G.S.D. breeder states NO test for the D.M.! - Page 1

I contacted a local breeder about her dogs to see if they have been tested for D.M. and she informed me there is NO test for the German Shepherd Dog. She was rude with my asking such questions of testing in her breeders for D.M. and OFA.! This said breeder inclined I was a idiot. She also said she could do the test just for "show" and that she only breeds "pet" puppies.
. I was informed there is no way her dogs could be carriers as she uses only German lines.
I welcome input on this issue.
I have a full German bred dog that has some serious health issues and the dogs dam was a import. My dogs grand sire was an import. So I will ask such questions about testing.
Thank you

There is not a consensus on DM testing validity, or if all breeds in fact, get the same disease. There is consensus that DM exists and that it is a devastating progressive disease with no cure.

Regardless of the differences in opinions, I would cross that breeder off your list for a number of reasons. Certainly there are better sorts of breeders that deserve your money.

These sites should be helpful.

OFA Testing for German Shepherd Dog

http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/brdreqs.html?breed=GS

Breed Distribution of SOD1 Alleles Previously Associated with

Canine Degenerative Myelopathy

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvim.12317/pdf

 

There is a definitive DNA test for DM now which is $65 through the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.offa.org/dnatesting/dm.html

Many GSDs in recent years have been having spinal problems, and I myself have seen several new GSD pedigrees posted on PD with DM testing results. As the woman is a pet breeder of GSDs, very few if any of her dogs will be tested for any health issues by her. Testing for health issues is money out of her pocket, and as a pet breeder she is likely to be breeding just for the money. She is what people refer to as a BYB or back yard breeder. Which is sadly just a step up from a puppy miller. The dogs might be clean and seem cared for, but they are treated as nothing but cash cows to earn their owner extra money. The dogs are breed as soon possible, (The owner doesn't care if it affects the dog's growth or health.) and females are almost always pregnant with no rest or time off, despite popping out puppies like candies on Halloween.

The OFA test isn't actually definitive. The latest theories believe that there are different kinds of DM, or that there are different mutations on different alleles. A dog can test clear for the SOD1, but have the mutation on another allele that has no test available and come down with the disease.

It's a complicated issue.

Lunastar, since DM can only be proven through necropsy, how do you know if the video you posted is a dog with DM?

I just had my GSD that is 5 years old DNA tested for MDR1 at vets recommendation she said there are several genetic diseases she would go ahead and submit,DM was one of them. I never knew what this horrible disease is but as of yesterday AM when she called and asked me to come in and go over results,I do now! MY 5 yr old GSD tested at risk with both of his parents having the gene. I am devastated and heartbroken after she explained his probability of suffering with this disease, 99.99% chance and what it is and does to the dog. She compared it to similar to ALS in humans,paralyzing the rear then moving to the front starting with slight stumbling . There is no pain  nor is the brain affected which is more horrifying to me because they are well aware their body no longer works. They have had and accurate DNA test since late 2008 and it's about $ 30-50.00 and quick if you get a genetic breed specific panel which is what she did it was 70.00 includes the MDR1 ,Degerative Myelopathy and Hyperuricosuria. These are suggested genetic test for GSD as well as OFA testing and certification. If they test as at risk 2 genes DM Ofa may not even be a huge concern because after being referred to University OF Georgia's School Of Veterinary Medicine and speaking with them yesterday P.M. it became very clear to me what I am facing with my boy and feel helpless because there is nothing you can do to stop it. The key to eliminating this disease is in breeders hands, test sire and Dam before breeding and if both are carriers don't breed at all if one is document and inform buyers of pups. I am sick and can not reach breeder their site is no longer available,and my ignorance has taught me a very heartbreaking hard lesson and I will shout to every registry and GSD organization that genetic testing should be done on both parents before breeding and puppies of breeding. Only way we can stop these diseases. If there is anyone out there that has experienced first hand this disease in their own GSD PLEASE PLEASE message me on what I need to look for and do for my sweet boy.

If anyone tells you they cannot test for DM they are either uninformed or lying to save and make more money off pups. My vet said for years that vets and owners assumed it was Hip Dysplasia that cause symptoms of DM but in fact a whole different disease that CAN BE VERIFIED GENETICALLY . If I ever buy another GSD or any breed I will be more informed and less trustworthy of people selling pups,and demand a test for breed specific diseases . I would bet the military and law enforcement agencies have their dogs tested. The amount of GSD'S in this country that are carriers ,meaning at least 1 gene ,is huge I think I read and article from a few years ago that said estimated 400,000 GSD's. Thank goodness I never bred my guy and had him nuetered at 20 months but I do know 1 od his sisters has been bred and produced pups so there you go another generartion.

L Bruce, I'm afraid you may be the victim of a little sensationalism....DM is horrible, BUT no, there is no accurate way to guess even from testing who will succumb and who will not. Your vet is not being accurate, or perhaps you misunderstood. An "at risk" test result does NOT ensure development of the disease. Even if your dog does, it could be 13+ years old at the time. That's part of the problem with DM- predicting what "switch" turns it on, because plenty of A/A dogs don't develop it, and there have been carriers and even a very occasional clear who, upon necropsy, was shown to have passed from DM. Consider that in Europe, testing is very limited. By and large, the majority of breeders are not testing for it, and not having major problems on a large scale- if every dog who tested at risk succumbed to the disease, I think we would see a faster push to develop a better test. Please do not panic and remember that panicking will not change the outcome for your boy. If I had a dog that tested A/A, I would simply treat them as if they had an auto-immune condition and do what I could to minimize systemic stress in hopes of delaying onset, if he is one who will be affected. There has long been talk of an auto-immune component to the disease. http://duitseherderdatabase.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/dm-modifier.pdf

Personally, it's beginning to piss me off how unwilling GSD breeders, no matter who they are, are willing to invest into more advanced health testing.

I've just spent about 600 dollars to get both of my males health tested for several genetic diseases. I don't give a flying F what everyone elses excuse is. If you charge upwards of 1500 for a puppy you CAN afford to health test your dogs and you SHOULD invest into these DNA tests and see what your dogs are carrying. Sure, no test is without fault, just like OFA sometimes has questionable ratings. BUT they are available and we owe it to the breed and our puppy buyers but primarily we owe it to the breed.

This is the Panel I'm testing all of my dogs for currently. I actually just got the Kit in the mail and will collect the DNA for both dogs. And my young female will also be tested before I am breeding her. I've had a few surprising things pop up that I didn't even know existed and I simply can no longer put it on my conscience that we may produce something in offspring that we could have avoided if we tested for it.

Degenerative Myelopathy
Aliases: Canine degenerative myelopathy, DM
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency, Type III
Aliases: Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency, Leukocyte/Platelet adhesion defect, CLAD, LAD-III
Mucopolysaccharidosis VII (Shepherd Type)
Aliases: Beta-glucuronidase deficiency, Sly Syndrome, MPS VII
Multidrug Resistance 1
Aliases: Ivermectin sensitivity, MDR1 gene defect, Multidrug sensitivity, MDR1
Renal Cystadenocarcinoma and Nodular Dermatofibrosis
Aliases: Renal cancer syndrome

Not only that, TV is another big problem beginning to pop up in the GSD and I'm going to start treating it like HD/ED.

I've had it with breeders that refuse to test their dogs.