It's not just DNA that needs testing either!
- Masajack Jack Russells
- Oct 6, 2020
- 2 min read
Following on from the DNA testing post, there are more types of health tests that need to be done with certain breeds.
All dogs should be BVA (British Veterinary Association) eye tested as briefly mentioned in the last post. This looks for both congenital (conditions that exist from birth) and non-congenital (conditions that can appear later in life) conditions that can affect all breeds of dogs. Clinically unaffected is the only acceptable result here.
Some breeds can be susceptible to hereditary hip and elbow dysplasia (HD and ED), or osteoarthritis, which can also be tested for in order to prevent these issues being passed down when breeding. This should be done by an experienced vet who will take x-rays which are then sent off for evaluation. The scores that come back are given as two numbers (i.e. 1-1) indicating at what level the hips and elbows are affected with dysplasia. Elbow scores range from 0 to 3 and hip scores from 0 to 53. The scores can be combined to give a total.
Acceptable results can vary from breed to breed but the BVA recommend that no dog with anything other than a perfect elbow score of 0-0 should be bred from. An acceptable hip score is on or around the breed median and is also a balanced one. For example, with the Labrador Retriever, the breed median is 9 so an acceptable, balanced score between the two hips could be 4-5. Being able to see correct movement is helpful as well. Even if knowledge of this subject is limited, this is certainly enough to make informed decisions from when buying a pup or breeding. If you would like to know more about Elbow Dysplasia click here or for more info on Hip Dysplasia click here.
So there you have it, a basic run down of health testing that should be done on the parents on any litter (obviously specifics can differ between breeds). There is no need for any puppy to be born into a life of pain and suffering when it is so easy to prevent.
Hi Lynda, It is very interesting you’re right! I believe Crufts was originally the Gamekeeper's ring, it had nothing to do with the KC originally. The Gamekeeper's ring was a chance for gundog owners to show their dogs off, and that's when dog showing took off. Yes the KC was involved but they didn't start it, and they do appoint judges, but they are now trying to influence breeds where there are problems to encourage breeders to move towards less exaggeration. Hopefully things will improve within those breeds but it is essentially down to breeders and puppy buyers to do this.
I understand certain breeds have been developed over hundreds of years depending on the type of work they were required for and am pleased that the KC require members to adhere to their welfare and breeding standards for pedigree dogs in addition to the excellent advice available on their website. However, they developed Crufts, which in my opinion, was responsible for allowing adverse traits to become acceptable in some breeds. However, I have no doubt that the extremes in some breeds were a combination of, as you said, public adoration but also as previously mentioned, KC acceptance. Thank you again for your insights. It certainly is eye opening and an interesting debate.
Hi Lynda. Thanks for commenting! Firstly, the KC haven’t designed or developed any breeds, they are the registration body for recognised pedigree breeds, and hold information about individual dogs either on the breed register (for pedigrees only) or on the activity register, which is open to any breed/cross breed. Before KC registration dogs were bred to type, and to meet the breed standard, drawn up by the breed clubs, to describe a particular breed and set them apart from other closely related breeds. So, for example, when Golden Retrievers were developed, the terminology for Labradors changed so that the two would not be confused, so instead of a Golden Labrador, they are registered yellow. And there are subtle differences betw…
Can I also add with respect, that it has been years of inbreeding to create the perfect breed type, designed by the KC, that may be responsible for a good many health issues seen in many breeds.
Very interesting and not something I’d thought about with Jack Russells. I’ve always seen them as a hardy, working breed and therefore, less likely to suffer from hereditary conditions than other breeds. So thank you for this.