For Those Who Test For DM, What Age? - Page 8

the competitive nature of the funding situation

^^^^ this says a lot  about the current situation..

Anyone having a dog that DNA tests as a normal or a carrier that is diagnosed with DM at autopsy should report that to the OFFA, Dr. Coates, and the GSDCA. Include copies of the autopsy reports  and the original test results. The same applies to those dogs that are said to have been tested multiple times with multiple results.  Likewise if there are test results  that don't  reflect the simple recessive mode of inheritance - ie an at  risk produces a normal. Copy them on anything that could offer proof positive that the test is not valid for all GSD's. They need more than just some anecdotal he said, she said rhetoric.

Ask the GSDCA if they can disclose why they shifted their funding from Clemmons to Coates. The current officers and directors are listed on the GSDCA.ORG website along with their email addresses.

ONCE MORE TIME.....the OFA, Coates, the GSDCA....none of them have ever said any dog should be "ash canned" based on DM DNA test results. Why do we keep talking about eliminating dogs from breeding base on those results. Where is that coming from? Not the OFA, Coates, or the GSDCA.

From the OFFA.ORG website: We recommend that breeders take into consideration the DM test results as they plan their breeding programs; however, they should not over-emphasize the test results. Instead, the test result should be one factor among many in a balanced breeding program.

ok Blitz; help me out here. I get my dog tested and he is rated carrier, or worse. How would you word my sales pitch to a potenial user with their female? something like;  '' well ya see here, he failed the DM test , but but, this test is so flawed that you should use this dog any way. ya know the dog that  tested non-carrier might be a false negative so , why not, please use my dog.''

That's not what I'd say, but it sounds right for you, Student.

whatever

I would probably have him retested with DDC or again by OFAA, then if it comes back affected is really what you are asking isn't it??  From a personal and ethical standpoint "I" would not use him.  If he is a carrier "I" would be sure to find a female with several generations of testing NN for DM, of source HD/ED/Cardio/Thyroid and passes temperament testing also.  JMHO...Seems  like a lot of testing but unless we do not start using process of eliminations NOW;  forget later trying to find healthy dogs,  mind or body.  Again that is the approach I would choose.  BOL  Nan

 

IF you chose to use this male "I" would take advantage of testing the litter before they left my care... You can test as early as 4 weeks...  Quite hondestly I would not sell a puppy that tested affected or even a remote possibility of exhibiting DM later;  it is too heartwrenching to try to care for the affected dogs...Just think how these dogs feel trying to manuaver in a wheelchair or you having to pick them up to stand them to take care of business;  or god forbid you have stairs they have to go up or down.  There is only so much their human can do for them and a breed this large is very difficult to have to try to help get up and walk even with using different devices that are on the market.  Nan

Why not just get robo dogs and stop feeding all these imperfect dogs....really.

LOL Joan, Problem solved;) There would not be one dog left on this earth, nothing is perfect, I know you already know this;) People who think their dogs are perfect need not breed.

 

But, I have always read that you could still breed a carrier, here's a chart below that shows breeding outcomes.

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The highlighted part is mine. This chart below is from Dec. 2014: http://www.offa.org/stats.html#breed

Evaluations through December 2014

Registry	Rank	Evaluations	Percent Abnormal	Percent Normal	Percent Carrier	Percent Equivocal
BAER HEARING TEST	N/A	20	.0	100.0	.0	.0
CARDIAC	67	1263	.1	99.7	.0	.2
DEGENERATIVE MYELOPATHY	6	4967	16.0	52.4	31.6	.0
DENTITION DATABASE	9	165	3.0	97.0	.0	.0
ELBOW	14	38334	18.7	81.1	.0	.0
EYES	16	166	3.0	97.0	.0	.0
HIPS	40	110075	19.0	79.1	.0	.0
HYPERURICOSURIA	N/A	6	.0	100.0	.0	.0
LEGG-CALVE-PERTHES	N/A	29	.0	100.0	.0	.0
MULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANCE (MDR1)	N/A	37	.0	100.0	.0	.0
PATELLA	103	273	.7	99.3	.0	.0
SHOULDER	9	106	1.9	84.9	.0	.0
THYROID	76	756	2.2	91.7	.0	6.1

This is NOT all of the dogs that were tested, so how can they be fine with the results of the current test? It doesn't make sense to me at all. If they had the records of all of the testing places I would probably believe the numbers a lot more. Some people don't bother to send in results or setup profiles for their pets, I wish they would include what % where pet, show, and work homes. I think it would help a lot of people know who is testing.

You can breed a carrier or even an at risk. The goal would be to not produce more at risks since they are considered to be the dogs that are most likely to develop DM.

Yes, it would be beneficial for the breed if all results were on a database, but as far as I know the OFA is the only organization that offers a database.