Breeding Tests and Health Standards
The Importance of Health Testing
Looking for the right puppy can sometimes feel like we are looking for a needle in a haystack. There are 1000’s of Labrador litters born every year in the UK; not all are fully health tested (even though they may be advertised as so). Yes, all dogs and puppies are adorable, nobody can argue against that fact, however how do you know that the adorable puppy will grow up to live a long and healthy life?
The answer lies within the testing of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) alongside having both parent’s hips and elbows scored by the British Veterinary Association (BVA).
It is also important to have their eyes screened on a yearly basis by a member of the BVA eye panellist, of which there are currently only thirty-eight in the UK and Ireland that can perform the Canine Health Schemes (CHS) Eye Examinations and produce an official certificate for your dog.
Our dogs, and our carefully chosen studs, are all tested for the following seven genetic diseases as part of the Official UK Kennel Club DNA Testing Scheme for Labrador (Retriever) as well as the BVA Hip, Elbow and Eye Screening:
1: Hereditary Myopathy / Centronuclear Myopathy (HMLR, CNM / IMGD)
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Clinical features of hereditary myopathy in Labrador Retrievers include hypotonia, generalised muscle weakness, abnormal postures, stiff hopping gait, exercise intolerance and increased collapse when exposed to cold.
2: Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)
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Exercise Induced Collapse is an inherited condition that affects a considerable proportion of Labrador Retrievers. Affected dogs can endure mild to moderate exercise but after 5 to 20 minutes of heavy exercise with extreme excitement, the dog shows weakness and then collapses. Severely affected dogs may collapse whenever they are exercised and, in some cases, EIC can be fatal.
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Signs of EIC are not typically seen until the dog begins intense training. First symptoms are usually noted between 5 months and 3 years of age. However, it is confirmed that some affected dogs did not have collapse episodes until as late as age 10.
3: Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK)
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Hereditary nasal parakeratosis is a genetic disorder that causes the dog's nose to dry out. Especially, the dorsal surface of the planum forms keratinous scales, which adhere to the nose. Bloody fissures might occur in these structures, leading to chronic irritation and inflammation of the noses skin. The colour of the skin might change from dark to lighter colour.
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Affected dogs may develop first symptoms from the age of six months to one year. The nose can be treated with Vaseline, propylene glycol or salicylic acid containing products to ease the symptoms.
4: Progressive retinal Atrophy, progressive Rod -cone degeneration (PRA-prcd)
Progressive retinal Atrophy, progressive Rod-cone degeneration (PRA-prcd) is an inherited eye disease affecting Labrador Retrievers and many other breeds of dogs. In healthy eyes the cells within the retina receive light from the external environment and transmit the information to the brain where it is interpreted to become vision.
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PRA causes cells in the retina at the back of the eye to degenerate and die, even though the cells may have developed normally early on in life. This is why DNA testing is critical in order to prevent the mutated gene from being passed on.
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The age of onset clinical symptoms varies depending on the breed of dog. However, symptoms are typically seen in early adolescence or early adulthood. Owners may first notice their dog becoming night blind however, this would gradually progress to complete blindness.
5: Dwarfism (Skeletal Dysplasia 2 /SD2)
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Skeletal dysplasia 2 is a genetic disease in Labrador Retrievers that causes an early halt in the growth of the long bones. This results in 'disproportioned' dogs with shortened front limbs and a raising dorsal line. The torso length and depth is not altered. Based on the latest knowledge, affected dogs do not exhibit further symptoms.
In March 2022, the Kennel Club approved two new official DNA test reporting schemes for macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) and Stargardt’s disease (STGD).
The diseases are both described as autosomal recessive. Meaning that a dog must inherit two copies of an abnormal gene (one from its mother and one from its father) before its health is affected. Likewise, carriers of the mutation are not affected – see below for further details:
6: Stargardt disease (STGD)
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Stargardt disease is an inherited eye condition that gets worse as a dog ages. Similar to how it effects humans this disease affects the parts of the eye that sense light, causing them to deteriorate and cause loss of vision, dilated pupils and a reduced response to light. Dogs that are affected by Stargardt disease do not usually go completely blind but retain some degree of vision.
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Although affected dogs often develop Stargardt disease symptoms before the age of ten, significant clinical signs appear late on in life. Affected dogs present with noticeable visual impairment when they are approximately ten years old.
7: Macular Corneal Dystrophy (MCD / CHST6)
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Macular corneal dystrophy is an inherited eye disease that causes problems with a dog’s sight. In affected dogs, a build-up of carbohydrate causes the surface of the eye (the cornea) to become cloudy. As the condition progresses, affected dog’s eyes become cloudier which affects their vision.
Useful Links to Health Information for the Labrador Retriever Breed:
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/retriever-labrador/
https://www.laboklin.co.uk/laboklin/GeneticDiseases.jsp?speciesID=LabradorR&catID=DogsGD
https://www.bva.co.uk/canine-health-schemes/getting-started-with-health-testing/