I am taking Britney,(Dogue de Bordeaux) up to North Yorkshire to get her hips and elbows x-rayed tomorrow,(Moonmaidens fault) but it gives me a chance to have a look round Scarbrough, but will still be worried about the anasthetic, so we decided to get the elbows done at the same time to stop the need for another anathetic. Now we are looking into the heart testing is it best to just let the vet do a grading or go straight for the doppler at a specialist clinic to be sure, as some may know that Bordeaux's have health problems and I do not want to breed off Brit untill everything is done, could someone please tell me what doppler entails,I have never had a breed that need's this test done that I have bred from. I have tried some bordeaux breeders but get different answer's as few do seem to do these tests, My main question is, should I just go for gradeing or to be very sure go for the doppler, and if so were would I be able to get this done

In Boxers the initial heart-scoring is done by ascultation (stethascope)
by a vet that specialises in cardiology. We are lucky as at most breed open shows we
have heart-testing. :)
If they feel that the dog has a grade 2 or above they will then suggest a referral
for doppler. The cardiologist normally give you a form which has to go back to your own
vet for a referral.
In Boxers we have a heart-list booklet which also lists the vets that are approved
for our Boxer heart-testing by ascultation and those that do doppler.
In Boxers anything that scores 0 or 1 is considered clear for breeding purposes.
Our heart-scheme is aimed at aortic stenosis and has now been running for 10 plus years
All cardiologists have remarked that the incidence of severe aortic stenosis has dropped within our
breed since introducing this scheme.
If you want to read about the aortic stenosis heart problem within Boxers goto the website
http://www.boxerunderground.com/uk

It depends on the heart problems that are prevalent in your breed. For instance Dobermanns are best done by colour ultrasound, or by a unit they wear for 24 hours (that I can't currently remember the name of) as ascultation is not suitable for diagnosing dilated cardiomyopathy

Christine

Christine you are thinking of the holtor/holter monitor
which normally is worn by the dog for 24 hours. :)

Some cardiologists can pick up irregularities in heart function
when they do their initial testing by ascultation but these cases
are referred for ECG,Doppler and holtor testing for the definitive diagnosis.

With aortic stenosis in Boxers if they feel the grading is 2 and higher they will refer/offer
for the further diagnostic checks.

Hi Kirstine
Thanks for that, it had been a long day and I just could not think of the word I wanted.

Christine