Health Clearances

[Sharon]

I've never been clear on the recommended requirements for the different gun dog breeds.

Seems to me that the retriever folk have done the best job on researching what is essential. I've never seen anything much for setters, hounds or spaniels. I'd like to learn about this more.

example for a retriever:

OFA good LR-208742G27M-VPI and elbows normal LR-EL63044M27-VPI. His eyes have been certified as normal by an ophthalmologist CAER #166703(currently awaiting certificate from CERF). Milli is OFA excellent LR-208527E24F-VPI and elbows normal LR-EL62879F24-VPI. Eyes are normal CAER #166716 (awaiting certificate from CERF).

[last5oh_302]

Not "gun dog" related, but I hear some breeders are adding thyroid? A CHIC number is nice to have as well.

http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/breeds.html

These are the health checks from my pups parents (Rotties). All the important one's for this breed.

Dad:
Hips: OFA RO-70323G24M-PI GOODElbows: OFA RO-EL7326M24-PI NORMAL Cardiac: RO-CA3526/12M/C-PI NORMALEyes: CERF RO-6349 OFA DNA Long Coat-Negative CHIC#: 60242


Mom:

​Hips: OFA RO-72592G24F-VPI GOOD Elbows: RO-EL8718F24-VPI NORMALCardiac: RO-CA5008/17F/C-VPI NORMAL Eyes: CERF RO-7373 CHIC#: 81658

[maplevizsla]

Hungarian Vizslas:
Basic:
-Hips
-Eyes
Additional:
-Elbows (more so currently now as Vizslas are cropping up with this issue)
-Heart
-Thyroid (seeing more of this, some breeders won't breed unless sire/dam is tested)
(I don't know if there is a test for these:
-Epilepsy
-Von Willebrand's (bleeding disorder)
-Cranial muscular atrophy
Optional:
-Brucellosis before breeding

I believe the testing is necessary and important. Vizslas are still experiencing hip dysplasia and eye problems such as entropion are existent and these dogs should NOT be in a breeding program. Our breed is seeing elbow issues coming into the light now (or just more breeders/owners are admitting their dog has it). I haven't heard of prevelant heart issues in our breed, so I would forgo that test. As far as thyroid goes, it is just a snapshot of that moment of testing. My biitch could have been bred at the time when her test came back for normal thyroid....tests later on indicated thyroid problem. So that one is iffy.
We don't hear as much about epilepsy or Von Willebrand's now as I recall doing 16 years ago when I first came onto the Vizsla scene. What our breed is seeing in Vizslas in the UK is cranial muscular atrophy - very very sad suffering fate for the dog.

The 2 issues in our breed that SO MANY breeders and owners are hiding is allergies and cancers. I hear rumours all the time that various puppies down certain lines are repeatedly being struck by allergies or cancers and those dams and sires are still being used, as are their offspring and their offspring and so forth. This is a touchy subject from various folks I've discussed it with. No one wants to admit their dog has it, no one wants to admit they breed dogs with it and no one seems to care to correct it.

[3 black dogs]

Didnt know there was a test for epilepsy I have heard they are close to finding a genetic marker but no test ??

[maplevizsla]

3blkdogs - no there isn't ( i wrote my reply so fast thought I separated my lines and even said i didn't think there was a test for epilepsy or cranial muscular atrophy).

[NorthLinkWeims]

CHIC is a good starting point for researching what health tests to do for what breed. They work with the parent clubs of each breed to determine the issues of greatest concern for that breed and then recommend the applicable health tests as well as diagnostic requirements. Most of the AKC breeds are listed.

Like maplevizsla touched on, no health test is perfect and each has a different limit to their value. Some are just a snapshot (like thyroid) but I personally feel it's part of my due diligence to test and build up a catalogue of results for my breeding dogs. If something like a thyroid issue were to appear in my line at least I would have the peace of mind of knowing that I researched and tested as best I could. Re-testing can also be valuable.

