We are compiling a list of the different health screening tests available now to breeders.

We are aware of Hips/elbows and eyes, but what else can be screened for and how do they 'score' each test result?

EG: Hips  RH 8 / LH 11 total: 19

Please can we keep replies as straight forward and 'simple' as possible. We just need to know the basics.

Also, is testing carried out yearly or is it a one off test?

Your help as always, is much appreciated :)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

MRI scanned for SM(Syringomyelia)-Results are Malformation present/Sphiinx present/Hernination present/clear at the time of scan-can be a mix of all, 2, 1 or none

It is a one off scan

Heart for MVD(Mitre Valve Disorder) can be screened from birth on a scale of 0-6 & is a annual test

Border Collies/Smooth Collies/Rough Collies

DNA tested for MDR 1(Multi Drug Reaction)(one off from full weaning)-Affected/Carrier/Normal

As well as Clinical eye tests-DNA testing for CEA/CH-one off as soon as puppy can have enough blood taken-Affected/Carrier/Normal

Border Collies

DNA tested for CL & TNS-one off as soon as puppy can have enough blood taken-Affected/Carrier/Normal

Puppies from genetically normal parents do not need to be tested for the conditions

BAER is a one-off test, done at any age after 5 weeks. The three possible results are bilateral hearing, unilateral hearing, or totally/bilaterally deaf.

Deerhound - Liver shunt test at 8 weeks old - one off test

Factor VII - recommended that all Deerhounds are tested re this (clear/carrier/affected), puppies from clear parents do not need testing - one off test

Briards ( Congential Stationary Night Blindness) CSNB

a test determines whether a dog is clear ( no copies of mutant gene )

a Carrier ( one copy of the mutant gene and one normal gene )

or affected (two copies of the mutant gene )

DNA test

forgot to add

puppies from clear parents do not need testing - one off test

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERIERS

L2 AND HEREDITERY CATARACTS
PPVB AND PVPB (think its that way round)

basically two different eye test,
one done by qualified specialist vet and the l2 and hereditery cataract done via dna swabs

for swabs contact animal health trust

EITHER Clear, carrier or effected, carriers must only be bred with a clear, efected not bred at all..

l2 is not an eye test its something to do with the brain,

Australian Shepherds

DNA testing for MDR1(Multi Drug Reaction)  -Affected/Carrier/Normal (one off blood test or mouth swab)

DNA testing for CEA/CH and PRA  -Affected/Carrier/Normal (one off blood test)

DNA testing for preliminary cataracts *new* (one off mouth swab)

Gabrielle

Cocker Spaniels

DNA testing for FN (Familial Nethropathy) Normal/Carrier/Affected one off blood test or cheek swab
DNA testing for PRA Clear/Carrier/Affected one off blood test or cheek swab (I believe)

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIERS

All breeding dogs should be DNA tested for L2-HGA and HC

It is a one off test to see if a dog is carrying the genes for either of these conditions.

There are three possible results.

CLEAR = The dog does not carry the gene for the condition and will not be affected by the condition

CARRIER = The dog carries one of the genes for the condition that can be passed onto their offspring, the dog will not be affected by the condition.

AFFECTED = The dog carries two genes for the condition which WILL be passed onto their offspring AND the dog WILL be affected by the condition at some point in its life.

Only DOG with a CLEAR result should be bred from to make sure all puppies born are also CLEAR of the condition. CARRIER to CLEAR mating can take place as long as all pups born are then tested and endorsements placed, though this is not recommended unless you are 100% aware of what you are doing.

CARRIER to CARRIER mating should never take place as there is a chance AFFECTED pups will be born. AFFECTED dogs should never be bred from.

All SBT's should also be eye screened for PHPV and PPSC. It is only a clinical eye exam and you will either get a result of AFFECTED or UNAFFECTED. UNAFFECTED dog can still cary genes for the disease and pup AFFECTED with the condition can still be born from UNAFFECTED parents as there is no DNA test available yet for these conditions.

PHPV is a one off test. Once a dog is tested UNAFFECTED the condition does not develop. All pups should be tested at 6 weeks old by their breeder BEFORE going to their new homes.

The KC does not recognise the results of litter screening as very, very mild PHPV can be missed at such a young age and so all dog should be retested again at a year old. HOWEVER litter screening is vital to make sure pups arent affected before going to their new homes. There is nothing more heartbreaking for a buyer to discover that their pup is going blind. They may not discover this until the dog is much older.

