There are two PRA affected dogs submitted to OFA (free submission for affected dogs, Bailey is one of those two affected dogs submitted) and twenty-one normal or carrier dogs. Someone was compiling a database in our yahoo group but that hasn't been updated in many months. My dogs aren't in there and they were tested over a year ago now.
I am absolutely thrilled that people have submitted results, I just wish more would. It seems to fall into the same category as failing hip and elbow results where many just cover it up because then no one will have "information" to judge their breeding decisions on.
I know a few people are still waiting on accurate paperwork from the lab and that's no good either! Hopefully we'll see an increase in submitted results soon. Both of my dogs are in there, and that's all I can do.
Bailey is the most health tested dog in her OFA "family" which is interesting as she's spayed. At least her relatives are in there for something though.
Hopefully next summer I can "do my part" and have both dogs blood run again to test for PFK. It's the same price as the PRA test we ran and at the time PRA information was more important so I had to decide. Their blood is banked for life (as long as I don't use it all up) so I just have to pay the fee to have the test run. Right now there's more important things to spend money on so it's still waiting (which is probably the mentality people have who haven't submitted their PRA forms to the databse, so I do understand but it doesn't change my desire for more ESS in the OFA databse for PRA).
Showing posts with label elbow dysplasia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elbow dysplasia. Show all posts
2008-09-20
2008-04-21
CHIC
As I'm sure most of my 'dog friends' are well aware, I'm quite obsessed with dog genetics and health. Of course, I know more about ESS in general, but I work on expanding my knowledge to other breeds whenever I have the chance.
Lately I've been contemplating what would be a good set of requirements for an English Springer Spaniel CHIC.
The 'obvious' are:
Hips (OFA, OVC, PennHIP)
Elbows (OFA, OVC)
PRA
CERF- at least every two years
From what I've heard, you don't want to make it "too complicated" at first, or no one will desire a CHIC number.
If I had my way... I would also include:
Shoulders (OFA)
Thyroid- after age 3
Cardiac- after age 3
PFK
Fucosidosis
Of course, I feel that all of these should be done prior to breeding. I don't believe dogs should be bred before reaching three years old, which is evident by the age restraint I would place on thyroid and cardiac, if I could have my way of course! :)
And "I know, I know" that running all of these tests would be mighty expensive. If they are spread out over time, it might not seem so bad! :)
Lately I've been contemplating what would be a good set of requirements for an English Springer Spaniel CHIC.
The 'obvious' are:
Hips (OFA, OVC, PennHIP)
Elbows (OFA, OVC)
PRA
CERF- at least every two years
From what I've heard, you don't want to make it "too complicated" at first, or no one will desire a CHIC number.
If I had my way... I would also include:
Shoulders (OFA)
Thyroid- after age 3
Cardiac- after age 3
PFK
Fucosidosis
Of course, I feel that all of these should be done prior to breeding. I don't believe dogs should be bred before reaching three years old, which is evident by the age restraint I would place on thyroid and cardiac, if I could have my way of course! :)
And "I know, I know" that running all of these tests would be mighty expensive. If they are spread out over time, it might not seem so bad! :)
- PRA, PFK, Fucosidosis at a year old (if the PRA status isn't known based on parentage)
- CERF at 2 years old
- hips, elbows, shoulders done at 3 years
- Thyroid and Cardiac done at 3.5-4 years old
Any male dogs I own in the future that come from breeders will be neutered at least after age two and will have hip, elbow, and shoulder xrays taken at the time of neuter and sent to OFA. The "other" stuff I would plan to do as I do now; take advantage of clinics and use them whenever available.
I love the Cardiac and CERF clinics at the TCVESSA August show. Even though I've only utilized them for a year now, I plan to continue into the future. Buzz will have a CERF exam and Cardiac exam this year while Bailey will probably only have a CERF.
2008-03-13
elbows
Hmmm... now I really want to learn more about vet stuff!
Bailey's elbows both passed.
I'm very confused. Then why was she limping (and probably would be still without her joint supplement)? So, we got good news but that also means we didn't find the answer to the problem. I just don't get it. The left elbow was REALLY nice. The right one, not so much.
I should give my vet a lot of credit though, he said they would both pass, and they did. I was very skeptical.
Anyways, here's her OFA page. http://offa.org/display.html?appnum=1216954#animal
I guess we'll keep searching for the answer about her limping.
First time since I found out that I'm saying "horray, her elbows passed" heh...
Lots of questions. Wonder what the vet'll say. Definitely have to ask him.
Bailey's elbows both passed.
I'm very confused. Then why was she limping (and probably would be still without her joint supplement)? So, we got good news but that also means we didn't find the answer to the problem. I just don't get it. The left elbow was REALLY nice. The right one, not so much.
I should give my vet a lot of credit though, he said they would both pass, and they did. I was very skeptical.
Anyways, here's her OFA page. http://offa.org/display.html?appnum=1216954#animal
I guess we'll keep searching for the answer about her limping.
First time since I found out that I'm saying "horray, her elbows passed" heh...
Lots of questions. Wonder what the vet'll say. Definitely have to ask him.
2008-02-22
OFA
Nope, no elbow ratings yet (they were just sent in on Monday... I do have SOME patience), but I did find something quite intriguing while perusing the OFA site looking for explanations to hip and elbow xrays. It clearly states that the vets who read the xrays will take into consideration the breed, age, and sex when scoring the hip. That's the first I'd heard or seen of that. Does that mean the exempt all bulldogs? No, it just means that they realize what is good for one breed, may be excellent for another.
