#health testing

[theborzoiarebackintown]

I’m happy to see zero pairs or runs on Charlie’s latest holter! We’re on a fish oil regime that’s worked for other borzoi who tested similar, and I’m so glad it seems to be working. He’ll be tested again at the end of the summer with the other adults!

[southerntchiorny]

If your breeder encourages health testing (and especially if they guarantee reimbursement for said testing) DO IT. Tempo’s stud owners had a litter years ago that was affected by liver disease. They now heavily encourage regular health screenings for it. Both of Tempo’s parents tested normal for liver disease.

Yesterday, I took Tempo in for a serum bile acid test just to continue the study. He showed some elevated results and through further bloodwork it has been determined that he likely has Microvascular Dysplasia.

Now at this time he is completely asymptomatic and perfectly normal! But with this early detection I can alter his diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle for him for the foreseeable future. I’ve definitely had my own little stressed out session about this since it came out of no where but I’m thrilled to have the foresight to manage this before it became a more serious issue.

[darkwood-sleddog]

When dogs in my breed have health/genetics issues I always feel the need to investigate. Like four month old puppy has elbow displaysia? Okay where did she come from? And when I find where she came from it’s just full of red flags. No health testing, no pedigrees, multiple families being one “breeder”, nice big payment options button on the website, etc.

Like, I do feel bad for people that fall for these things without knowing better, less bad for those that do but proceed anyways.

Remember. Health Testing is the BARE MINIMUM of ethical breeding.

[mandana-the-service-pup]

My first speech pathology apt is done. They did a scope down my nose to test my speech & swallowing and the conclusion is that my vocal cords are doing the same thing my joints are doing. Thanks to EDS my connective tissue is too lax and so my muscles overcompensate by become tense to add support. So my true vocal cords (connective tissue) isn’t coming together all the way and it’s affecting my speech. When I swallow the protective false vocal cords (muscle fiber) that are supposed to cover the true vocal cords when swallowing are over compensating by squeezing too hard and create so much tension that it’s difficult to swallow.

I have a separate appointment with someone who specializes in tongue stuff to address the other issues and probably three or four more appointments with the speech pathologist to work on breathing exercises and things I can do to improve the weakness in my voice.

[fayeandknight]

Folks who have had their dog's OFAs done - how long did it take to get the results?

I had Forte's done on 11/24/23. It's currently 1/20/24 and I've heard nothing from the vet and don't see him listed on the OFA database.

I don't want to pester the vet staff unnecessarily as I'm sure they're busy. But in case a filing mistake was made I also don't want to wait too long.

Advice appreciated.

[losech]

In my experience, it’s been a bit difficult to find hunting dogs bred by breeders who actually health test and don’t just rely on “they’re vet checked” or “they work well into old age”. Are there WSL breeders who do OFA testing and such or is that just a compromise one has to make like it is for some other breeds?

I had the only dna and ofa tested litter in the country. Unfortunately I have no current breeding plans 🙃

I got Ember's breeder to start using Embark on his dogs, so that's something at least. But in general, people don't health test WSL. Finding kennels overseas who do it and will export is difficult as well.

[wilderun]

Good news from OFA for Booker, the Alaskan Husky stud dog I’m sponsoring health testing on currently!