health testing levels

A breeding program following "Excellent" health testing will report to screening their dogs for:

Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)

Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA) screens dogs for the presence of heritable eye disease. Most eye disease is thought to be genetic but the specifics of many diseases have not been identified to date. Screening of breeding dogs decreases the risk of heritable eye disease being transmitted to puppies. Breeding dogs should have annual eye examinations as onset of symptoms will vary by disease and individual.

Hip Dysplasia Finals (OFA, PennHIP, BVA, SV, FCI)

Hip Dysplasia Finals (OFA, PennHIP, BVA, SV, FCI) is a complex condition involving both genetic and environmental factors that can cause varying degrees of pain and loss of function in the affected joint. No genetic test is available to date, therefore, the recommended screening test is x-rays. Definitive reports include OFA radiographs taken after 2 years of age or another recognized screening and grading program (e.g. PennHIP, BVA, SV, FCI) following the validated process and minimum age for that organization.

Two of the following:

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) or choroidal hypoplasia, is a disease of the choroid, a layer of tissue that supplies blood to the retina. Symptoms vary but severely affected dogs may go blind.

Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis is an immune-mediated disease that affects the skin and muscles. Onset of symptoms is before 6 months of age and includes skin inflammation and lesions.

Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)

Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI) is a complex condition involving both genetic and environmental factors that can cause varying degrees of pain and loss of function in the affected joint. No genetic test is available to date, therefore, the recommended screening test is x-rays. Definitive reports include OFA radiographs taken after 2 years of age or another recognized screening and grading program (e.g. BVA, SV, FCI) following the validated process and minimum age for that organization.

Multiple Drug Sensitivity (MDR1)

Multiple Drug Sensitivity (MDR1) is a genetic mutation in a protein (P-glycoprotein) that normally protects the brain by transporting drugs out. Affected dogs will have sensitivity to common drugs, including ivermectin a heartworm preventative, and loperamide an antidiarrheal.

Thyroid (Autoimmune Thyroiditis, registered with OFA)

Thyroid (Autoimmune Thyroiditis, registered with OFA)

von Willebrand Disease III (vWD III)

von Willebrand Disease III (vWD III) is a disorder of the blood clotting system. Dogs with vWD have less of the von Willebrand clotting factor, necessary for normal blood clotting, than normal dogs. Symptoms will vary based on the degree of clotting factor missing. Dogs may have bleeding gums, bloody noses, bruising or bleeding during surgery.

Fun fact

Genetic versus phenotypic – and why it's important to understand the difference

There are generally two different types of tests that can be performed, genetic health tests and phenotypic testing:

Genetic health tests can be performed on the DNA of dogs to screen for the presence of certain disease-causing mutations.

Phenotypic tests include physical examinations by veterinarians (or in some cases, specialist veterinarians) and diagnostic tests such as x-rays and ultrasounds.

Questions to ask your breeder

Q: How do you think about reducing health issues in your puppies?

Q: What health problems commonly occur in Shetland Sheepdogs?

Q: Can you tell me about any health tests you perform on your dogs and why?

Q: If you have done health testing, where can I see the results?

Q: Have any of the dogs in your breeding program ever been afflicted with these conditions?

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