Health Testing
After working in the
Veterinary Field for over 20 years, I have seen my fair share of health
r elated problems in the breed of Yorkies. Which is one reason I
am so passionate about health testing the dogs that I breed. Just
the other day I saw a 7 month old yorkie that had a degenerative hip
disease that is going to cost the owners $4000 to surgically corrent
that is a GENETIC disease that could have been prevented had they done
health testing on their parents. The only "Required" health tests
in order to get a "Chic' number by the AKC Health Foundation for
Yorkies are Patellas and Eyes. I am more passionate about health
than that and believe that a dog should have a minimum of DNA, Hips,
Eyes, Patellas, Legge Calve Perthes, Cardiac, and Thyroid prior to
breeding. I feel like my dogs have the gold standard of health
testing. The costs of having these tests performed is not cheap,
therefore it is reflected in the cost of my puppies as well. I
will explain a little bit more about each of the problems that these
tests are testing for below. Please feel free to reach out to me
with any questions. You may email mail setarehyorkies@gmail.com
or text/call/whatsapp 385-243-5898 |
HIP DYSPLASIA
Hip
dysplasia is a hereditary polygenetic illness that causes a deformity
of the hip joint in which the ball and socket do not fit together
properly. Mildly dysplastic dogs may not show any visible symptoms.
Moderate to severe instances may have back pain and/or discomfort on
getting up. Arthritis is frequently caused by wear on the hip joint
over time. Young dogs, aged five to ten months, are at risk, while
older dogs are at risk of developing chronic degenerative joint
disease. More information may be found at: https://www.ofa.org/diseases/hip-dysplasia.
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LEGG-CALVE PERTHES
Legg-Calve-Perthes
disease (LCP) is a hip joint conformation illness. It is most commonly
observed in small and toy breeds aged four months to a year. OFA
examines x-rays and certifies if a dog is LCP-free. If a dog's hips are
found to be normal for hip dysplasia, the dog is also regarded normal
for LCP, and the LCP number is given to the dog for free upon
application. Visit https://www.ofa.org/diseases/other-diseases/legg-calve-perthes for additional information. |
PATELLA LUXATION
The
patella, often known as the kneecap, is a component of the stifle joint
(knee). When the kneecap luxates, it slides or pops out of place,
either to the inside or outside of the knee. It is possible that one or
both knees will be impacted. Patellar luxation is frequently inherited,
however it can also be induced by an accident. This issue may need
surgery to resolve. Patellar luxation may be visible as soon as the
puppy starts walking. Other kinds can appear as late as the age of
eight and vary in severity. When the kneecap slips out of position, the
dog will frequently carry its leg with the knee bent and the foot
twisted inward. Visit https://www.ofa.org/diseases/other-diseases/patellar-luxation
for additional information.
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EYE
Progressive
retinal atrophy (PRA), Primary Lens Luxation are all possible in
Yorkies. PRA is genetic, and several other eye disorders are also
thought to be hereditary. Many of these disorders result in blindness,
while others can be repaired surgically. See https://www.ofa.org/diseases/eye-certification/eye-disease-glossary
for additional details.
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THYROID DISEASE
Autoimmune
thyroiditis is the most prevalent cause of primary hypothyroidism
(underactive thyroid) in dogs. Autoimmune thyroiditis is a heritable
condition that affects yorkshire terriers. It is illness can
affect dogs of any age, although clinical indications are more common
in dogs aged two to five years. Hypothyroidism is not usually a
life-threatening disorder, but it is a chronic condition. When
diagnosed, the most common and successful therapy is a daily or
twice-day dosage of thyroid hormone replacement (synthetic
L-thyroxine). Dogs suffering from this illness should not be bred.
Breeding animals should be tested yearly for the first four years, then
every other year after that. More information may be found at https://www.ofa.org/diseases/other-diseases/hypothyroidism.
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CARDIAC
Patent
ductus arteriosis (PDA) is a hereditary heart problem in
Yorkshire Terriers that can result in a shorter life span and a
lower quality of life. Visit https://www.ofa.org/diseases/other-diseases/cardiac-disease
for additional information.
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DNA |
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