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Originally Posted by Mardelin  Let me add to this. Breeders should obtain testing for their breeding dogs. However, tests should performed at certain ages. Bile Acids 16 weeks and again at 6 months. There are 2 types of shunt genetic and aquired. Hips and knees in order to get a good OFA reading should be done at age 2. Cerfs for eyes. Heart, ears and full blood panel. While all these tests will tell you that your dog and/or pup is clear of genetic defects. It does not tell you if a breeding pair are carriers. So, all it takes is the wrong two dogs being bred and a horrible genetic defect can rear it's ugly head.
One must keep in mind that even the most reputable breeders can produce a pup with a life threatening genetic defect. What makes them reputable is how they handle a situation and if they stand behind their breeding...... |
Just to clarify -genetic is one shunt usually and acquired is usually if a shunt is not repaired and the dog blows another shunt or if shunt repair is done they can acquire additional shunts but that is usually pretty rare but is always of concern.
The acquired is the bodies way of compensating for the initial shunt