Breeders should also be testing for their own peace of mind to make sure they do not reproduce pups affected by PHPV before they realise previous litters were affected.

PPSC can develop at anytime in a dogs life. Annual eye screening of all dogs is vital. It cannot be detected by litter screening. PPSC is NOT part of the usual eye exam and so owners need to SPECIFICALLY ask for this test to be done when going for their eye exam.

The HC eye exam is no longer necessary if you dog is DNA tested.

NEWFOUNDLANDS

CYSTANURIA  (BLADDER CRYSTALS /STONES) ,CAN LEAD TO  KIDNEY FAILURE , BLADDER RUPTURE  AND DEATH IF NOT TREATED PROMPTLY

Inherited disorder  dna test    

test identifies   genetically clear (homozygous normal)
                        affected
                        carriers (heterozygous)

carriers should not be used for breeding

Current recommendations for MRI scans for Cavaliers are to scan at around 2 and a half years before breeding, and again at 6 years to inform for future generations.

English Springer Spaniel.

Yearly Eye Tests.

Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia ((MRD), puppies should also be screened at 6 weeks old). Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA), General Progressive Retinal Atrophy (GPRA). Should be affected or unaffected.

One Off Eye Tests.

Gonioscopy (predisposition to glaucoma) - affected or unaffected.

DNA Tests.

Fucosidosis - clear, carrier or affected. Offspring from two clear parents will be classed as hereditarily clear and will not need retesting.

PRA - clear, carrier or affected (this test is for ONE type of PRA only, the yearly tests MUST continue even if the dog is PRA DNA tested clear). Offspring from two clear parents will be classed as hereditarily clear and will not need retesting.

.....................................

HD should also be tested for, but many breeders don't bother. Breed mean score is 14 as of 1/11/2008.

Schipperkes from the American bloodlines imported around 2001 DNA test for MPS IIIB this gene has not shown up in earlier American imports or UK lines.

Results are either Affected, Carrier or Normal.

Newfoundlands

Heart testing: Echo doppler for males, bitches need 2 ausculations by a Veterinary with a Diploma in Veterinary Cardiology(DVC) Testing should be repeated yearly(depends who you talk to!) if using for Breeding purposes. From Grade 1 to Grade 6. the higher the number i.e. 6, the more serious the result.

Hips and Elbow scoring: Cannot be done before 12 months of age

Cystinuria: DNA testing available

Breeders should be willing and able to supply proof of health testing. The Newfoundland club and Northern Newfoundland club operate a code of ethics, see the website for details. ALL puppies should really have endorsments on their pedigrees until health testing has been carried out. These will normally be lifted if they to be bred in the future, providing the tests are satisfactory.

Miniature Pinschers:

CERF test (eye test) done yearly

VWD (blood DNA test, done once in a dogs life)  Can come back Carrier, Clear, or Affected.  If parents are clear, then you dont need to test offspring

Patellas (once)

Leggs Calves Perthes (once)

Thyroid

Mucopolysaccharidosis  MPS I, VI, VII (DNA Test, done once) 

Yorkshire Terriers: No health testing is required...although they are prone to subluxation patella...so a knowledge of breeding lines with this problem is recommended.

Leonbergers

Yearly eye tests - HC - affected/unaffected/clear
Hips - 25 in total or less preferred
Elbows - 0-0

Catalan Sheepdogs

Hip Score ( no breed mean score avarage issued yet )
most dogs that have been scored are under 20

Eye test Yearly

Please tell me how a MRI scan can be a one off test? If a dog is showing any signs of the condition then surely you would need to rescan to check for progression? Great that some breeders are scanning BUT personally I don't think that even if a dog has only the Chiari malformation that it should be bred from! My little one was diagnosed with CM at 11months old, her 6th MRI will be done on the 31st March...... Things can change so quickly with this awful condition..... She needs medication daily and will need it for the rest of her life, just for CM....
I hope and pray that there are some CM/SM clear Cavaliers out there cos i fear for the breed....
Just my opinion though!

> her 6th MRI will be done on the 31st March......

Surely you don't need to keep putting her through an anaesthetic.  Can't the medication be adjusted according to the symptoms?

