need to directly request specific health tests with vet, what do i ask for.

[x11]

i took my pup in for a full health test and medical, expecting to know his status for every common ailment in the breed - i told my vet i want it all tested by all meaning absolutely everything that can be tested to be tested, expecting a substantial bill and multiple follow ups analysing results etc - here is what happened - vet checked his ears, teeth, nuts, eyes, weight, joints, movement, prodde his tummy, listened to heart ... whole range of great stuff. sound good - NO thats NOT what i wanted, i want all the gentic defects relavant to the breed to be tested, clear communication between me and my vet, i am not even sure what specific tests to ask for apart from the obvious hips and elbows which will be done at 2yo what do you specifically ask a vet to do - the issues in the breed i know of are epilepsy, dm, hips elbows i am sure there are many more.

is there a list of defects and tests available i can refer my vet to, breed experienced guys please help out, i don't know what i don't know but am trying to do nothing but the absolute best for my dog.

btw, he is not sick, in perfect health according to the vet.

futher btw, i don't think it cool to bash vets, i respect and admire their skills and training (mine specialised in large animals not companion animals), i am just unable to communicate what i want tested.

advice appreciatted

[llombardo]

All I can think of is xrays on hips and elbows. Maybe tested for EPI, but other then that you can't test for cancer, which is a big one with any breed. You can also get a complete blood panel, but I wouldn't count on anything coming up there if the dog is healthy now. I think that the vet did what he was suppose to, there isn't many tests out there that can help you in your quest to find probably nothing. When my dog was sick, she was tested for heartworm, lyme, lepto, had a couple xrays and $1500 later they still couldn't figure out what was wrong.

[I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO]

The only thing I can think of that is worth doing are hip/elbow xrays, and you might as well do lower back too while you're there (lumbosacral disease is common in this breed-symptoms usually show at 5-7yoa-maybe xrays at 2yo would show the start of it)
DM test isn't very accurate, dogs that test negative end up getting it anyway.

[x11]

thanks for comment and yes will skip the cancer test, EPI is??? hips/elbows obvious, DM??

yeah was not bagging my vet.

we are all told to be responsible owners etc and hear so much about the genetic defects in the breed i was trying to be pro-active.

this dog has been selected for breeding and i keep putting people off by saying that he has not been health certified - there is actually no such certification apparently?? other than the simple things i did and the vet deemed him of good temprement to boot???

maybe i am overthinking it booking him in at easter for hips/elbows and now EPI? as well and whatever else i can think of between now and then.

so we heard it a million times about the difference betwen a byb and an awesome breeder is the health testing - so is that just the few things mentioned here?, seems to easy. health certs are not the huge deal i thought they were, will keep researching tho.

[I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO]

There is a cancer screening test available. My dog, as well as many others on this board, were part of the study to help develop it:

Veterinary Diagnostics Institute

Also, what do you mean by the dog was selected for breeding? By whom? Getting hip/elbow xrays and other health screenings are a good start to determine if a dog is good for breeding, but definitely not the whole package.

[x11]

my decoy is just out of millitary i had no intentions of breeding gsd's, my decoy likes him a lot and contacted his ex-boss and they seen him over a period of time and made me an offer and will use there best female. i put them off once but now they want a decision to be made. just feel out of my depth to make such a decision.

[I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO]

Originally Posted by x11

my decoy is just out of millitary i had no intentions of breeding gsd's, my decoy likes him a lot and contacted his ex-boss and they seen him over a period of time and made me an offer and will use there best female. i put them off once but now they want a decision to be made. just feel out of my depth to make such a decision.

I would be very skeptical of someone who wanted to breed their best female with a dog that doesn't even have hip xrays. JMO

[x11]

i agree, and hips/elbows are booked in.

[llombardo]

Originally Posted by I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO

There is a cancer screening test available. My dog, as well as many others on this board, were part of the study to help develop it:

Veterinary Diagnostics Institute

What is the average cost of this test? Do all vets offer it?

[I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO]

Originally Posted by llombardo

What is the average cost of this test? Do all vets offer it?

I have no idea how much it costs (since Mikko was in the study, he got tested for free). I've been meaning to find out because I want to get it done again-it's more of a yearly test-not a one time clearance.
Any vet can offer it-they have to order the test kit from that link I posted and draw blood and send it back to the company.