It costs about $400-$500 to complete the testing requirements for a CHIC # for a Weim (hips, eyes, thyroid) + $80 for the 2 recommended DNA tests (HUU & HYPM).

[last5oh_302]

It costs about $400-$500 to complete the testing requirements for a CHIC # for a Weim (hips, eyes, thyroid) + $80 for the 2 recommended DNA tests (HUU & HYPM).

And people complain or don't understand about the premium price of pups (within reason of course). You get what you pay for and the breeder is usually only breaking even, or recovering some financial losses because they do it for the love and betterment of the breed.
Often times backyard bred pups on kijiji are priced higher than proper, ethically bred pups with full health clearances, so go figure.


Just finding an ethical breeder that does all of this testing is tough enough.

Sorry, sidetracked a little there.

[Sharon]

CHIC is a good starting point for researching what health tests to do for what breed. They work with the parent clubs of each breed to determine the issues of greatest concern for that breed and then recommend the applicable health tests as well as diagnostic requirements. Most of the AKC breeds are listed.

Like maplevizsla touched on, no health test is perfect and each has a different limit to their value. Some are just a snapshot (like thyroid) but I personally feel it's part of my due diligence to test and build up a catalogue of results for my breeding dogs. If something like a thyroid issue were to appear in my line at least I would have the peace of mind of knowing that I researched and tested as best I could. Re-testing can also be valuable.

It costs about $400-$500 to complete the testing requirements for a CHIC # for a Weim (hips, eyes, thyroid) + $80 for the 2 recommended DNA tests (HUU & HYPM).

Thanks very much.

[cdnvizsla]

Brucellosis is NOT optional, its REQUIRED.
Even AI clinics will not draw or inseminate without a current Brucellosis test.
The disease was all but eradicated in North America until the "Louisiana Rescues" were shipped around North America and now its everywhere.
There is a test for VWD.
No test for epilepsy, just a tonne of leg work and pedigree checking to do your best to avoid it.

Hungarian Vizslas:
Basic:
-Hips
-Eyes
Additional:
-Elbows (more so currently now as Vizslas are cropping up with this issue)
-Heart
-Thyroid (seeing more of this, some breeders won't breed unless sire/dam is tested)
(I don't know if there is a test for these:
-Epilepsy
-Von Willebrand's (bleeding disorder)
-Cranial muscular atrophy
Optional:
-Brucellosis before breeding

I believe the testing is necessary and important. Vizslas are still experiencing hip dysplasia and eye problems such as entropion are existent and these dogs should NOT be in a breeding program. Our breed is seeing elbow issues coming into the light now (or just more breeders/owners are admitting their dog has it). I haven't heard of prevelant heart issues in our breed, so I would forgo that test. As far as thyroid goes, it is just a snapshot of that moment of testing. My biitch could have been bred at the time when her test came back for normal thyroid....tests later on indicated thyroid problem. So that one is iffy.
We don't hear as much about epilepsy or Von Willebrand's now as I recall doing 16 years ago when I first came onto the Vizsla scene. What our breed is seeing in Vizslas in the UK is cranial muscular atrophy - very very sad suffering fate for the dog.

The 2 issues in our breed that SO MANY breeders and owners are hiding is allergies and cancers. I hear rumours all the time that various puppies down certain lines are repeatedly being struck by allergies or cancers and those dams and sires are still being used, as are their offspring and their offspring and so forth. This is a touchy subject from various folks I've discussed it with. No one wants to admit their dog has it, no one wants to admit they breed dogs with it and no one seems to care to correct it.

[Dakota Creek]

And people complain or don't understand about the premium price of pups (within reason of course). You get what you pay for and the breeder is usually only breaking even, or recovering some financial losses because they do it for the love and betterment of the breed.
Often times backyard bred pups on kijiji are priced higher than proper, ethically bred pups with full health clearances, so go figure.


Just finding an ethical breeder that does all of this testing is tough.

Ding, ding, ding! Thumbs up! :-)