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Canine Health and Genetic Testing

Caninie Genetics and Health Testing: What do I need to know?

You don't need a degree in genetics, or even a college course, to understand the basics of health testing in dogs.

Every aspect of any dog's physical being began as contributions from it's parent's bodies,carried in their genetic code. As an example, there are certain health conditions in Golden Retrivers, Poodles and Labradors which can be passed from parent to puppy in the genetic material. Hence are found in the hybrids known as Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever/Poodle crosses) and Labradoodles (Labrador Retriver/Poodle crosses). These are called heritable (that is, "able to be inherited") disorders. In only one case, Von Willebrand's Disease, do we actually know what gene is responsible. In the case of this disease, a laboratory can examine cells from a dog to see if the gene is present. A dog having the gene would not be bred.

In all other instances we cannot look for a gene to tell us of the presence of a certain disease. We have to look for evidence of the disease itself. In the case of heritable eye diseases in Poodles and Doodles, for example, an exam is conducted by a veterinary opthamologist every year to determine if a disease is developing. Dogs that show symptoms of a heritable eye disease are eliminated from the breeding program. Other examples of heritable diseases tested for by some Doodle breeders include thyroid disease, some forms of heart disease, Addison's disease, sebaceous adenitis, hip dysplasia and diabetes.

The heritable disease found in Doodles that most people seem familiar with is Hip Dysplasia (HD). This disease is a sort of Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) , with symptoms similar to arthritis in humans. In dogs though, the heritable form of the disease is not a disease of old age, but can develop while the dog is still quite young and is obvious on X-rays as the hip joint has abnormal features which are present from birth. As with most things, the hip architecture can range from great to horrible, with some hips in between. Two schemes are commonly available in the US for evaluating hips. OFA screening relies on veterinarians reading an x-ray and assigning a rank: 'Excellent', 'Good', 'Fair' 'Borderline' or 'Dysplastic'. Breeders who base decisions about breeding on OFA generally agree that 'Excellent' and 'Good' rankings are fine to breed, and also agree that 'Borderline' or 'Dysplastic ' are not acceptable for breeding. As with all other decisions where there are gray areas, some breeders will breed a dog with a 'Fair' rank, and others will not. But this is really a judgement call and not all breeders agree. There is a registry (offa.org) that collects and reports hip assessments to assist in recording and tracking these rankings. OFA will not certify a dogs hips until the age of 2 years, however, so some breeders are using a specialized x-ray technique called PennHIP testing, which can be done as young as 4 months of age. This test results in a score for each hip, ranging from .1 to .9, and reflects how tight the hip joint is, and the average score varies by dog breed. Tighter hips, that is lower scores, are less likely to develop DJD and are desirable in any breeding dog. In my opinion, any score under .3 is clearly breedable. Anything over .6 is clearly not breedable. In between .3 and .6 is a gray area. Breeders who utilize this method track the average scores for their breed, and try to breed only dogs with average or better-than-average scores. For example, the average hip score for Standard Poodles is currently .5. If a Poodle were to score .42, in the middle zone, it would be considered breedable by most because it is better than average. However .42 would NOT be considered breedable by most Borzoi breeders because that breed average is .19!

Mini-Labradoodles are at risk for slightly different problems as they are bred from Miniature Poodles instead of Standard Poodles. For example, the incidence of hip dysplasia is so low in the Minis that some breeders choose not to test for it. So breeders may test for some or all of these diseases. Some breeders do not test at all. If testing for heritable diseases is important to you it should be among the questions you ask of prospective breeders.

Another way breeders try to eliminate HD and other heritable diseases from their breeding lines is to examine their dog's pedigrees carefully. Looking at hip assessments and other health records of relatives (grandparents, siblings, half-siblings, cousins, etc) and choosing breeding stock with the healthiest background possible is all part of the picture.

One of the difficulties in trying to eliminate heritable disorders in dogs is that most of the genes that cause the disorders are what are termed 'recessive'. This means they are hidden, or masked, by other genes. A parent that does NOT show the disease, but is carrying the gene, can pass that gene carrying the disease to a pup. If BOTH parents happen to be carriers and pass the genes to a pup, the pup can have TWO defective genes and will show the disease. This is similar to 2 brown-eyed parents having a blue eyed child. Blue is recessive, but if both parents are blue carriers, they can have a blue -eyed child. Some heritable diseases are passed in this manner, via a single recessive gene. Complicating this picture in the case of HD is the fact that hip dysplasia appears to be controlled by several genes, so predicting it's inheritance is even more difficult. It IS possible to have 2 parents with good hip scores, or good hip x-rays, produce a puppy with hip dysplasia.

In addition to testing members of a breeding pair, breeders will gather testing information on relatives of their breeding pair. The scores of parents, grandparents, siblings, siblings of parents, and even puppies produced from previous litters will all be examined. In some cases it is better to breed a dog with slightly below average hips, if the test results for all relatives are excellent, than to breed a dog with good hips who has HD in it's pedigree. So interpreting test results is no easy task! This is true for the other heritable diseases passed as recessive traits as well.

