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Our vision on the health of our dogs:
In order to preserve the health of our breed, we work hard to screen for possible and existing diseases. As a breeder, we work for the future of the breed and to improve it. It is our duty to ensure as best we can to breed healthy dogs! All our dogs are tested for known diseases in our breed: degenerative myelopathy, multidrug sensibility, eyes, heart, thyroid as well as hip and elbow dysplasia. You can find our dogs on the OFA website.
What are these diseases?
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Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): is a degenerative disease of the nerve cells of the spinal cord. Symptoms appear as you age. The affected animal presents with balance disorders and weakness of the hind limbs. The symptoms gradually worsen leading to paralysis of the hind limbs, then the forelimbs are also affected and we end up observing paralysis of the four limbs. The prognosis of this disease is poor due to worsening symptoms and lack of treatment.
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We can prevent this disease with the help of a DNA test. We favor normal results (+/+) or carrier (+/-) in this case, the dog will be mated with a dog that is normal in order to eliminate the risks! There is also the result at risk (-/-) for us, it is essential never to mate a dog at risk!​
Drug sensitivity (MDR1): It is a mutation affecting the MDR1 gene, MDR meaning multidrug resistance. The MDR1 gene codes for a protein located at the level of the blood-brain barrier (barrier located in the brain and separating the blood circulation from the nervous system). When the MDR1 gene is mutated, this protein is non-functional or even absent and certain drugs will accumulate in the nervous system. If a dog has both mutated MDR1 genes, then it is said to be homozygous mutated (-/-). They are the most drug sensitive dogs and great care must be taken with the drugs used. We only mate dogs that are normal (+/+) to avoid any problems related to MDR1.
Hip dysplasia: All our dogs are tested at the age of 24 months (2 years). It is an x-ray of the hips taken at the veterinarian's which is sent to the OFA and analyzed by three specialist veterinarians. We mate dogs with the result: Hips Excellent, Good or Fair. A Fair result would be coupled with a Good or Excellent result! When possible we favor Excellent and Good results.
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Elbow dysplasia: All our dogs are tested at the age of 24 months (2 years). It is an X-ray of the elbows taken at the veterinarian which is sent to the OFA and analyzed by three specialist veterinarians. We mate dogs with the result: Normal elbow.
Eyes: All our dogs are examined by a specialized veterinarian, an ophthalmologist to ensure that they have no eye problems.
Heart : All our dogs are examined by a veterinarian to ensure that they have no anomalies.
Thyroid: All our dogs are tested to ensure that they do not have a thyroid problem. It is a blood sample that is sent to a specialized laboratory.
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