My first post so hope I have put in the right area. I have an imported show cocker spaniel fully health tested ( not hip scored) used a health tested dog inc good hip score had 5 lovely puppies. 18 months down the line one puppy has developed hip dysplasia & another puppy has in growing eye lashes ( can’t remember the condition name) I believe this isn’t something you can test for. Are both these issues inherited? I’d like to do a repeat mating with the view of keeping a puppy to continue the lines. Any help or guidance greatly appreciated. Thanks

I definitely wouldn't repeat the mating, Entropion (ingrowing eyelids) is inherited. Hip dysplasia is more complicated, while there is undoubtably a heredity link it can also be down to injury, accident or over exercise. I'd be very concerned at such a young dog being diagnosed with HD, do you know the cause? Doesn't really matter anyway as the entropion alone would be enough for me not to breed from either parent again.

Thank you very much yes I was worried about the HD at a young age also other people have said there can be many factors. The vets have given no indication so I am unfortunately unsure. The stud dog is well know / well used and the stud owner did not know of any of his pups having Entropian, do you know if this is something that can be tested for? Thank you for your response it’s very helpful.

> the stud owner did not know of any of his pups having Entropian

Of course he/she didn't    Sadly all too often this is the response especially with a popular stud dog!!

I too wouldn't use the stud dog, at least - wouldn't do a repeat of this pairing.

As already said re HD, this can be inherited so I believe you really should have your bitch scored before taking any more litters from her.   But do you know whether that puppy might have been over-exercised too young.  Environment plays a part too.

Entropian can't, as far as I'm aware (and it is in my breed) be tested for?  But the longer I've been around dogs in general, the less I know!!!

Thank you, yes she is booked in to have her hips done I don’t see many done and was told it isn’t a common problem in show cockers so I hadn’t previously had her done prior to her first litter. Thank you for the response I really appreciate it .

I couldn’t see a test for Entropian is it something a BVA eye test would pick up on? She has a clear PLA & BVA eye test.

Doesn't help with entropian but if u look on here for cocker spaniels in breeders section it gives a list of advised health tests on both bitch and stud. True it doesn't split between show and working but as hd can be found in most breeds I would want to test  elbows and hips before considering breeding  . At least it puts you in good stead for genetic problems

>I couldn’t see a test for Entropian is it something a BVA eye test would pick up on? She has a clear PLA & BVA eye test.

No, there's no test for entropion; if it crops up you don't repeat the mating that produced it, and you do a lot of research to try to find a potential mate where breed gossip hasn't heard of it occurring.

There is an urban myth that HD/ED isn't important to in smaller breeds.

This is a just a myth & all dogs pedigree or not should be hip/elbow screened before being bred from.

HD/ED are poly generic & ED shows a higher rate of inheritance.

As there is a history of HD with this mating, I personally wouldn't repeat it. You should also look at stud dogs with a history of improving hips, not just a low scorer

If you do opt to repeat I would advise all puppy purchasers to Penhip their puppies at 16 weeks.

You need to look not just at the parents hips, but the whole pedigree & the siblings of the behind the parents.