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Originally Posted by magicgenie  Even veterinarians aren't too impressed with the so-called health clearances, so don't put too much weight on that. A breeder's reputation is a heck of a lot more telling. Health testing---dogs with great knees are still producing pups with luxating patellas, and vice versa. Knees can be great one year and bad the next. HIPS--Legge Perthes shows up out of parents with perfect hips. Since it's polygenic we don't know the mode of inheritance. EYES--How often are we supposed to repeat that test? How often does PRA show up in Yorkies anyway? What test predicts liver shunt?
If breeders really wanted to do the right thing, there would be a data bank where we could report and track health issues. I keep such a data base for my own breeding, and would galdly submit the information to a central place that could track these things across generations of pedigree.  |
Eyes the answer can be found on CERF - they recommend annually. if I am breeding that year I do, if not I do every 2 years. I do the first one at one year old. Don't know the rate as many breeders are not sending in the results to CHIC
Leggs Perthes often shows up anywhere from 7-12 months old - Again not mainly are doing PennHip and or OFFA. So again the database for Yorkies is very small.
In my mind the strongest argument for health screenings is to create a whole database of knowledge, knowledge that we are losing, as more and more long time oldies are retiring, and some are dying way before their time. Not much longer can we rely on word of mouth about this line or that line having this or that disease in it. The knowledge even 20yrs ago was spotty at best; for truly how many breeders actively pursue their puppy buyers for annual or even every two year health updates on their puppies? Some do yes - but it is not a requirement to be in good standing with the YTCA and or the CYTC.
And yes we all desperately need the actual genetic tests for LS, HD, LP, ED, Pra for Yorkies etc.
And I too have heard frequently about how usefull are these anyhow? Oh it is just a scam for vets and lab companies to make more money.
I was so glad that I insisted on the one genetic test we have for BRT;s before I commited to my show gal; I had the two show females tested, one came back clear, and one Affected!!! And I was reassured that both sire and dam were clear. There is no way through this mating could result in an affected pup if both were clear..... As I could not find the genetic test results for both parents listed, I insisted and did pay for the test on both gals. Can you imagine importing a gal from Russia only to find out later she was affected???......
So that genetic test was worth to me way more than the $150 I paid for it to be done.
We have databanks for many things already. HD ED PRA Cataracts Thyroid Heart Hearing.
The other thing is, we do need to be carefull and screen what our puppy buyers tell us about the health of their dogs. If they say their dog has a heart murmur, well has the specialist ddx it, and if so what is the grade and type of heart murmur? Allergeries how was it ddx'd - allergeric to what? Their hips are bad.... again a specialist needs to ddx HD or Leggs Perthes not a general vet. And the examples go on and on and on.