Test for pituitary dwarfism

This is a placeholder text
Group text

by Dingodog on 26 October 2009 - 18:10

Is anyone familiar with/has used the test, which I understand has to be sent to Europe? and is this test something which breeders on here are testing/going to test for, on lines which descend from certain dogs who are perceived to have been carriers?

Also, is there a database of recorded results available anywhere? I am hoping to find a stud dog for a friend who is tested clear.

by 1doggie2 on 26 October 2009 - 19:10

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6074/inheritance.html

This site list some of the biggest carriers of the genes.

by svbc1 on 26 October 2009 - 19:10

The geocities site has not been updated for years which is a shame, most experienced breeders know what lines produce dwarfs but I don't think there is a listing anywhere for more up to date dogs.

by tigermouse on 26 October 2009 - 22:10

http://www.videxgsd.com/DNA_test_pituitary_dwarfism.htm

by Dingodog on 27 October 2009 - 13:10

Thanks for the input. I have read about the test on the Videx site.

I was wondering as this test is now available whether breeders in general will be routinely testing for it. I know that many members of this forum are breeders. As the Videx article suggests, there must be a fair proportion of carriers in the population, so how do breeders currently avoid PD? I appreciate the obvious - avoiding the lines which are proven carriers, but these are mostly way back. What about the modern day population? and if there is no record of carriers, how do we know what the size of the problem actually is?

Is it a case of if a dwarf turns up in a litter that you remove that dog from the breeding programme, or change the stud used if you wish to breed another litter from the same bitch ? Surely it would narrow the gene pool too much to remove all carriers, but how do you even know if you have a carrier, until unsuspectingly a mating with another (unknown) carrier takes place?

Is it accepted as 'just one of those things' ?

Thanks

by svbc1 on 27 October 2009 - 13:10

Both parents of a litter have to carry the dwarf gene to produce dwarfs. In my opinion Males that produce dwarfs should not be used for breeding because of the vast amount of progeny a single Male can produce in comparision to single Female. The test is a very good idea, it would be hoped that breeders will use the test but don't hold your breath too long. The cost of the test is expensive at over £130 approx but its only a one off test so its well worth doing. Most experienced show line breeders know exactly what lines the dwarf carriers and producers are in so would be on the look out for them in litters so would probably PTS them as soon as it became noticable. More dwarfs are produced by breeders who heavily in breed for colour,some will admit it, some, won't and some don't care either way then you get dwarfs ending up in family homes , they often don't realise until the pups reach around the 4 month time when the owners trot off to the vets because their pup is not growing , that's when they find out they have a dwarf puppy.

Contact information Disclaimer Privacy Statement Copyright Information Terms of Service Cookie policy ↑ Back to top

Test for pituitary dwarfism - Page 1

Pedigree Database