But Doodle breeders who test their breeding stock do the best they can. They use their dogs test results to help make the best pairings possible in their breeding decisions. The hope is to reduce the number of Doodle pups born with hip dysplasia by removing dogs from the breeding population that have clearly substandard hips, and by following the offspring of dogs with hip scores in the middle ranges to see if their pups remain healthy. We do the same for all diseases that are known or suspected to be heritable in Labradoodles and Goldendoodles.

About the Author

Helene Roussi raises and breeds Labradoodles and Goldendoodles in Columbus, Ohio.

Related Information of Interest:

Test Your Canine Acumen
1. According to tests made at the Institute for the Study of Animal Problems in Washington, D.C., dogs and cats, just like people…
A. Worry about what they will wear to work in the morning.
B. Enjoy reading while eating breakfast.
C. Need a retirement plan.
D. Are either right-handed or left-handed-or rather favor either their right or left paws.

D. Are either right-handed or left-handed-or rather favor either their right or left paws.
TBD: Very, very, interesting, don't you think?

2. Jackals are different from dogs and wolves in what way?
A. They live on a different continent.
B. They are really alien life forms.
C. They are canids.
D. They have one more pair of chromosomes.

D. They have one more pair of chromosomes.
TBD: Even though they may look like alien life forms, they are Canids just like dogs and wolves.

3. Most dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with their ears. However, a few breeds have only about 10 expressions. Can you name those breeds?
A. Bulldogs and Pitbulls
B. Labrador and Golden retrievers
C. Poodles and Dachshunds
D. Beagles and Chihuahuas

A. Bulldogs and Pitbulls
TBD: Due to their breeding, dogs such as Bulldogs and Pitbulls have fewer facial expressions and so are often misinterpreted by other dogs which leads to fights. Poor misunderstood pooches.

4. The fear of dogs and/or rabies is called what?
A. Rabodogophobia
B. Dogophobia
C. Cynophobia
D. Canophobia

C. Cynophobia
TBD: Hey, don't blame us, that's what the research says!

5. Of the more than 300 breeds of dogs that exist worldwide, how many does the American Kennel Club recognize?
A. 300
B. 212
C. 145
D. 101

C. 145
TBD: Gee, I wonder why you would have answered 101?

6. Jack London wrote this story about a dog named Buck. Can you name it?
A. A Dog Named Buck
B. Buck's Marvelous Adventures
C. Don't Pass the Buck
D. Call of the Wild

D. Call of the Wild
TBD: Gosh, we tried to make it easy for those nonliterary types out there… After all, there is even a movie! We read the book, however.

7. The Dalmation was named for the place where the breed first originated, can you name it?
A. Mount Dalmation in Africa
B. Dalmation coast of Croatia
C. Dalmation Island in the Thousand Islands
D. The tiny country of Dalmatia

B. Dalmation coast of Croatia
TBD: The other places are only a figment of our imagination, so far as she knows anyway…

8. Can you name the dog featured in the Grinch Who Stole Christmas?
A. Who
B. Max
C. Rudi
D. Suzi

B. Max
TBD: Phllllbbbttt! To those who didn't know. It was Max who stole the show, don't ya think!

9. The English Romantic poet Lord Byron inscribed this passage on a gravestone "Beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, and all the virtues of man without his vices." Can you name the object of his tribute?
A. His beloved Newfoundland Boatswain.
B. His wife Anna Isabella.
C. His daughter Augusta Ada.
D. His granduncle William.

A. His beloved Newfoundland Boatswain.
TBD: Come on, be real! This is a quiz about dogs!

10. Can you name the dog who caused so many problems for Foghorn Leghorn in the Looney Tunes?

A. Rufus Wufus
B. Barnyard Dog
C. Just Dog
D. Spotted Dog

B. Barnyard Dog
TBD: That was news to us, too.

11. Which animal was first domesticated by humans?

A. Goat
B. Cat
C. Dog
D. Horse

C. Dog
TBD: Apparently some argument can be made that the goat might have come first in some areas, but the dog is Numero Uno for most evidence of early man!

12. Ralph and Sam, the Looney Tune wolf and sheepdog cartoon character adversaries, would engage in what activity between their bouts?

A. They would punch a time-clock.
B. They would have tea.
C. They would play bridge.
D. They would roller-skate.

A. They would punch a time-clock.
TBD: They would punch in at the beginning of each shift and out at the end as well as for their lunch break.

13. The Beatles son "Martha My Dear" was written by Paul McCartney about…

A. His sheepdog Martha
B. His mother Martha
C. His sister Martha
D. His veterinarian Martha

A. His sheepdog Martha
TBD: If you guess wrong, we sincerely hope you guessed "D" because this is a canine quiz after all.

