Tests for breeding males & bitches - Page 1

What are the most important diseases you test for before you breed a male or female?
What are the diseases that can not be cured and dog should not be bred?
What are the diseases that can be treated and if possible mention your own experience of successful treatment.
Thanks
Ibrahim

Mange is something that should always prevent a breeding regardless of the visible quality or bloodlines of the dogs from a genetic standpoint. I've never had it but it's important to look for, ask about, and research.
Coccidiosis, Giardia, and worms can be dormant in the bitch's udders and you may never know it. But it's all easily treatable.

I test when there's reasonable cause to; when an individual dog or next of kin displays outward symtoms, or it's specific bloodlines have developed a distinctive and persistant pattern.  If there are no obvious signs in either the dog or it's nearest relatives, then where should it stop?

You can test for a hundred things, and many not even affiliated with your breed, but the line has to be drawn somewhere.  And without reasonable cause to test, you're more likely wasting a lot of time and expense.  How many of you here test for Bucellosis each time you breed to an outside producer?  And how many of those folks have EVER found one to test positive?  Your dog is probably under GREATER risk when it gets in the vehicle with you for every visit to the vet.

Ibrahim, I am going to assume that your question is in regards to breeding your dogs or dogs in your country, which is going to be very different than for most here.

I would for sure not want to start out with bad hips/elbows. Elbows, especially, seems to be a gift that keeps on giving. While there are many different diseases that can affect the GSD, some are not as wide spread as some here portray them.

Starting out, it would be wise for any beginning breeder to test for whatever is available. It would be pretty heart breaking to begin with a dog with DM or EPI, thyroid, etc. when it is easily avoidable. But, I do agree with Daryl on a few points. If I bred my dog, I would test for DM and thyroid, just for my own need to know. EPI, I might do if readily available, but bowels have never been an issue with her. Eye tests, only if I had a problem or happen to be in a convenient opportunity.

Rik

Beardog, Daryl & Rik

Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge, please know I feel much obliged to you all.

Ibrahim