Available Health Tests
Many diagnostic tests are available for concerned Aussie owners, to check the overall health of an Aussie. Also, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) has an extensive database to track results and provide statistics for the following concerns: hips, elbows, heart, patellar luxation (knees), and thyroid (autoimmune) disease. The OFA database also includes the results for eye exams performed by a Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) veterinarian, but only if the owner of the Aussie submits the results. This database is a great resource to investigate the lineage and related health of the progenitors of some dogs, at least regarding hip ratings.
Many tests have been developed by, or are processed at, laboratories to check for the 11 health concerns that plague the Australian shepherd breed. Some of those labs are Optigen, Animal Health Trust, Endocrine Diagnostic Center, Animal Health Laboratory, Washington State University Veterinary Clinic, Vet DNA Center, and HealthGene. These labs might perform one or many of the tests that have been developed.
Tests or evaluations have been developed for:
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
- Patellar Luxation (knees)
- Eyes
- Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Thyroid (Autoimmune) – Multiple labs perform this test-check OFA application for list
- Congenital Cardiac (heart)
- Multi Drug Resistance Gene (MDR1)
- Hereditary Cataracts (HSF4)
- Pelger Huet Anomaly
Other areas that are currently not health concerns, but tests have been developed for, are:
- Coat Color (red carrier/red factored) – Vet DNA Center and HealthGene process this sample
- Dilute Gene Carrier – Vet DNA Center and HealthGene process this sample
DNA testing to either certify parentage (CP) or to verify parentage (VP) for Australian shepherds is also another test that can be performed and as of January 2010 all adults producing a litter will be required to be DNA tested to allow a breeder to register a litter with the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA).
There is a list of costs, labs, applications, and samples required for the above tests at Pure Stock Aussies
Read more about this topic: Australian Shepherd
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