Health Testing
Here's a brief overview of each of the tests and what we evaluate for:
OFA or PennHip Hips
OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals): This method evaluates hip conformation in mature dogs, typically at or after 24 months of age. It relies on radiographic assessment and assigns a numerical score based on the appearance of the hip joint.
PennHip (University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program): This method focuses on evaluating hip joint laxity in puppies as young as 16 weeks old. It measures the distraction index (DI), which quantifies hip joint laxity by assessing the degree of hip joint displacement under anesthesia.
OFA Elbow
OFA Elbow: This test screens for elbow dysplasia, a common group of developmental disorders that cause degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the elbow. The evaluation includes radiographic assessment of the elbow joint.
OFA Eye
OFA Eye Certification: Previously known as CERF exams, these are screening examinations performed by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists. The exam identifies changes within the eye(s) suggesting the presence of genetic eye diseases.
OFA Cardiac
OFA Cardiac: This test evaluates cardiac health through auscultation and other methods to detect heart murmurs and associated cardiac diseases. The results include Normal, Equivocal, and Grades 1-6 of heart murmurs.
Recessive Genetic Diseases
Embark Genetic and Health Testing: The Embark for Breeders DNA Health Summary highlights a puppy’s breed-specific genetic health risks in a one-page, downloadable PDF. Puppy DNA testing is the new standard of care. This easy-to-read snapshot of breed-specific genetic health risks is proof of DNA testing and the perfect addition to a new puppy’s information packet to give their owners peace of mind.
Results for genetic testing can come back with three results:
Clear (n/n)- A clear dog means that a dog does not carry the disease that it was tested for. Instead, it carries two copies of the normal gene.
Carrier (n/d) - A carrier dog means that it carries one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the mutated gene that was tested for. Carriers will pass down the gene to 50% of their offspring.
Affected (d/d) - An affected dog means that it carries two copies of the mutated gene that it was tested for and it does not carry the normal gene. Affected dogs will pass down one copy to all of their offspring.
Examples to genetic diseases and what we test for:
* Clear (N/N) x Clear (N/N) = 100% Clear (N/N)
* Clear (N/N) x Carrier (D/N) = 50% Clear (N/N), 50% Carrier (D/N) (This is an average, individual litters may see anywhere from 100% Clear to 100% Carrier)
* Clear (N/N) x Affected (D/D) = 100% Carrier (D/N)
* Carrier (D/N) x Carrier (D/N) = 25% Clear (N/N), 50% Carrier (D/N), 25% Affected (D/D) (This is an average, individual litters may see more or less of any result)
* Carrier (D/N) x Affected (D/D) = 50% Carrier (D/N), 50% Affected (D/D) (This is an average, individual litters may see anything from 100% Carrier to 100% Affected)
* Affected (D/D) x Affected (D/D) = 100% Affected (D/D)