I am on a few US dobie forums and there seems to be a high availablity of testing for DCM with ultrasounds and 24 hour holter moniters. Is there anywhere in the UK (south ideally) which offers such testing.
My girl has no signs of any problems but i wish to do this before she has her first litter.
I have called my vets and they want £450 for the  pleasure of just an ultrasound, they wanted £350 for hips but i found a private place that did it for much less so wondered if there was anyone out there who did the same. No problems traveling etc just would like to crack on with all this fun testing stuff.

Georgie

Georgie.kuhl@googlemail.com

It might be worth you contacting Carol Smith (DBC Health Co-ordinator), her details can be found on this link http://www.dobermannbreedcouncil.co.uk/cardio.html

You can currently get your Dobermann DCM tested for Free in the UK as part of an ongoing scheme for Dobermanns aged between 5 and 9:

http://www.seedc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=28

http://www.midland-dobermann-club.co.uk/addresses.html

I would also recommend testing for Hypothyroidism as this is a problem in the breed although not a massive problem....yet.  And you are no doubt aware you will also need to test for vWD and PHPV? 

I already test VwD, PHPV and score Hips. All  my girls are tested for these.
The problem with these trials is that they are for dogs over 5 only. I would ideally like to be screening mine from 2 onwards or as long as they are being bred. Anywhere i go to do it off my own back are quoting me scary prices especially since this is a anual test and i would like to test 3 animals. (£1600 a year for all 3) For that i could buy my own digital moniter!!

I havent yet looked in to Hypothriodism for the reasons you have stated, its not a major problem but should a dog present with problems then i would obviously test and treat as needed.

Why dont you approach the researchers running the scheme directly? Ask their advice as they are best placed to know whos doing what.

You could always ask the breeders who test theirs under current testing age?  See how they have managed it.  I agree it isnt cheap, have the Sire and Dam of yours been tested?  If I am honest there are a handful who I know have tested, the majority do not, and some dont even hip score so I commend you for doing that.  

Why dont you approach the researchers running the scheme directly? Ask their advice as they are best placed to know whos doing what.

I have on a few occasions and been told that it is pointless to test under 5.. even though i wanted to do it for my own reasons.

By NaughtybutNice [gb] Date 26.01.10 19:46 GMT
You could always ask the breeders who test theirs under current testing age?  See how they have managed it.  I agree it isnt cheap, have the Sire and Dam of yours been tested?  If I am honest there are a handful who I know have tested, the majority do not, and some dont even hip score so I commend you for doing that.  

I only know of one breeder who routinly does cardio testing and i belive they have their own machine.. and live in Ireland!!

Dam and sire havent been cardio tested.. just hips, eyes and VwD. I know the grandsire on dads side is clear as he is based in France and tested every year and still clear and going strong.

Silly thing is.. hips eyes and VwD are a one off expense so once they are done they are done.. cardio i can understand it a little more as it is an anual thing and as a result only gives you a snapshot of their heart at that moment in time.

Where are you based? 

There are a few Breeders I know of that test: one down South and one Midlands.

Who told you it is pointless to test under 5? Who ever told you that probably said so as they dont test.  If you want to do it good for you, it will be costly but breeding isnt cheap.

Its like Hypothyroidism - you have to test annually, which I do without fail.

I stopped breeding Dobermanns last year and wish you well with your litters.

South East, NR Reading.

The person who told me it was pointless to test under 5 as symptons dont normally present till "middle age" was one of the people who asnwer e-mails when enquiring about the trial.  Having been told pretty much the same by my cardiologist i had hit a wall.
I have been trying for a while to sort bits out for it but life gets in the way and bits get put on the way side.

I replied in another post about i was looking to buy a analogue holter moniter before Christmas however didnt as i was going to wait till i have another £700 and buy the digital version which is smaller and i can get the results quicker.

I would like to test for Hypothyroidism but again its finding somewhere that i can go multipul dogs and they appreciate that this is an expensive thing and not charge me the £90 my vets want.  I can appreciate to do these tests are expensive but some are so much so that it is made inexcessible to a number of people.

I would love it more if more extensive health testing was done within the breed but as you already said that so many people dont even bother with hips.. which should be a basic.

I really hope the ABS comes in to its own and is worth more than just a peice of paper making peopel test more readily.

Today is Scan day.. I am almost certain she is pregnant.. just want to know for sure.. AND how many woofers are in there!

> I would like to test for Hypothyroidism but again its finding somewhere that i can go multipul dogs and they appreciate that this is an expensive thing and not charge me the £90 my vets want.  I can appreciate to do these tests are expensive but some are so much so that it is made inexcessible to a number of people.

I have 2 Dobes that I get thyroid tested each year and the bloods are sent to Jean Dodds at Hemopet in the US. The tests are much more comprehensive than those performed here in the UK, and the cost, including shipping the bloods to California, is reasonable. I just get my vet to take the blood sample and send to Hemopet (http://www.hemopet.org/services.html).

I think £90 is not an expensive test at all.  I would rather pay the £90 than have a litter with potential Thyroid Problems.  It is only the coat of three Champshows... I would rather miss a few shows and get the tests done.