What are the importance of health screening of dogs in breeding programs?
What type of tests are available? Do each breed of dogs require different tests? At what age should the tests be done?
The tests vary considerably by breed, yes.
Ages at which the tests are reliable vary based upon the test.
You need to contact the National Breed Club for the breeds that interest you to learn about the tests that are recommended for your breed, what agencies can certify those tests, and the ages at which they can be reliably performed.
The tests range from orthopedic soundness to hearing, eyesight, blood abnormalities, thyroid function, etc. Varies greatly by breed.
The importance is that good breeders are trying to avoid health issues of all kinds in the dogs they produce, and testing helps there. Dogs who do not pass the tests (or who consistently throw pups who do not pass) are eliminated from breeding programs, increasing the likelihood that pups produced will be healthy.
In my family’s breed (Engish Setters), you’d want to see all of the following:
-BAER testing before pups go home and certainly on the parents. This is a hearing test. It is certified by OFA.
-OFA certification for hips. This must be performed at 2 yrs old or later to be reliable.
-OFA certification for elbows. Again, done at 2 yrs. (Elbow dysplasia is not common in this breed, but more and more breeders are testing anyway.)
-OFA certification for thyroid function. I’d have to look up the proper testing age for this one, sorry.
Different breeds have different potential health problems.
While exploring health testing, you’ll probably hear a lot about CERF a vision test, also, as it’s another very common test in many breeds. But again, recommended testing depends on breed.
You can find a lot of information on health testing here: http://offa.org/
ETA: I should mention that I am answering from a USA perspective. In other countries, you will find different certification agencies! Again, check with your National Breed Club for specific information for your preferred breed and your country of residence.
These are the tests that are generally done:
Eye exams (CERF)
Thyroid (OFA)
Heart (OFA)
Hips and elbows (OFA or PENN-HIP) – Hips and elbows are done once, after the age of two years. A panel of three vets reads the x-rays and grades them.
Some breeds require a little more testing – but generally the above is pretty sufficient.
Especially nowadays when we have backyard breeders who believe a simple clean bill of health from the vet is good enough.
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If there are problems, specific problems, in a particular breed, it’s a vital tool and should always be used as part of a breeding programme. It does tend to be breed specific – particularly with the eye testing that’s available. Many breeds suffer with Hip and Elbow displasia, so that (scoring) covers many breeds however.
Testing is done depending on what is being tested for. Again some eye conditions require ongoing testing, while others are a one-off life-time test. Hip and elbow scoring is a one off and isn’t normally done until the dog is out of puppy (I may be wrong because although it’s acknowledged to be around in my breed now, it wasn’t done routinely, until recently – under the KC/BVA schemes.)
References :
The tests vary considerably by breed, yes.
Ages at which the tests are reliable vary based upon the test.
You need to contact the National Breed Club for the breeds that interest you to learn about the tests that are recommended for your breed, what agencies can certify those tests, and the ages at which they can be reliably performed.
The tests range from orthopedic soundness to hearing, eyesight, blood abnormalities, thyroid function, etc. Varies greatly by breed.
The importance is that good breeders are trying to avoid health issues of all kinds in the dogs they produce, and testing helps there. Dogs who do not pass the tests (or who consistently throw pups who do not pass) are eliminated from breeding programs, increasing the likelihood that pups produced will be healthy.
In my family’s breed (Engish Setters), you’d want to see all of the following:
-BAER testing before pups go home and certainly on the parents. This is a hearing test. It is certified by OFA.
-OFA certification for hips. This must be performed at 2 yrs old or later to be reliable.
-OFA certification for elbows. Again, done at 2 yrs. (Elbow dysplasia is not common in this breed, but more and more breeders are testing anyway.)
-OFA certification for thyroid function. I’d have to look up the proper testing age for this one, sorry.
Different breeds have different potential health problems.
While exploring health testing, you’ll probably hear a lot about CERF a vision test, also, as it’s another very common test in many breeds. But again, recommended testing depends on breed.
You can find a lot of information on health testing here: http://offa.org/
ETA: I should mention that I am answering from a USA perspective. In other countries, you will find different certification agencies! Again, check with your National Breed Club for specific information for your preferred breed and your country of residence.
References :
mb
Here is a pretty good list besides joints & eyes.
http://www.vetgen.com/canine-services.html
References :
I don’t know if there’s a test for luxating patellas (out of place knee caps), but there should be. My Chihuahua has them, and when I was showing Papillons, I had them tested. All I know is that it’s hereditary and I assume other toy breeds might be susceptible. It’s possible some of the other fine boned larger breeds (Greyhounds?) might develop it as well.
I am assuming you are planning on breeding – you are doing it right! What I would also do is mention your breed so people can give you specific information in addition to the general. Also do a search for what health issues a particular breed can have.
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This is much easier for pure breeds because, organizations such as the American Kennel Club, insist on breeders keeping these types of records. Before taking any test, you should do some homework and find out if there are any congenital problems that appear in the dog’s parents and grand parents. It may even be helpful to contact other people who have bought puppies from the same litter to see if they are having similar problems.
This should all be done before any test procedures as they are many and quite expensive and invasive.
I will tell you that puppies bought in pet stores are famous for congenital problems and early death.
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