Health clearances

[elisabeth_00117]

As most know, Zefra is my breeders potential breeding dog. She is only 9.5 months old right now, so we have a looong ways to go before any decisions need to be made, but so far she is a star in her own right.

Obviously she will be hip/elbow checked, she is already determined DM free (both parents are N/N but we are getting her certified too - just waiting for the kit to arrive to test her) but I would also like to perform a few other things such as; heart, eyes.

She is training in schutzhund at the moment and will be trialing for her BH in the late summer when she is of age, and hopefully next year going for her IPO1 & 2. She is also going to a show in May to get her SG (positive thoughts right?!).

Just curious to see what other test people would perform/think necessary?

I am meeting up with my breeder tomorrow and we will chat about the heart and eyes which I would like to get done and anything else that she deems necessary.

[BlackthornGSD]

What are you going to test the heart for? What are you going to test eyes for? Are there problems in the breed that are not diagnosed in a normal vet exam? Are there any tests for these that are testing genotype (say a dog will develop or be able to pass on a problem)?

If so, I don't know of it--so, please, I'd like to learn.

If there's any family history--I'd test for Von Willebrand's--I think it's more common in the (American?) conformation lines. I've not heard of a case of it in the working lines in the last 10 years. My first GSD (7/8 Am. show lines, 1/8 Ger.show lines) was diagnosed as a non-affected VWD carrier back in 1994.

If there's any family history, it might be worth looking into the DNA testing for inherited juvenile renal problems.

If you're xraying, it can be useful to go ahead and get a film of the spine--it's useful for future comparisons. Also, I think it's important to know if a dog has a transitional vertabra (which OFA will note on their xray evaluations).

[robinhuerta]

Christine,
Why would you have a concern with "Transitional Vertabra"?.....the Ortho vet we have used, (and another Ortho vet/husband of a friend)....both have stated it is not a *problem*...in the spine or hips.
Just curious?

[gagsd]

I have done cardiac on my dogs. For two reasons.
1. It is easy. The regular vet can check and sign off at the same time as hips/elbows.
2. I have personal experience with PDA's. For $15, I can document that my dogs' heart are fine.

[elisabeth_00117]

What are you going to test the heart for? What are you going to test eyes for?

I am just trying to cover all the basics, if that makes sense.

Are there problems in the breed that are not diagnosed in a normal vet exam?

Not that I am aware of, but again - I have no clue what I am doing here.... lol.. which is why I will discuss it with my breeder and why I came here to ask.

Are there any tests for these that are testing genotype (say a dog will develop or be able to pass on a problem)?

Again, not that I am aware of, but I would like to find out!

If there's any family history--I'd test for Von Willebrand's--I think it's more common in the (American?) conformation lines. I've not heard of a case of it in the working lines in the last 10 years. My first GSD (7/8 Am. show lines, 1/8 Ger.show lines) was diagnosed as a non-affected VWD carrier back in 1994.

No family history that I am aware of with this, but I would like to test for everything I can in reason that *might* or *could* become an issue... yes, I am probably being over zelous with this but I want to ensure that I am not adding anything into the gene pool that could be an issue for later generations. Since Zeffie is half mine, I feel an obligation to ensure she is 100000000000000% healthy and will only pass on good things!

If there's any family history, it might be worth looking into the DNA testing for inherited juvenile renal problems.

I will definitely ask about this today. Not quite sure what this is - googling now!

If you're xraying, it can be useful to go ahead and get a film of the spine--it's useful for future comparisons. Also, I think it's important to know if a dog has a transitional vertabra (which OFA will note on their xray evaluations).

Good idea! This I will DEFINITELY do because with her in sport(s) it might be beneficial later on in life. Who knows. Good thinking! Thanks!

[elisabeth_00117]

Originally Posted by gagsd

I have done cardiac on my dogs. For two reasons.
1. It is easy. The regular vet can check and sign off at the same time as hips/elbows.
2. I have personal experience with PDA's. For $15, I can document that my dogs' heart are fine.

This is kinda my train of thought.

Even though I know everything will come back okay, it's nice to have that information "certified".

[Andaka]

You might also ant to chick her thyroid levels. Easy blood test.

[BlackthornGSD]

Originally Posted by robinhuerta

Christine,
Why would you have a concern with "Transitional Vertabra"?.....the Ortho vet we have used, (and another Ortho vet/husband of a friend)....both have stated it is not a *problem*...in the spine or hips.
Just curious?

Doh. Just accidentally deleted my reply in progress.

I've seen a connection with back/spinal problems in two dogs. One of them at a fairly young age was having pain when his tail was lifted above his back. Vet exam could come up with no other issues--"he is in pain when his tail is lifted" -- owners were seeing random, occasional spasms of pain--like shooting pain to the dog's leg where the dog would suddenly yelp and limp--then be fine a few seconds later. They started acupuncture on him when he was a pretty young dog and feel like it has helped him a lot.

I don't know whether the TV is recessive or dominant, single-gene or multi-gene, but I know that I would never consciously breed a TV dog to another TV dog.

[BlackthornGSD]

Originally Posted by elisabeth_00117

This is kinda my train of thought.

Even though I know everything will come back okay, it's nice to have that information "certified".

So OFA heart certification is just a one-time exam by a regular vet?

So, basically, it's just documenting that you've done what you've already done?

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Cardiologist, it should be: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Cardiac Disease

I have a dog with a murmur, likely from being shot before I got her, caused an AV fistula that was corrected in surgery, she see's a cardiologist just about yearly depending on the results of the exam, and there is a huge difference between any vet who has seen her/done diagnostics (and she's seen a few) and the cardiologists she sees in terms of the quality of the information that I get. Ha-UGE.

This list is old and like they say, inheritance is complex in some of these things: http://www.upei.ca/~cidd/breeds/germanshepherd2.htm but I think Anna's first cardiologist is one who is big into GSDs and the heart disease common to them. http://www.vet.cornell.edu/faculty/moise/pubs.htm I think she was a little disappointed that Anna was not a PB GSD and was also likely not a congenital case.