14. Domestic dogs vary widely in appearance and size, but despite these differences all breeds of the domestic dog are essentially identical in anatomy. Which is NOT an anatomical characteristic of the dog?
A. An average of 321 bones in their skeleton.
B. Thirteen pairs of ribs in the rib cage.
C. A spine with seven cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae, seven lumbar vertebrae and three sacral vertebrae.
D. The presence of a dewclaw, an extra digit on the paw.

D. The presence of a dewclaw, an extra digit on the paw.
TBD: Apparently not all breeds have a dewclaw and this why the average number of bones in the skeleton varies!

15. Can you name the dog on the Cracker Jack box?
A. Jack
B. Bingo
C. Cracker
D. Prize

B. Bingo
TBD: Just think of all the knowledge we share to make your life more meaningful!

You can enjoy more trivia created by Deanna Mascle at Trivia By Dawggone and Fun Trivia Online..

Transform Your Life!
Is it time to make changes for the betterment of your health, although, you
just don't know how? Are you tired of living day by day doing the same thing
over and over and getting the same results? Well, it starts with you! In order
to make changes in your life right now, you have to be open and non-resistant
to change. Transformation is a process which most people are afraid of because
it requires them to live outside of their box. We go through our whole lives
thinking we are living because we go to work, pay the bills, eat junk food and
then expect to have excellent health.

Your body is your temple,your life source, and what we put into it is clearly
visible through your measure of health, well being and longevity. We all strive
to live a quality life and age gracefully, so why not feed it foods that will
aid us on our journey.

The first step to transforming your mind is to be open to eating healthier by
preparing these transitional recipes from the e-cookbook: Quick & Easy
Vegetarian Recipes To Heal Your Body. These recipes will allow you to have
familiar tasty healthy food, such as, Buffalo Tofu 'Wangs' and Marinated
Collards. You will not only enjoy every recipe, but you will be enticed to try
other healthy foods. This ecookbook is the bridge to the other side of EATING
HEALTHY & TRANSFORMING YOUR LIFE!

canavacafeecookbook.com

Monique Marion Sharp has been serving vegetarian food to the movers and shakers of Atlanta metropolitan for the past seven years. While serving the community, she has worked at Atlanta's most popular restaurants and hotels observing and learning everything from the kitchen to the front of the restaurant. Monique is currently working on opening a vegetarian cafe in Atlanta, Georgia. The proceeds of this book will contribute to the opening of Canava Cafe. She is available for cooking classes and personal chef services.

Canine Arthritis Medicine

Before you decide to give your dog canine arthritis medicine you should understand what arthritis is and why medication will ease your dog’s symptoms.

Arthritis in dogs is just like in humans, it is when a joint becomes inflamed. It can be very painful, swell and become hard to move. Dogs can have different types of arthritis also. Before just giving your dog any type of medication you find at the store, you should have your veterinarian check your dog for signs of arthritis.

Canine arthritis medicine will not make the arthritis go away. There are no cures for arthritis. In severe cases, surgery can be an alternative. But, many medications will relive the pain and swelling associated with arthritis. After your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with canine arthritis it would be best to find out what medicines he thinks would be best for the type of arthritis you dog is suffering with.

There are many different types of pain killers and anti inflammatory medications that are great in helping your dog. With these medicines your dog will be able to play again and even enjoy life more.

The main thing to remember is that you do not want your best friend suffering with pain if he doesn’t have to. He will not be happy and can become worse without the medication. The pain from arthritis will have him lying around and then his joints can become stiffer. He needs to exercise and that is very hard to do, if he is in severe pain.

Luckily, its an ailment that can be treated with treatments such as Arthramine which helps repair the damaged tissue.

Niall Kennedy http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net Pet Medication Supplies can help you get the best possible protection for your pet. Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline, Heartgard - find the best deals in pet medication for flea and tick control, arthritis and lyme disease.

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Preventing Canine Bloat
Bloat refers to the bloating of the stomach. Essentially it is a build up of gas in the stomach which is unable to be released. Bloat with Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists 180 to 360 degrees on it's axis between the esophagus and duodenum or the entrance and exit parts of the stomach.

5 Tips For Choosing the Best Vet For Your Dog
If you haven’t already found one, or worked with one in the past, you need to find a vet. Pick one you feel comfortable with, and who answers your questions in full, completely and gives you answers you can understand. You don’t need a vet who talks down to you, or acts like you’re too dumb to understand what they’re saying!

An Amazing Statistic
I was reading a book the other day about hip dysplasia in dogs. Before going further, I should add that this applies to cats as well. The article was written by a veterinarian and it had something very important to say about this painful condition. An incredible 65-70% of young puppies display hip dysplasia when screened with an X-ray.

Are All Those Pet Vaccinations Really Necessary?
Would you like to save money and have a healthier pet? Let me tell you a story. One day, my German Shepherd was asleep, as usual, when he suddenly started convulsing so intensely that I thought he must be dying. It went on for a few minutes, which seemed like forever. After, I couldn’t believe he was OK.

Dog Health Insurance Buyer's Guide
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