Health testing for JRD

[Pruett]

I am posting this information here for the benefit of all breeders whether Biewer, or Yorkie.

JRD, Juvenile Renal Dysplasia, is a kidney disease prevalent in Shih Tzus and common in Yorkies and other breeds. Carrier cases have been confirmed in the Biewer Terrier and we are recommending that everybody test their breeding dogs. We would like to stamp out this disease before it becomes a problem known to the Biewer.

Recently DOGenes - Genetic Testing and Research for Dogs developed a test that can tell whether your dog is a carrier or not. Dogs that are carriers do not necessarily exhibit signs of the disease and that is why the test is so important. We currently have submitted about 30 dogs for testing. The test is a simple cheek swab, with a turn around time of about 2 weeks.

The normal cost of the test is $135.00, but Dog genes is offering a Biewer Terrier special for $80.00. If we have 100 dogs tested we can get the test for $60.00. We encourage you to learn more about this disease. I have heard and read of people losing puppies at 10 and 12 weeks of age which could easily have been attributed to JRD.

Thank you