This is a placeholder text
Group text
by yoshy on 08 May 2010 - 13:05
Thank you. and thanks for the imput keith. i know a few field retriever breeders whom are that thorough but i havent really entered in this discussion with shepherd or mali breeders. So I thought i would bring it up to see what is out there and who is testing and reasons people would not. etc.....
gsd travels- that why i started this as i have some questions im gonna post as soon as i figure out how to word them. and educate myself on a couple of the tests keith mentioned. So feel free to fire away. Not gonna hurt my feelings. its got purpose not BS so spit it out.
gsd travels- that why i started this as i have some questions im gonna post as soon as i figure out how to word them. and educate myself on a couple of the tests keith mentioned. So feel free to fire away. Not gonna hurt my feelings. its got purpose not BS so spit it out.
by GSDtravels on 08 May 2010 - 14:05
I was wondering about the incidence of eye problems among our breed. How common are they? What problems, if any, in particular, would be most prevalent? I was once considering a Flat Coated Retriever and know there is a high incidence of eye problems in that particular breed, kind of along the same lines as HD is known in GSDs. So, I guess I'm looking for specific testing as opposed to just saying "eye testing".
by VomMarischal on 08 May 2010 - 14:05
CERF is the certification that a dog doesn't have pannus, but I believe it's only good for a year.
by GSDtravels on 08 May 2010 - 14:05
Thanks VM, is pannus the only eye problem seen typically? What is the incidence of glaucoma in GSDs?
by VomMarischal on 08 May 2010 - 14:05
Probably not the only one, but the only one that I know of that is common enough to certify against. But the fact that the certificate is only good for one year makes it 99% pointless...what if your dog gets it at 5 years but had a litter at 4, when she was clear? My vet just shines a light in there every time she sees my dogs, so she can keep an informal record. But my current bitch was formally tested once at UC Davis.
Edit: and by the way, your dog probably won't present with pannus unless he/she has spent a lot of time out in the sun. So the test seems even a little more pointless to me.
Edit: and by the way, your dog probably won't present with pannus unless he/she has spent a lot of time out in the sun. So the test seems even a little more pointless to me.
by GSDtravels on 08 May 2010 - 14:05
Something to think about, thanks for clarifying. It does seem pointless to certify! Hmmm.
by NoCurs on 09 May 2010 - 01:05
What Health testings does everyone complete before breeding?
Good question, good topic and one which seperates, in my opinion, the woman from the girls, so to speak. (!)
I don't breed shepherds, but have a small, long term breeding program for my own American pit bulls. I'm on my 4th generation now and inbreed tightly. Because of this health testing is a must, as is culling. Inbreeding is not for the faint of heart; you find out EXACTLY what you have in your line and if you are a breeder that doesn't make excuses but deals with what they have then it can work better than any other method.
Sadly, when you ask most pit bull people if they "health test their dogs" they reply with something about yeah, the dog gets its shots, the vet looks at it, it can jump real high, or it got treated once for giardia! In this day and age I find it unbelievable that "breeders" don't take advantage of health testing their stock.
My dogs are all evalued early, before one year, even though some of the tests are not "official" yet, as part of my culling processes. I check hips, hearts, elbows and eyes before one year.
When they reach two years I get OFA heart, patella, elbow, hips and CERF eyes. I redo eyes and hearts yearly.
My personal opinion is that a breeder is much better off to get results on as MANY pups from each litter as possible. Not *just* do the actual dogs being bred. You want to see if the dog is throwing anything. I'll pay to have pups done which are in pet homes, just so I know.
Since I don't sell my dogs, I don't make money on them to pay for these tests. I am happy to report that a couple different vets in this area do "breeder days" where they offer low cost testing. Eyes are usually about $20, and you can get hips and elbows done for about $100. Makes it nice!
In my breed the main problem is hips with hearts coming up on the outside.
Good question, good topic and one which seperates, in my opinion, the woman from the girls, so to speak. (!)
I don't breed shepherds, but have a small, long term breeding program for my own American pit bulls. I'm on my 4th generation now and inbreed tightly. Because of this health testing is a must, as is culling. Inbreeding is not for the faint of heart; you find out EXACTLY what you have in your line and if you are a breeder that doesn't make excuses but deals with what they have then it can work better than any other method.
Sadly, when you ask most pit bull people if they "health test their dogs" they reply with something about yeah, the dog gets its shots, the vet looks at it, it can jump real high, or it got treated once for giardia! In this day and age I find it unbelievable that "breeders" don't take advantage of health testing their stock.
My dogs are all evalued early, before one year, even though some of the tests are not "official" yet, as part of my culling processes. I check hips, hearts, elbows and eyes before one year.
When they reach two years I get OFA heart, patella, elbow, hips and CERF eyes. I redo eyes and hearts yearly.
My personal opinion is that a breeder is much better off to get results on as MANY pups from each litter as possible. Not *just* do the actual dogs being bred. You want to see if the dog is throwing anything. I'll pay to have pups done which are in pet homes, just so I know.
Since I don't sell my dogs, I don't make money on them to pay for these tests. I am happy to report that a couple different vets in this area do "breeder days" where they offer low cost testing. Eyes are usually about $20, and you can get hips and elbows done for about $100. Makes it nice!
In my breed the main problem is hips with hearts coming up on the outside.
by Prager on 10 May 2010 - 04:05
I agree with Moon.
Hips , elbows, Brucelosis. Rest is obvious to me after 2 or more years with the dog.
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com
Hips , elbows, Brucelosis. Rest is obvious to me after 2 or more years with the dog.
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com
by blair built gsd on 10 May 2010 - 05:05
Nocurs by inbreeding close increase the chance of bad health and if so what is the advantage to that? And by culling do you mean just not keeping those pups for future breeding or what? I am just trying to learn what you are doing in the breeding program you are runing. Sorry i know it sounds a little to the point but i want to learn and am interested in the risks vs rewards in a program such as yours.
by K-9mom on 10 May 2010 - 20:05
I do Hips, Elbows, Heart, Eyes, DM, and Thyroid and would never think of doing less.
Contact information Disclaimer Privacy Statement Copyright Information Terms of Service Cookie policy ↑ Back to top