What was very interesting is that I couldn't find anything about those three factors (breed, age, and sex) in the elbow information. Especially in our agility discussion lately, it seems as though even more emphasis is finally being put on elbows, especially with that slamming down for 2o2o contacts a lot of people teach. I understand we need strict guidelines to improve breeds (and maybe they do consider those three things) but there has to be some leeway it would seem, espcially for age. I hate to say it, but I'm beginning to think that elbow xrays are more important than hip. The dogs' massage therapist told me that they carry 60% of their weight in the front (I hope I got that number right... and I think so because she was saying Bailey probably carried 70% when she was tight all over and hurting) and only 40% in the rear.
Back to school... almost done with my script for tomorrow. Mock parent/teacher conferences, fun... maybe? My "parent" is, of course, the head of the education department. I've met him a total of twice now. Once was this (yesterday now) morning at a meeting about student teaching. I asked him to be nice, and not be a disgruntled parent... hehe, he thought it was pretty funny, I was pretty serious!
We shall see!
What was very interesting is that I couldn't find anything about those three factors (breed, age, and sex) in the elbow information. Especially in our agility discussion lately, it seems as though even more emphasis is finally being put on elbows, especially with that slamming down for 2o2o contacts a lot of people teach. I understand we need strict guidelines to improve breeds (and maybe they do consider those three things) but there has to be some leeway it would seem, espcially for age. I hate to say it, but I'm beginning to think that elbow xrays are more important than hip. The dogs' massage therapist told me that they carry 60% of their weight in the front (I hope I got that number right... and I think so because she was saying Bailey probably carried 70% when she was tight all over and hurting) and only 40% in the rear.
Back to school... almost done with my script for tomorrow. Mock parent/teacher conferences, fun... maybe? My "parent" is, of course, the head of the education department. I've met him a total of twice now. Once was this (yesterday now) morning at a meeting about student teaching. I asked him to be nice, and not be a disgruntled parent... hehe, he thought it was pretty funny, I was pretty serious!
We shall see!
2008-02-17
She's fixable!
I love my vet...
Dr. Enochs examined Bailey thoroughly (poking prodding, giving treats, checking for the difference in leg length, feeling for subluxuated disks, holding up each foot to check for resistance to stand on a certain leg) and looked through notes I had.
He thought we should take rays. So we did.
He took one of her right shoulder area and then we did OFA elbow xrays. I figured that since we were doing one elbow, we may as well do the other and send them in.
Wow were they clear, and he didn't even sedate her!
There is no bone cancer *phew that was my one HUGE fear* and it's a degenerative issue in her right elbow, most likely from a previous semi-minor injury. The super good news is he thinks she'll be fine and benefit from staying active, as long as I don't make her a "weekend warrior" so we have some strict orders to condition her long before a trial and long after (got that), some rimadyl for two days prior and two days after a trial (and of course during). I'm also going to put her on a full strength glucosamine/chondroitin supplement. Going to try the K9 Joint Health first because it worked well for Buzz and I can buy it by the gallon which will help immensly with two dogs on it consistently now. It has Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM, plus a few other "goodies" in there for them.
He said she should definitely be able to run tunnelers in March as long as we get her on the joint supplement and we keep her active. And do the rimadyl. I'm so happy my dog is FIXABLE!
He doesn't know how OFA will grade her elbows. There is definite degeneration, but the elbow conformation was really good he said so we'll see. I'm not too concerned about the result, but he's as interested as I am to see what they say. In all honesty, I don't think they'll pass. I guess all we can do is wait and see though.
Again, I'm so thrilled I get to continue playing with this monster... :)
Dr. Enochs examined Bailey thoroughly (poking prodding, giving treats, checking for the difference in leg length, feeling for subluxuated disks, holding up each foot to check for resistance to stand on a certain leg) and looked through notes I had.
He thought we should take rays. So we did.
He took one of her right shoulder area and then we did OFA elbow xrays. I figured that since we were doing one elbow, we may as well do the other and send them in.
Wow were they clear, and he didn't even sedate her!
There is no bone cancer *phew that was my one HUGE fear* and it's a degenerative issue in her right elbow, most likely from a previous semi-minor injury. The super good news is he thinks she'll be fine and benefit from staying active, as long as I don't make her a "weekend warrior" so we have some strict orders to condition her long before a trial and long after (got that), some rimadyl for two days prior and two days after a trial (and of course during). I'm also going to put her on a full strength glucosamine/chondroitin supplement. Going to try the K9 Joint Health first because it worked well for Buzz and I can buy it by the gallon which will help immensly with two dogs on it consistently now. It has Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM, plus a few other "goodies" in there for them.
He said she should definitely be able to run tunnelers in March as long as we get her on the joint supplement and we keep her active. And do the rimadyl. I'm so happy my dog is FIXABLE!
He doesn't know how OFA will grade her elbows. There is definite degeneration, but the elbow conformation was really good he said so we'll see. I'm not too concerned about the result, but he's as interested as I am to see what they say. In all honesty, I don't think they'll pass. I guess all we can do is wait and see though.
Again, I'm so thrilled I get to continue playing with this monster... :)
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