Haemophilia testing - Page 2

Fair points Margaret but sadly they are "ONLY DOGS ", which I guess restricts the level of money that can be used for research purposes. Look at the glass as half full though. The Haemophilia A test is so simple , the test is to see how long it takes for the blood to clot. Inside the parameters Clear. Outside then they sample the B sample if that clots outside the limits then you have a sufferer. This is as I understand it. So it MUST be worth the test to find out if your male is clear or indeed a possible new mutation. At least that is black or white and gives you an answer.
Hips yep we could see more in terms of results but I doubt it will improve hugely in terms of reducing the mean/average score of the breed under the present system. Also Hips are not a death sentence nor are they the be all and end all. It is just part of the challenge of producing healthy dogs.
Maybe the new events with mandatory health requirements will help improve by promotion?
Just my views.
Regards
Steve.
  

I have questioned this for a while - however in the past few years how many sudden unexplained deaths has there been in quite 'famous' GSD's under the age of 4?

Deaths that no-one can seem to get answers too?

 The best and only way to keep our breed free from haemophilia is to continue to test our males that way if a mutation pops up we know not to use these lines surely it is better to be safe than sorry.
jim h

So not to get carried away please remember a Mutation is not about staying away from the Bloodlines, investigation yes, and not to repeat the mating, but Hein was the sire of Canto and was used in the UK  with no reported problems. The dam of Canto  to my knowledge did not cause any further problems in Germany if what we are told is true. This is a good topic because the Haemophilia testing could be one of the test left out of the future KC ABS scheme due to the non -incidence of any reported case`s in recent years. In the human race most of the newly found Haemophiliacs are mutant. Maybe someone could add to this post with regards to my last statement to confirm this. So I for one would rather be safe than sorry.
John Ward

 I just wonder if every single dog was tested would we see more infected males because we only test the males we run on and not every male in the litter, Member what i ment   re  not to use these lines  was the infected dog we know he has it, so he is not used.
jim h

Sorry if this is a dumb question but can females be carriers as well or can they just be affected by it?

Hi Brian,
Females are carriers in any species, including human, Queen Victoria was one!
We can test males to see if they have it but have not, as yet, an easy test for females as they do would carry it genetically without symptoms.
Margaret

http://www.gsdbreedcouncil.co.uk/page.php?page_ID=8

Females are either affected (as the 6mth pup pts early 2009) carrier or clear
Males are either affected or clear

As you can not test the female to see whether she is carrier status surely testing of males is to ensure you haven't got an affected dog, at least then if the dog as an accident you know it isn't going to bleed to death from an internal unseen injury and if it is affected you will also know the status of the dogs dam.

Our 5 year old male Pit Bull died of hemopjilia type B last year. We did not know he had it until he began bleeding after being neutered, Even blood transfusions could not save him. Out vet said she had never seen a case of hemophilia in a Pit Bull so did not recommend having him tested.  Wish I had known better at the time.