Two Showline Half-brothers Negative for DM - Page 1

(1) V Zeek vom Olympus

Sch3 IPO3, Kkl 1"a" Lbz, HD "a" normal, OFA clear hips ("Good") and elbows, OFA GS-DM20/115M-PI

(2) V Geronimo vom Olympus

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/124262.html

Sch3 IPO3, Kkl 1"a" Lbz, HD "a" normal, OFA clear hips ("Good") and elbows, OFA GS-DM21/87M-PI

Their new OFA certificates state: "This dog is homozygous N/N with two NORMAL copies of the gene associated with Degenerative Myelopathy."

I have followed the bloodlines of these American-bred (California) boys on this side of the "pond" for 6 generations and have found them to be prepotent for their soundness in all respects, free from genetically predisposed diseases, to have great constitutional vigor and longevity, and to possess strong, balanced, working drives/nerves.

Thus far, neither male has produced hips/elbows other than normal.

Excellent news.  These quality bred and well trained GSDs are a credit to the breed and just happen to have true working temperaments.  And they are American bred !   Congratulations.

Very cool Louise.  Beautiful dogs!

Excellent!!!!

molly

You know, I submitted the swabs via priority mail less than 2 weeks ago. When I ordered the tests from the OFA site, I thought to myself that I could hardly justify the $130 expense--given that I've not known of DM in the line--and the boys are older and asymptomatic.

However, recalling that my first GSD (purchased in 1964) was OFA GS-4 hips (no elbow registry at that time), I decided to bite the damned DM bullet.

It is only "peer pressure" that will motivate more owners of SL and WL GSD's to have their dogs DNA tested for DM. If there are known stud dogs certified negative for DM, people with "carrier" status bitches will have breeding alternatives. At this stage of the game, I'm not suggesting that all "carriers" be immediately eliminated from the gene pool. However, hopefully we will not be breeding 2 carriers or dogs (perhaps initially asymptomatic) but likely to develop DM with age.

Before I retired and was a vet tech at the VMTH at UC-Davis, I recall GSD puppy "patients" presented by an AKC specialty breeder/judge who said that she was having whole litters that were symptomatic for DM at 3-4 months.

For explanation of test results and breeding guidelines: http://www.cbrs4me.com/wwwboard/health/DMletter.pdf

GREAT NEWS.I am so happy to hear this good news as i have heard about your boys.