Health
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. Run, don’t walk, from any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on puppies, who tells you that the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her puppies are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines.
The Kelpie is a generally healthy breed, but he has some potential health conditions that can be a concern. They include Collie eye anomaly, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cerebellar abiotrophy. Also Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and heart problems occur.
Cerebellar abiotrophy is a progressive neurological disease that affects movement. It has no treatment, but researchers are seeking a genetic marker for the disease, which could eventually aid breeders in identifying Kelpies who are affected by or carriers of the disease.
Not all of these conditions are detectable in a growing puppy, and it is impossible to predict whether an animal will be free of these maladies, which is why you must find a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible. They should be able to produce independent certification that the parents of the dog (and grandparents, etc.) have been screened for common defects and deemed healthy for breeding. That’s where health registries come in.
Do not purchase a puppy from a breeder who cannot provide you with written documentation that the parents were cleared of health problems that affect the breed.
Don't fall for a bad breeder's lies. If the breeder tells you she doesn't need to do those tests because she's never had problems in her lines, her dogs have been "vet checked," or any of the other excuses irresponsible breeders have for skimping on the genetic testing of their dogs, walk away immediately. Having the dogs "vet checked" is not a substitute for genetic health testing. Look for your puppy elsewhere.
Careful breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best-looking specimens, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas and a puppy develops one of these diseases despite good breeding practices. Advances in veterinary medicine mean that in most cases the dogs can still live a good life. If you’re getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the ages of the dogs in her lines and what they died of.
Remember that after you’ve taken a new puppy into your home, you have the power to protect him from one of the most common health problems: obesity. Keeping a Kelpie at an appropriate weight is one of the easiest ways to extend his life. Make the most of your preventive abilities to help ensure a healthier dog for life.
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. Run, don’t walk, from any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on puppies, who tells you that the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her puppies are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines.
The Kelpie is a generally healthy breed, but he has some potential health conditions that can be a concern. They include Collie eye anomaly, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cerebellar abiotrophy. Also Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and heart problems occur.
Cerebellar abiotrophy is a progressive neurological disease that affects movement. It has no treatment, but researchers are seeking a genetic marker for the disease, which could eventually aid breeders in identifying Kelpies who are affected by or carriers of the disease.
Not all of these conditions are detectable in a growing puppy, and it is impossible to predict whether an animal will be free of these maladies, which is why you must find a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible. They should be able to produce independent certification that the parents of the dog (and grandparents, etc.) have been screened for common defects and deemed healthy for breeding. That’s where health registries come in.
Do not purchase a puppy from a breeder who cannot provide you with written documentation that the parents were cleared of health problems that affect the breed.
Don't fall for a bad breeder's lies. If the breeder tells you she doesn't need to do those tests because she's never had problems in her lines, her dogs have been "vet checked," or any of the other excuses irresponsible breeders have for skimping on the genetic testing of their dogs, walk away immediately. Having the dogs "vet checked" is not a substitute for genetic health testing. Look for your puppy elsewhere.
Careful breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best-looking specimens, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas and a puppy develops one of these diseases despite good breeding practices. Advances in veterinary medicine mean that in most cases the dogs can still live a good life. If you’re getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the ages of the dogs in her lines and what they died of.
Remember that after you’ve taken a new puppy into your home, you have the power to protect him from one of the most common health problems: obesity. Keeping a Kelpie at an appropriate weight is one of the easiest ways to extend his life. Make the most of your preventive abilities to help ensure a healthier dog for life.
Breeders can test on following faults:
Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is a genetic (polygenic) trait that is affected by environmental factors. It can be found in many animals and in humans, but is most commonly associated with dogs, and is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds. Before you buy a puppy you should check if both parents are tested on Hip Dysplasia. The dogs should at least have HD A or HD B. Those results are seen as normal. HD C and higher are seen as inadequate. Dogs with HD have troubles moving and have chronic pain throughout there lives.
Eye Testing
The "genetic marker" for PRA has been identifed in a number of breeds of dog. A blood sample is sent to a specialist laboratory for testing and the dog can then be classified as normal, a carrier, or affected. Please see LINKS for a list of the breeds for which blood testing is currently available. Unfortunately, for the Glen of Imaal Terrier, and many other breeds, there is currently no test to determine genetic status for PRA i.e. we cannot do a simple blood test to identify whether a Glen is normal, a carrier or affected. For the time being, we have to rely on eye testing by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Heart Problems:
In response to the posts about various Kelpies with heart problems, a relevant study has taken place in cooperation with the dutch breed club about the heart problems and the frequency in which it occurs, especially in a certain bloodline. Multiple Kelpies have been echography tested incl. color doppler screened through this research. Below you find a pdf file who gives you more information.
The dogs can be tested with a colour doppler test and with a echography.
Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is a genetic (polygenic) trait that is affected by environmental factors. It can be found in many animals and in humans, but is most commonly associated with dogs, and is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds. Before you buy a puppy you should check if both parents are tested on Hip Dysplasia. The dogs should at least have HD A or HD B. Those results are seen as normal. HD C and higher are seen as inadequate. Dogs with HD have troubles moving and have chronic pain throughout there lives.