She was having many different problems, we got her rescanned because she developed facial paralysis and that showed that she had PSOM too. How else are we to know how bad things have got without the scan? Wish that there was an easier way.....
2 of her MRI's have been for her hips and they showed that she had Myelitis in her lower spine! The x rays couldn't pick that up.
BELIEVE me if i thought that there was a better way to do things do you not think i would have tried them?
They don't come cheap these scans!!!!!
I would not put my little one through anything that she didn't need, its just unfortunate that she is a poorly dog with many problems. And she will get the best care available.

I don't wish to sound harsh..but isn't it time to stop?

LABRADOR RETRIEVERS

Hip Displacia (HD) graded 0-106 (0:0 - 53:53)    Breed average 15, breed Mean 15, Breed Median 10
Elbow displacia (ED) , graded 0-3.  (0:0 - 3:3)  .. it is recommended that only 0:0 scores are bred from

Eye Testing  Annual
Currently there are three eye examination schemes available in the UK. All utilise acknowledged veterinary ophthalmologists: the BVA/KC Eye Scheme (the main scheme), the EVCO & the AHT. Results of examinations are published in the quarterly Kennel Club BRS.
In the Labrador Retriever several eye diseases are assessed these are:
Hereditary Cataract (HC) this condition may be due to a dominant gene with incomplete penetration, or due to a recessive gene; the type found in the Retriever breeds causes posterior polar cataracts.  Only rarely does it cause total blindness.
Generalised Progressive Retinal Atrophy (GPRA) a very serious eye disease causing total blindness; inheritance is probably due to a simple recessive gene.
Total Retinal Dysplasia (TRD) is a rare cause of blindness in young puppies.  It is caused by a simple recessive gene.
Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia (MRD) seems not to affect eyesight, inheritance unknown at present, possibly due to a simple recessive gene.

The above are either pass or fail..

The OptiGen prcd-PRA Test   is a one off DNA-based test that helps you avoid one form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). PRA refers to a group of diseases that cause the retina of the eye to degenerate slowly over time. The result is declining vision and eventual blindness. "prcd" stands for "progressive rod-cone degeneration" which is the type of PRA known in several breeds

Optigen results are.. Clear, Carrier or Affected..

Affected 'should' be removed from the Gene pool..
Carrier to Clear, will not produce Affected, but may produce a mix of Clear and carriers in the litter
Clear to Clear will produce Clear.. however, Optigen will test Clear to Clear offspring at a reduced cost, and issue a Clear by Parentage Certificate..

Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM) in Labrador Retrievers is an hereditary myopathy characterised by skeletal muscle problems such as muscle weakness and exercise intolerance. It is also known as hereditary myopathy of the Labrador Retriever (HMLR).

The mutation, or change to the structure of the gene, probably occurred spontaneously in a single dog but once in the population has been inherited from generation to generation like any other gene. The disorder shows an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance: two copies of the defective gene (one inherited from each parent) have to be present for a dog to be affected by the disease. Individuals with one copy of the defective gene and one copy of the normal gene - called carriers - show no symptoms but can pass the defective gene onto their offspring. When two apparently healthy carriers are crossed, 25% (on average) of the offspring will be affected by the disease, 25% will be clear and the remaining 50% will themselves be carriers

CLEAR:            the dog has 2 copies of the normal gene and will neither develop CNM, nor pass a copy of the CNM gene to any of its offspring.

CARRIER:         the dog has one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the mutant gene that causes CNM.  It will not develop CNM but will pass on the CNM gene to 50% (on average) of its offspring.

AFFECTED:     the dog has two copies of the CNM mutation and is affected with CNM.  It will develop CNM at some stage during its lifetime, assuming it lives to an appropriate age.

>isn't it time to stop?

I agree. If treatment isn't going to cure her - if she's always going to be suffering - it's surely time to release her from it.

Hi sorry to hear of your dogs problems, I have a very small Yorkie that has a bad leg, I think it was caused by an injury, but the vet is not sure and has sugested an MRI scan, can you please tell me how much it costs for the scan and do you live in the uk, if so where do you get your dog scanned. She will have the scan how ever much it costs but the vet was very vague about the cost so would like an idea of the cost.

Large Munsterlander

Yearly testing for Hereditary Cataract

Hip Scoring

And they are now advising Elbow Scoring too as it is getting a bit more prevalent in the breed.  There are no LM Club guidelines for what scores shouldn't be bred from :(

GSDs

Hip scoring (BMS=19)
Elbow scoring (0:0) please note that unlike hip scores elbow scores are not added together so if you get a 2:3 score the total is 3
HC (Hereditary Cataracts) should be tested annually
Haemophilia A (males tested once only)