Health Testing 101

HEALTH TESTINGS ONE ON ONE

​OUR WHOLE PURPOSE OR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF OUR COMPANION FAMILY DOGS THROUGH A REDUCTION IN THE INCIDENCE OF ALL GENETIC DISEASES, WE TRY OUR HARDEST TO BUY FROM HEALTH TESTED LINES, AND TO IMPROVE OUR LINES AS WE BREED BY DOING OUR OWN HEALTH TEST ON EVERY BREEDING DOG, THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH IN OUR LINES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE THE BEST POSSIBLE MATCH USING LOW COI'S AND OFA ON HIPS, VWD, DM, NE... BY ALL MEANS WE CAN NOT TOTALLY MAKE OUR LINES PERFECT BUT WE TRY REALLY HARD TO LOWER THE CHANCES OF ANY HEREDITARY GENETIC ISSUES.

​WE TEST ALL OUR BREEDING DOGS THROUGH PAW PRINT GENETICS FOR INHERITED GENETIC DISEASES>

What are inherited genetic diseases?

Inherited genetic diseases are diseases that can be passed from parent to offspring through reproduction. Every dog has two copies of each gene (inherited biological blueprints); one copy from their mother and one from their father. Genes contain the information used to create and maintain cells of the body. Mistakes (known as mutations) that occur in genes can result in disease by disrupting normal processes of creating and maintaining these cells. Nearly every cell in the canine body contains an entire copy of the approximately 20,000 genes that interact with each other to bring about the physical traits that make an individual who they are. Genetic diseases can involve any system of the body and dogs can present with a wide variety of clinical signs depending on the particular gene and organ system involved.

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WHAT TESTS DO WE TEST FOR ??? AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ???

THIS PAGE IS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT GENETIC HEALTH ISSUES ARE AND HOW WE ARE TRYING TO CLEAN OUR LINES FREE OF ANY GENETIC ISSUES;

POODLES CARRY THESE GENETIC TRAITS THAT COULD AFFECT THE LIFE OF YOUR NEW PUPPY... BELOW I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT THESE TRAITS ARE AND WHAT THEY MEAN ...

DM

DM STANDS FOR Degenerative Myelopathy OR (DM) FOR SHORT;

This is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord of dogs. Dogs that have inherited two defective copies will experience a breakdown of the cells responsible for sending and receiving signals from the brain, resulting in neurological symptoms.

This disease often begins with an unsteady gait, and the dog may wobble when they attempt to walk. As the disease progresses, the dog's hind legs will weaken and eventually the dog will be unable to walk at all. Degenerative Myelopathy moves up the body, so if the disease is allowed to progress, the dog will eventually be unable to hold his bladder and will lose normal function in its front legs. Fortunately, there is no direct pain associated with Degenerative Myelopathy.

The onset of Degenerative Myelopathy generally occurs later in life starting at an average age of about 8 years. However, some dogs may begin experiencing symptoms much earlier, some later, and a small percentage of dogs that have inherited two copies of the mutation will not experience symptoms at all. Thus, this disease is not completely penetrant, meaning that while a dog with the mutation is highly likely to develop Degenerative Myelopathy, the disease does not affect every dog that has the genotype....

NEwS

NEwS STANDS FOR Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures OR (NEwS) FOR SHORT;

This is an autosomal recessive disease of standard poodle puppies. Affected puppies are small and weak at birth. Many die in their first week of life. Those surviving past 1 week develop ataxia, a whole-body tremor and by 4 to 6 weeks of age, severe generalized clonic-tonic seizures. None have survived to 7 weeks of age. Cerebella from affected puppies were reduced in size.

This fatal disease affects the brain of newborn puppies causing weakness and seizures and ultimately death within a few weeks of birth. Neonatal encephalopathy is recessive — both parents must possess the gene mutation in order to produce offspring affected by the disease. Dogs with one copy of this gene do not show symptom, but are carriers and can pass the gene to their offspring.

vWD1

vWD1 STANDS FOR von Willebrand's Disease Type I OR vWD FOR SHORT;

This is an inherited bleeding disorder that inhibits the normal blood clotting process, causing prolonged bleeding after an injury. People with this condition often experience excessive bruising, prolonged nosebleeds, and excessive bleeding following any form of trauma, including surgery, or dental work.

The primary function of von Willebrand factor (vWF) a blood glycoprotein, is to bind itself to other proteins. The deficiency or failure of vWF function inhibits the blood coagulation process and causes bleeding which is most apparent in tissues having high blood flow or narrow vessels.

Von Willebrand's disease type I (vWDI): In dogs (as well as in people), three separate types of vWD have been identified. Of these three types there are five different genetic mutations causing vWDs in dogs. Genetic tests have been developed to identify all five variants. Von Willebrand's disease type I (VWDI) is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait with variable penetrance and is the least serious of the three.

Pra

The OptiGen prcd-PRA test is a 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.