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Health Testing Information
The following genetic diseases are ones that I test for in my breeding program. Although almost all of these diseases can be medically treated to reduce the negative impacts on your boxer's quality of life, these diseases should not be taken lightly. All of these diseases can vary in severity from very mild to life threatening so it is important to make sure both the parents of your new puppy have been health tested. Puppies from health tested parents are less likely to be afflicted by the diseases listed below.
Please note that not every health tests looks the same. Formatting changes from clinic to clinic, test to test, so don't get hung up on the formats I have used as samples. What is important are the overall results of the exam, so make sure you understand what to look for.
SAS (Subaortic Stenosis)
Bascially, SAS is a problem with the structure of the heart which forces the heart to work harder to supply blood. Reduced blood flow can result in fainting and in some cases, cardiac arrest. Boxers with this disease can have shortened life spans, although the level of severity varies from dog to dog and the symptoms can be managed with medication. It is widely recommended that dogs with SAS should not be used for breeding purposes.
The diagnosis of SAS is best made by a veterinary cardiologist either by asscultation or by Echo-Doppler. Echo-Doppler conducted by a cardiologist is currently the most reliable method of screening for SAS. The veterinary cardiologist examines the heart with the Doppler, looking for structural defects, and records the maximum flow rate of the aortic valve, which the American Boxer Club recommends be no higher than 2.4 m/s. This is what the main portion of a healthy SAS report could look like. A full SAS report would also have all of the dog's information, the cardiologist's information, and other information from the exam.
ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy)
ARVC is another cardiac disease in boxers. It is a genetic disease that causes the breakdown of certain cells and proteins in the heart. This results in irregular heart beats, almost like the heart is short circuiting. Symptoms are similar to SAS such as fainting and the possibility of cardiac arrest. ARVC can be successfully managed through medication, especially if caught early.
Unlike SAS, ARVC cannot be seen through any sort of ultrasound or visual exam. Traditionally, the best method of testing for ARVC has been a 24 hr Holter test. This is a portable electrocardiogram that will record any irregular heartbeats (VPCs) the dog may have. According to Dr. Kate Meurs, an expert in this disease, anything above 100 VPCs is considered abnormal and could be a sign of ARVC. Here is what a portion of a healthy Holter report can look like. A full report would contain the dog's information and additional exam information
NEWS: The mutant gene responsible for ARVC has been discovered by Dr. Kate Meurs and a DNA test for ARVC is now available. The three different results are described below. Please note that while this is a valuable tool, research on this gene is still ongoing.
NEGATIVE: (Homozygous) |
This dog has no copies of the mutated gene and is unable to pass on ARVC to its offspring. Negative is the ideal test result for a breeding boxer. |
HETEROZYGOUS: |
This dog has one copy of the mutated gene and one normal copy of the gene. During reproduction, this dog can pass either the mutant gene or the normal gene to its offspring. At this time, these dogs are still considered viable breeding dogs if bred to a negative dog. |
POSITIVE: (Homozygous) |
This dog has two mutant genes and is likely affected with the disease ARVC. During reproduction, this dog can only pass on mutant copies of the gene. It is recommended that these dogs not be used for breeding purposes. |
Hips
Hip dysplasia is an inheritable malformation of the hip joint leading to osteoarthritis. Hip dysplasia occurs when the socket is poorly formed or the ligaments are loose, enabling the ball of the femur to slide part way out of its socket. Over time this causes degeneration of the joint (osteoarthritis) and the dog becomes weak and lame in the hind end. Hip dysplasia is a progressive disease, meaning that it becomes worse with time.
Screening breeding stock for hip dysplasia involves x-rays of the hip joint when the dog is over 24 months of age. These x-rays are then sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) to be read and graded. There are three acceptable grades for the hip joint; Excellent, Good, or Fair. Here is a sample of an acceptable OFA certificate for hips.
Thyroid
Hypothyroidism is one of the most common autoimmune disorders affecting dogs. Specifically, autoimmune thyroiditis can lead to allergies, skin disorders, weight problems, and increased risk of some cancers. Thyroid imbalances, and any associated symptoms, can be managed through medication.
The best method at this time for testing the thyroid is a blood test. The blood test is analysed for 'clues' of thyroid disfunction through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), who then issues an OFA certificate for thyroid. Although these clues may never lead to any clinical symptoms of thyroid problems, care should be taken to breed away from thyroid compromised dogs where possible.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy is a neurological disease that effects the spinal cord of senior dogs. It affects older dogs and begins as mild weakness in the hindquarters. Over time, DM eventually leads to paralysis of the hind legs. DM is not fatal or painful, but it does reduce the mobility of older dogs as it progresses.
A link has been found between DM and a specific gene mutation. A DNA test, conducted through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), can identify the presence of this mutant gene, but it is important to note that the mutant gene does not necissarily result in DM. By identifying the mutant gene, we can begin to breed away from the risk of DM in our older boxers. There are three different DNA results;
NORMAL: (N/N) |
This dog is homozygous N/N, with two normal copies of the gene. Dogs with test results of N/N (Normal) have never been confirmed to have DM and can only pass on the normal gene to its offspring. |
CARRIER: (A/N) |
This dog is heterozygous A/N, with one mutated copy of the gene and one normal copy of the gene, and is classified as a carrier. According to the University of Missouri, there have been no confirmed cases of DM for dogs with this test result. During reproduction, this dog can pass either the mutant gene or the normal gene to its offspring. |
AT RISK: (A/A) |
This dog is homozygous A/A, with two mutated copies of the gene, and is at risk for developing DM. During reproduction, this dog can only pass on mutant copies of the gene. When breeding A/A (At Risk) dogs, care should be taken to breed away from the mutant gene. |