Testing For Health Concerns Before You Breed

The importance of testing for health concerns before you breed cannot be underestimated. Stud dogs and bitches should be tested and certified free of serious conditions before they become part of your breeding program. This is very important because failure to do so can result in unfavorable genetics being passed on to future generations of puppies. A truly responsible breeder will want to work to keep these genetic diseases and disorders out of the lines. The best way to do this is to have all intact dogs and bitches tested and neuter or spay those found to have genetic diseases or disorders. These dogs and bitches can still make excellent companion dogs but they should not be used for breeding purposes. The types of testing required will vary for different breeds but this article will provide information on some of the common tests and certifications that should be used before the breeding process starts.

There are many breeds, especially large breeds, that have problems with joints. This may include elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia as well as problems with any of the joints in the body. These dysplastic conditions as well as other joint issues are hereditary so dogs and bitches with these conditions should not be bred. Joint issues are typically diagnosed through close examination of the x-rays of the joints. Your veterinarian can x-ray the joints to be sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). The OFA will examine these x-rays and certify your dog or bitch with a rating of fair, good or excellent depending on the overall health of the joints. Only dogs and bitches with ratings of fair, good or excellent should be bred. Dogs and bitches failing to obtain one of these ratings should be neutered or spayed to avoid accidental breeding which can put future litters of puppies at risk for dysplastic conditions.

Eye conditions are often evident in a variety of different breeds. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is one of the eye related conditions which occurs in many breeds and should be screened for before breeding. To be certified free of this condition, eye examinations must be performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist and the results of the examination must be submitted to the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF). CERF will issue certifications to dogs and bitches meeting their requirements. However, it is important to note these certifications are only valid for one year. PRA is a progressive disease so dogs and bitches must undergo annual examinations to determine they are still free of symptoms associated with this disease.

There are other types of tests and certifications available. A truly responsible breeder should thoroughly research their breed to determine which genetic disorder and diseases are common. Care should be taken to ensure all dogs and bitches used in a breeding program are free of any of these diseases or disorders. Care should also be taken to neuter or spay any dogs or bitches found to have these diseases or disorders even if they are not scheduled to be used for breeding purposes. This is important because accidental breedings can still occur.

Finally, both stud dogs and bitches should be tested for brucellosis. The testing for this venereal disease should have taken place within the last six months. Most stud dog owners will require proof of this type of testing in the stud dog contract. Owners of bitches should also require the stud dog to be tested within six months of the breeding.