Do you know what health/genetic issues are prevalent in your breed?
How do you justify NOT health testing?
To the "wanna breeders", do you realize the heartache you inflict on buyers when they realize their dog has a disease that could have been prevented if you had cared more about your breeding stock than the almighty dollar???
2007-12-21 05:51:01 · 15 answers · asked by zappataz ♠ Since 1999 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
As a practicing Vet Tech, we see the heartache on a weekly, if not daily, basis that stems from irresponsible "breeders" that do not health test and just produce puppies for profit.
Just today I had to tell the mother of a 13 year old girl that her daughters 2 year old dog will have, at best, 1-1.5 years of life due to a congenital defect. We found this anomaly through a routine pre-anesthetic blood test. This same dog has had severe allergies from puppyhood, has been a "poor doer" from the start, and has cost them a considerable amount of money and heartache. This is a little girl's beloved pet, and when the test revealed that this little dog's kidneys were failing, and she isn't even able to be spayed as she was brought in for today without intense supportive therapy, which may not be enough, it was decided that it would be best to let this dog live her days until her health fails and she needs to be put down.
This girl's mother fell apart on the phone and was torn up because she now had to tell her daughter that her dog was dying, and it is about Christmas as well. They came back in to pick the dog up and we explained all of the options, but here stands a family that is devastated because they have a cute little dog that has grave health issues, some of which the parents had as well, we now know, and they have to watch their dog die. If the breeder of this dog had done any health testing, this litter would have never been produced and this family would not be in this situation today. Greedy breeders for profit, who do not health test, or guarantee their pups, take advantage of the general public and the "cute puppy" easy sell. They do not stand behind the pups they produce or sell, and do not stand with the owners of dogs like these and cry alongside them for the pain they are going through.
Breeding the best to the best will still produce the occasional unfortunate pup that is not going to make a healthy or stable pet or companion for anyone and it is up to the conscientious breeder to never push this puppy onto an unsuspecting eager new owner and "cross their fingers" that it will be alright.
It is not only the amount of money this will rob from the new owner that is at issue, but the pain and heartache that they will bear as a result of an ill-intentioned breeder.
Breeding stock must be tested, period.
2007-12-21 16:53:04 · answer #1 · answered by barbwire 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't breed, but I definitely know the importance of breeding for both excellent health and excellent temperaments. I work at a vet clinic, and I have seen some bad diseases that are strictly due to poor breeding from a 'breeder' who didn't care to do health testing on their breeding stock. The dogs suffer from a condition that could have been prevented from health tests on the parents, and the owners suffer heartache from watching their dog go through such difficult times.
2007-12-21 10:34:23 · answer #2 · answered by Stark 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You Should Health Test Your Breeding Stock, So as Not To Pass On A Genetic Or Some Other Problems!! Squeak
2007-12-21 06:21:21 · answer #3 · answered by Squeak 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's important because any health issue prevents the dog from doing what it was bred to do. A German Shepherd with hip dysplasia simply cannot herd.
It's also vital for the betterment of the breed. Hip dysplasia is so prevalent in GSDs that random people at the dog park know about it, and know that you have to be careful not to go to a breeder who breeds dogs with HD.
If some health issue were to come up with my dog that was preventable if she were bred better, I'd be devastated. I don't want another dog, I want MY dog - the one I've cared for for nearly a year now who has already seen me through a lot.
Awesome points, as usual. :)
2007-12-21 06:04:48 · answer #4 · answered by a gal and her dog 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its important to health test breeding stock because that is the ONLY way to decrease the incidence of the issues.
In Samoyeds its now possible to do a genetic test for PRA carriers... which means NO Samoyed should EVER be produced with PRA EVER again... failure to test for it is IRRESPONSIBLE.
Hip dysplasia is decreasing ....but ONLY amongst dogs who are coming from stock routinely tested. BYB dogs still have the same dysplasia rates that occurred 20 years ago (despite the fact that they are not linebred... so that excuse doesn't wash).
I hate the phone calls I get, especially from someone who decided my pups are too expensive so they went out and bought a backyard bred dog, saying their dog died of a heart issue or had to be euthanized due to severe dysplasia. I hate hearing someone say their 7 year old Samoyed is "old and arthritic" when I know that means dysplastic because HEALTHY Samoyeds don't get old until well over 10+ years.
Comes down to the almighty dollar .. both for the backyard breeder and the buyer... *sigh*
2007-12-21 06:01:11 · answer #5 · answered by animal_artwork 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You have it right my friend!!
To many people think just putting two dogs together will make wonderful puppies! Most of the time they do but the health issues arise later in life!
Auto Immune system disorders us sally do not show until the dog is 6 to 8 months of age. Hip problems can show themselves around 2 years of age. ( we have an Akita with an immune problem at the age of 11 months) Believe me it is not far or right for one, to the owner of the new dog or to the dog to have to live this way until the treatments can take effect.
Just because the puppies look healthy dose not mean that mom and dad do not have problems that have not been found. Mostly when people breed their dogs at their first heat or before the age of two.
If people would do the health test and find out then we could start to have VERY healthy pure bred dogs and start to weed out the health issues and maybe one day (not in my life time) we could actually see all these problems disappear.
Please test your animals it is SOOOO important!!
2007-12-21 05:55:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
1. OFA x-rays for Hip Dysplasia. The incidence of HD in my breed is very low, and I do believe that it is because Siberian breeders do the testing, and don't often breed anything that isn't OFA Good or Excellent. In other words, just because the incidence is low does not mean we should stop testing for it. 2. Annual CERF exams for eye disease. Siberians are prone to several genetic eye diseases, Juvenile Cataracts and Corneal Dystrophy being chief among them. All of my breeding dogs are examined by a CERF vet annually, and their clearances kept in the Parent Club's SHOR database. 3. Thyroid testing. This is a relatively recent movement in the breed; however, because Hypothyroidism is becoming common, we test our breeding dogs' thyroid levels prior to breeding. I believe OFA is keeping a thyroid database, now. I have Siberians, and I test because I believe in creating healthy, sound puppies that are a credit to their breed. The only way to help ensure this is to test every generation, and move forward with only the healthiest dogs.
2016-04-10 11:43:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should never justify not health testing, the breed of dog should be checked for any health/genentic issues before breeding. I believe the more relative issue here is opening the buyer's eyes to why testing it important and they should make sure it is done, b/c if no one bought the puppies then the "breeders" would stop breeding them.
2007-12-21 05:56:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because I dont want to damage the breed. I will only breed a dog that has been tested. I wouldnt want the poor health/genetic issues to continue. Plus there is my reputation to consider. I have been doing this for two decades now. I have an excellent rep for only providing strong healthy dogs. If I expect others to treat my dogs as great dogs then I have to provide them with great dogs. Many of those I sell to are repeat buyers. That's why I have a waiting list. I dont want dogs, owners or my reputation to suffer. We breed to improve the breed...........NOT TO MAKE A BUCK!
The problem is BYB's and puppymillers dont care about tomorrow, they only care about today's bank account.
2007-12-21 05:57:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
Because people are 1) too cheap 2) ignorant or 3) just want to make a buck.
My Malinois pup comes from strong working lines. Both parents were tested OFA good or better for their hips, passed for their elbows, and were CERF clear for their eyes. You not only want a strong body, but a strong mind as well. Temperament testing by the American Temperament Test Society or the AKC's Canine Good Citizen for basic manners obedience should be done as well (both his parents had their CGCs as well as being titled French Ring dogs).
2007-12-21 05:56:49 · answer #10 · answered by Cave Canem 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