DM clear vs carrier - Page 9

I'm just curious as to why breeders in Germany don't test their dogs for DM and breeders in the US do? I'm neutral in this, just wanted someone to inform or educate me on this matter.

I just purchased a 14 month old WL male a week ago. I had him DM tested with Animal Genetics before I purchased him. He is CLEAR. Out of curiosity I am probably going to have him DM tested with VetDNA Center as well. Not that I do not trust the results from Animal Genetics, I just want to know if the results will be the same from a different testing lab.

My goal with this dog is mainly for IPO, but will use him for breeding once he is titled and has his KKL. I am also going to have his Heart and Thyriod certified as well as CERF. His hips/elbows are A1(normal). He has a ZW of 77.

I believe in as many "health testing" as possible. As several people on here have mentioned, it is NOT to eliminate a dog from breeding. It is to know what the strong and weak points are in the dog and to improve on that. Kudos to those people that are doing the DM test as well as going beyond that and doing more health testing as well.


I have done alot of reading on DM in particular. I am glad I did. In the past 2 years I have learned alot of about it and know there is more than is not known... I had not even heard of DM before I had to personally deal with it. I for one, am glad that there are tests out that can be done for DM. I do think it is a good idea as well to have the dogs tested with both the labratories.... the one that Animal Genetics uses in Florida. As well as the one OFA and VetDNA Center use in Missouri. I believe that the 2 labratories test for different staines of the DM, if I am correct??!! I will have to find out now that I mentioned it... 

Never heard that labs are testing for different strains. But did read that the DM tested for is not the DM GSDs are afflicted with. While you're in the test mode, might as well do RD by DoGenes. You might get a surprise, or not.

The form of DM the OFA scheme tests for does affect the GSD. The argument is that there is more than one form that affects this breed.

A "DM" Test is a great idea...But sadly it's NOT perfected yet and therefore is only a tool to use in any program...

The same goes for "HIP & ELBOW" X-rays...Now I'm NOT saying that it's not good to test for HIP/ELBOW Dysplasia but if you look at dogs with NOT so good Hips/Elbows and are then bred...and they produce dogs with Excellent HIPS/ELBOWS it leads you to wonder what's right and what's not...So the answer is that they still don't fully understand what causes HIP/ELBOW Dysplasia...

There are many tests that are used for this or that...Are they perfect...NO...But they are a tool to be used in a breeder's judgement of what to breed and what to stay away from....If you ask one breeder about what they breed for or their ideas of what to use for breeding...You'll find another that totally disagrees...I think any breeding is a "Unknown"...but this is also part of the fun of it...

~Bob~

Yes- there are 2 kinds of DM- one GSDS dont get and one they do! The one they get is not what the tests test for! Ite one they test for is DM of other breeds, such as corgis and boxers... ::::::blue in the face:::::::::: even dr coates has said there are other markers associated with DM of the GSD and even the OFA akcnowledges different breeds dont test the same in the DM OFA Test. Causes in certain breeds are different!

I trust the experts and don't try to be one myself.
http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/DM/ancmntDM.htm
No excuse to not test for DM, even if you doubt the testing, doing nothing is worse.

 SehrGutWesen

And men should take the pregnancy test, cause ya never know!