Marty
10-25-2005, 04:55 AM
To produce a healthy litter the bitch and stud dog must be physically and mentally healthy. Health tests must be performed before breeding, and vary depending upon the breed. The following article provides an overview of the most common health tests, however further research and consultation with your veterinarian will be necessary to determine the necessary tests for your chosen breed.
Brucellosis
Your veterinarian will conduct two tests done one month apart to determine the evidence of brucellosis, a sexually transmitted disease that can cause the bitch to abort her litter and can cause infertility in male dogs. An infected dog may appear to be healthy, so testing before breeding must be done. A dog diagnosed with brucellosis should not be bred.
CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation)
Submit eye examination results given by a veterinary opthamologist to CERF annually for certification. The eye examination will look for PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), cataracts or other eye diseases. A dog diagnosed with eye disease should not be bred.
OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)
Dysplasia: Submit hip and elbow X-rays taken by a veterinarian to OFA for evaluation. If the X-rays are rated ‘Fair,’ ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ the dog can be bred. If the X-rays are rated ‘Dysplastic’ the dog should not be bred. Dysplasia is a hereditary joint disorder that can be very painful and, although it can be treated, no responsible breeder would breed a dog with this rating.
Thyroid disease: OFA can also evaluate blood tests taken by a veterinarian to test for thyroid disease, which can cause reproductive problems. A dog with thyroid disease should not be bred.
Brucellosis
Your veterinarian will conduct two tests done one month apart to determine the evidence of brucellosis, a sexually transmitted disease that can cause the bitch to abort her litter and can cause infertility in male dogs. An infected dog may appear to be healthy, so testing before breeding must be done. A dog diagnosed with brucellosis should not be bred.
CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation)
Submit eye examination results given by a veterinary opthamologist to CERF annually for certification. The eye examination will look for PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), cataracts or other eye diseases. A dog diagnosed with eye disease should not be bred.
OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)
Dysplasia: Submit hip and elbow X-rays taken by a veterinarian to OFA for evaluation. If the X-rays are rated ‘Fair,’ ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ the dog can be bred. If the X-rays are rated ‘Dysplastic’ the dog should not be bred. Dysplasia is a hereditary joint disorder that can be very painful and, although it can be treated, no responsible breeder would breed a dog with this rating.
Thyroid disease: OFA can also evaluate blood tests taken by a veterinarian to test for thyroid disease, which can cause reproductive problems. A dog with thyroid disease should not be bred.