How do we rule out HD and ED ? - Page 3

vomhausjissa, In my opinion, is to breed dog with the appropriate ZW number "Breed value", please read this article translated by SV judge Fred Lanting that was written by Dr. Reiner Beuing of the Institute for animal husbandry and domestic animal genetics of the University of Gießen http://www.vomhausjissa.com/l-breed_value.html Not only Appropriate ZW number but with very good HD and ED after being X-rayed and being graded like the SV grading system 'comparing the X-ray to a 1 to 1 photo of hips with different grades'. The X-ray should be taken by a professional vet with the appropriate x-ray equipments required by the SV , the OFA (USA). In case one bought a puppy and later on he found that his dog is not walking in a normal way, better not to over feed him, and x-ray him at age of 6 month, if the result is not so goof one can start giving him the combination of (Glucosamin, MSM, Condroitine) and not forth him to do lots of exercise or walk on stairs. This combination of drugs will really be helpful for the dog (regenerate the tissues). I wish that everybody breed with dogs with very good HD and ED maybe we can help the breed to get rid of this bad habit!

I've known folks who bred working GSDs that lived out "normal" lives and didn't limp, but when were x-rayed they were moderately dysplastic. The dogs had low pain thresholds, were long and skinny with shallow chests and light bone, but had good working temperament. I know of one famous kennel that would never xray any dogs, just euthanized anything that limped that they kept for breeding. But when some of the buyers would xray their dogs later, most were dysplastic and not suitable to breed. The breeder was selecting out light boned long GSDs with high pain thresholds and bad hips! Dogs like this are typically are so far from the standard one can hardly consider them actual GSDs. They looked like long sable string beaned rats. Not my choice of a GSD to own. I must agree with everything Hodie says. She is right on the mark, as usual. And her positions do not disagree with Bob-O, Blitzen or Ulli who make good points. I know of one breeder of American Blooded GSDs who has virtually eradicated HD in his breeding by early x-raying of all puppies in the litter, breeding only the best from totally clean litters, and doing this for five generations. He has not been so successful with elbow DJDs, which are harder to eradicate and he has an occasional but rare puppy with that. I have heard that there are now about five suspected genes which may determine hip confirmation long term. Researchers are now close to finisheing a complete gene map on a sporting dog which may be relevant to other breeds such as the GSD.

Hello Preston, I would be interested to know more about the breeder to whom you refer and how early in the pups lives he/she has been xraying. The OFA recently issued a statement suggesting that earlier xraying can, indeed, be highly predictive of later hip health. I am with them on this. I would also like to discuss elbow issues with you if you have time. If so, please email me privately at: schwarzenberggsd@earthlink.net I look forward to hearing from you either here, or at my email address. Best regards to Bob-O and Blitzen as well as you.

If it proves to be true that 5 genes are involved in hip development in dogs, that would offer up many ways those genes could pair up and express themselves in every dog. Maybe hundreds, maybe thousands. The best scenario is that this research will be applicable to all breeds. I think there's a good chance of that, but it will need to be blind tested with other breeds which will take time. It's great to know that it's being actively researched, I didn't know that.

Hello, first i would like to thank all of you for your postings, many things i learned or at least start to see from a different angle. Thank you Girls & Guys ! Blitzen, that most certainly would be the best thing happening. Preston,good point about the AM breeder, definetly a breeder with a high standart. But the only way he was able to do this, was , he had ALL the info he needed at hand ! So, here it is again ; He did, on a small scale for his kennel, what my Vet suggested for ALL GSD Pups born, with succes. Vomhausjissa, i agree with you, if one sticks with ZW numbers and researches before breeding, most likely the litter will be ok. But as with any statistic, it can be only as good as the data used within the statistic. If the Data used is incomplete, it could hardly beeing used as the "cure it all" solution. When a dog, at least thats how it is done here in Germany, has its prelimps done at 6-7 month, shows signs of HD/ED, you will not hear or see this dog again. Needless to say, it wont show up in any statistic either. I believe it was Hodie who mentioned this, there are things bound to happen, whether we like it or not. But still, i believe all breeders should strieve to the best they can, to get this vicious deseas out. Ulli