Had to visit the vet today. While chatting I told him about my new pup. He immediately said i hope you getting her from a reputable breeder and have all the right health tests been done ? The answer is a definite yes but we then went on to discuss what was required for fcr anyway he was very well informed abiut the breed
I dont breed but after some of the things I have read here about vets and the lack of knowledge of things to do with breeding I think he is due a deserved thumbs up.
Ps whispa wasnt so amused as we were chatting and vet forgot whispas treat for being a good boy :(

It's really nice to have a vet that you can talk to.  Seems you can!  I have a very trusting relationship with my own vet, and, like you, it means a lot to me.  Glad you have one of the good guys!  :-)

One thing he did say which in my inexperience I thought interesting was that pra testing can now be done by mouth swabs for dna ? instead of what I though was actually checking the dogs eyes. Is that new to people or standard he also reconed it was more acurate
Yep overall I  do have a good practic. Over the, shh say it quietly 30 years I have been with them I have seen a few some better than others but the practice upholds certains views and standards which I found very good who ever I see.

I had never heard of dna for testing pra.  Have had, in the past, breeds that are prone to it.

Sounds like he's pretty up to date.  Have to say that it's good to have a vet who's on the ball with things.

Poor Whispa! Vet wouldn't have a chance of forgetting my girl's treat, she warbles incessantly until he is forced to feed her! :-p Our vet is rather ambivalent about Cavaliers - he likes my ones and says the breed makes the ideal family pet - but because of the health problems he would never recommend them.

Its only if they have found the gene that causes PRA and so far only some breeds can have a Dna test.
We are very lucky that in my breed there is a Dna test for Pra and though it can be done with mouth swabs at home, we prefer to have the blood test at an Optigen clinic as it includes microchip verification by a vet.

I see that makes sense we didn't get that far with conversation. Yes whispa was getting fussed by student who was there so perhaps that's why he didn't ask lol

>One thing he did say which in my inexperience I thought interesting was that pra testing can now be done by mouth swabs for dna ? instead of what I though was actually checking the dogs eyes.

In my breed, cocker spaniels, yes they are DNA Optigen tested, but they are still KC/BVA eye tested and Glaucoma tested, even if Normal/Clear Optigen results.

Brilliant news... I have a vet like this and its a wonderful feeling to know you have someone knowledgeable with regards breeding and health testing who you can turn to.

This lab seems to do most DNA tests by blood and buccal swabs.

http://www.laboklin.co.uk/laboklin/GeneticDiseases.jsp?catID=DogsGD

In order for the results to be published do they have to be done by optigen?

Yes Optigen are the only company licensed for this test, so the only company the KC will accept and publish results from.

> I had never heard of dna for testing pra

Depending on breed there may be a PRA DNA test available.  We have one for the prcd-PRA form since the end of 2008.

Unfortunately there are many breeds and many forms of this group of eye disorders where the gene has not been identified so the only available test is the standard CLINICAL eye test, which can only tell you if there are 'clinical signs' not whether the dog is a carrier clear or affected.

For example in my breed a dog affected by prcd-PRA could show no clinical signs for some years and get an unaffected certificate on clinical exam, as the disease is late onset.

The DNA tests are in most cases patented and can only be done by the labs that hold the patent (or under license from the patent holder), in many cases that is Optigen in the USA.

DNA can be tested from cheek swabs, but blood is more reliable to get a testable sample.

For most eye problems or to monitor for any emerging problem the clinical BVA/KC/ISDS eye scheme test is still needed.

DNA testing for PRA cord1 has been available to all mini long dachsies since Feb 2005, the cheek swabs x 3 are taken, air dried and returned to the AHT in the envelope provided.

The results of those who took part in the trials and those tested since are on the KC website.

Mini smooths and more recently wires are now being tested.

My vet was really impressed when I mentioned that all my dachsies are either tested or hereditary clear, she said she had seen so many sad cases in other breeds of young dogs going blind from PRA

Not true, The Kennel club accepts and publishes results from Laboklin as well.

Only Optigen (or their agent) is licenced to offer the prcd_PRA test in Europe/UK. Laboklin is not one of Optigen's agents so therefore isn't licenced to offer this test, which is why the KC will only accept results from Optigen and not Laboklin

For cocker spaniels only Optigen results are listed and accepted

Dont want to get into an argument, but in my breed which is tested for GPRA-rcd3 Laboklin results were actually put up on the Kennel Club Health Results, before the Optigen ones. In Fact Dr Jeff Sampson actually took copies of our dogs Optigen Results and made sure that they appeared on the KC Website as they hadn't automatically.....!!!!!

>For cocker spaniels only Optigen results are listed and accepted

I'm not arguing either, if you read my last paragraph it clearly states for 'cocker spaniels' only Optigen results are listed.

I have friends who have had their cockers Laboklin tested only for the KC to refuse the results and to be told if they wanted them listed they would have to go through Optigen.

Different breeds different rules obviously.

Just found out that my vet was getting confused with breeds ! He was talking about gordons and I was talking about fcr  the tests for cpra (is that right?)  is available for gordon setters not fcr
Poor man I guess I am already back in the world of whats that some kind of setterx lol
Mind it still gives me confidence that he was checking I was getting my pup from good sources and that all tests have been done and that he is on top of what is available even if I may have to take the dog dog in to show apicture next time or better stil the real thing. So I am sticking to the thumbs up vote 

Well it would be a bit much for the vet to be up to date with which DNA tests were available for which breeds, as there are so many permutations.

absoultly !

Goldens can now be DNA tested for GR-PRA1. It is stated that they can still deveolp PRA due to other mutations but at least it is a start. They are only testing very few dogs at the moment. I have the test of the sire of my young one in front of me now, received today.

My vet adores cavaliers and in spite of all the inflated hype about their health issues is still more than happy to recommend them. In fact, if anyone ever asks him what breed he would recommend for a family with small children he always suggests the cavalier. Ditto my Opthalmic vet. Thank goodness there are still vets out there who are happy to put things into perspective - Pedigree Dogs Exposed hasn't destroyed the cavalier - yet.