Breeders who test for Autoimmune Thyroiditis?

[gusto]

I'm researching for my next GSD and I can't pin down any breeders that routinely check for Autoimmune Thyroiditis. I'm a professional dog behaviorist and see an alarmingly high number of GSDs who come in for people aggr, dog aggr, or seperation anxiety that-once tested-come back as low thyroid. I have a list of the breeders and it just keeps growing.

I love German shepherds, I've owned 2 with my current being a rescue who tested low and lives a relatively normal life with her thyroxine. The health issues caused by her condition are also under control.
I'm searching for my next GSD and plan to purchase from a breeder but so far can't find any who routinely check for Autoimmune Thyroiditis.
Any help out there?

I prefer the Czech/East German lines. Located in Washington, USA. I'm willing to fly anywhere in the US for a good breeder.

[gusto]

So no one knows of breeders who routinely test but what about breeders or lines that are doing better in the battle?

[Emoore]

Forgive me, but I didn't think it had been confirmed that the disease was definitely genetic in nature? Is there a genetic test available?

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Here's some info: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Thyroid Disease

• Hypothyroidism
• Thyroid Classifications
• OFA Thyroid Procedures
• Thyroid Labs
• Info for Vets
• Thyroid Statistics
• Thyroid Application

[gusto]

Originally Posted by Emoore

Forgive me, but I didn't think it had been confirmed that the disease was definitely genetic in nature? Is there a genetic test available?

It's not been confirmed in German shepherds but has been confirmed as genetic in Irish Water spaniels and others. I believe people as well.

I was just hopeful that their may be breeders who are aware of the problem like IWS, Siberian husky and many of the Terrier breeders.

Edited to add that right now, you can only test whether that dog has the condition. No genetic screening available. OFA has a registry. Michigan State or Jean Dodds are the two tests.

[Emoore]

You're right Jean, I had forgotten you could OFA test for thyroid.

Oh look, Kleinen Hain OFA tests for thyroid.

[gusto]

Originally Posted by Emoore

You're right Jean, I had forgotten you could OFA test for thyroid.

Oh look, Kleinen Hain OFA tests for thyroid.

Thanks for the breeder. Hopefully I'll be able to find more

[GSDElsa]

I guess I don't see the point in doing this and can see why breeders don't. Just because a dog does NOT have it one day does not mean they won't develop it tomorrow. Testing on a 2 year old being used for breeding NOW that is clear of it doesn't mean that same dog at 4 years old won't develop a thyroid issue.

And if you look at the stats, GSD's are very low on the list. You are seeing dogs with this problem because the symptoms are the reasons they are seeing you--I do no tthink that, at the end of the day, this is a horribly prevelant condition amongst our breed.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

The disease has variable onset, but tends to clinically manifest itself at 2 to 5 years of age. Dogs may be clinically normal for years, only to become hypothyroid at a later date. The marker for autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroglobulin autoantibody formation, usually occurs prior to the occurrence of clinical signs. Therefore, periodic retesting is recommended.

The majority of dogs that develop autoantibodies have them by 3 to 4 years of age. Development of autoantibodies to any time in the dog’s life is an indication that the dog, most likely, has the genetic form of the disease. Using today's technology only a small fraction of false positive tests occur.

As a result of the variable onset of the presence of autoantibodies, periodic testing will be necessary. Dogs that are negative at 1 year of age may become positive at 6 years of age. Dogs should be tested every year or two in order to be certain they have not developed the condition.

Since the majority of affected dogs will have autoantibodies by 4 years of age, annual testing for the first 4 years is recommended. After that, testing every other year should suffice. Unfortunately, a negative at any one time will not guarantee that the dog will not develop thyroiditis.

Is the recommended procedure to work with the dog's system per that OFA link.

I don't think that out of the what? 70-100,000 GSDs produced every year that there is a large enough sample of breeding stock having been tested to determine the prevalence of the condition in the breed.

[gusto]

Originally Posted by GSDElsa

I guess I don't see the point in doing this and can see why breeders don't. Just because a dog does NOT have it one day does not mean they won't develop it tomorrow. Testing on a 2 year old being used for breeding NOW that is clear of it doesn't mean that same dog at 4 years old won't develop a thyroid issue.

True but it gives an indication as to whether it is prevelant. What I'm seeing are dogs who are tested at 10 months to 1 1/2 years that are showing low thyroid. That is a concern, not the dog who develops it later in life.

And if you look at the stats, GSD's are very low on the list. You are seeing dogs with this problem because the symptoms are the reasons they are seeing you--I do no tthink that, at the end of the day, this is a horribly prevelant condition amongst our breed.

GSDs are low because no one tests. Irish Water Spaniels had hypothyroidism bred into them, not on purpose but it's the low thyroid that causes their patterning (faces and tails are smooth). Once found out they have been working to eradicate the problem and trying to not also loose that feature. All IWS breeding stock is tested. They are #81, meanwhile GSDs with only a handful being tested are #52.

I'm not looking to change anyone's minds, I just want to find a healthy puppy. These dogs are coming from breeders I had my on my list of possibles but when a 10 month old dog comes back low, I find it hard to believe that a blood draw at 2 wouldn't have caught that.