Eye Testing
The "genetic marker" for PRA has been identifed in a number of breeds of dog. A blood sample is sent to a specialist laboratory for testing and the dog can then be classified as normal, a carrier, or affected. Please see LINKS for a list of the breeds for which blood testing is currently available. Unfortunately, for the Glen of Imaal Terrier, and many other breeds, there is currently no test to determine genetic status for PRA i.e. we cannot do a simple blood test to identify whether a Glen is normal, a carrier or affected. For the time being, we have to rely on eye testing by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Heart Problems:
In response to the posts about various Kelpies with heart problems, a relevant study has taken place in cooperation with the dutch breed club about the heart problems and the frequency in which it occurs, especially in a certain bloodline. Multiple Kelpies have been echography tested incl. color doppler screened through this research. Below you find a pdf file who gives you more information.
The dogs can be tested with a colour doppler test and with a echography.
report_cardiological_problems_in_austr_kelpie.pdf | |
File Size: | 302 kb |
File Type: |
Patella Luxation
Patella Luxation is not common in Australian Kelpies, but there have been a few dogs who have been diagnosed with it. It is therefore advisable that breeders have their dogs and puppies tested by a vet.
Luxating means out of place, or dislocated. The patella is the equivalent to the human kneecap and part of the stifle structure, and therefore a luxating patella is a kneecap that moves out of its normal location. The patella normally moves up and down in a groove in the lower femur bone called the trochlear groove. In patella luxation the groove is often shallow and this shallow groove prevents the patella from sitting deeply, predisposing it to dislocation. A patella that is not stable but does not slip out of joint is said to be subluxating, while one that comes out of joint on its own is said to luxate.
Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA)
The cerebellum is the part of the brain that regulates the control and coordination of movement. With this condition, cells in the cerebellum mature normally before birth, but then deteriorate prematurely causing clinical signs associated with poor co-ordination and lack of balance.
The Purkinje cells in the cerebellum are primarily involved; cells in other areas of the brain may also be affected.
CA has been seen in the Australian Kelpie, Gordon Setter, Border Collie, Labrador Retriever, Airedale, English Pointer, Scottish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, and other dog breeds. Time of onset varies. In a few breeds, such as the Beagle, Rough Collie, and Miniature Poodle, Purkinje cells begin to die off at or shortly before birth, and pups are born with symptoms or develop symptoms by three to four weeks of age.
Most breeds prone to the condition, such as the Kerry Blue Terrier, Border Collie, Australian Kelpie, and Labrador Retriever, begin showing symptoms between six and sixteen weeks of age. In a very few breeds, such as the American Staffordshire Terrier, Old English Sheepdog, Brittany Spaniel, and Gordon Setter, symptoms do not appear until adulthood or even middle age. In dogs, CA is also usually an autosomal recessive gene, but in a few breeds, such as the English Pointer, the gene is sex-linked. New information about the progress of the research (February 2010): Update on CA research in Kelpies at University of New South Wales. (Feb 2010) Previously we have reported that we have identified the region of DNA containing the Cerebellar Abiotrophy gene that results in ataxia in affected kelpies. The genetic cause of the disease looks to be very difficult to identify but we will persevere until a DNA test is developed.
Note: The dogs in the pictures are randomly chosen and have nothing to do with the diseases described.
Patella Luxation is not common in Australian Kelpies, but there have been a few dogs who have been diagnosed with it. It is therefore advisable that breeders have their dogs and puppies tested by a vet.
Luxating means out of place, or dislocated. The patella is the equivalent to the human kneecap and part of the stifle structure, and therefore a luxating patella is a kneecap that moves out of its normal location. The patella normally moves up and down in a groove in the lower femur bone called the trochlear groove. In patella luxation the groove is often shallow and this shallow groove prevents the patella from sitting deeply, predisposing it to dislocation. A patella that is not stable but does not slip out of joint is said to be subluxating, while one that comes out of joint on its own is said to luxate.
Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA)
The cerebellum is the part of the brain that regulates the control and coordination of movement. With this condition, cells in the cerebellum mature normally before birth, but then deteriorate prematurely causing clinical signs associated with poor co-ordination and lack of balance.
The Purkinje cells in the cerebellum are primarily involved; cells in other areas of the brain may also be affected.
CA has been seen in the Australian Kelpie, Gordon Setter, Border Collie, Labrador Retriever, Airedale, English Pointer, Scottish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, and other dog breeds. Time of onset varies. In a few breeds, such as the Beagle, Rough Collie, and Miniature Poodle, Purkinje cells begin to die off at or shortly before birth, and pups are born with symptoms or develop symptoms by three to four weeks of age.
Most breeds prone to the condition, such as the Kerry Blue Terrier, Border Collie, Australian Kelpie, and Labrador Retriever, begin showing symptoms between six and sixteen weeks of age. In a very few breeds, such as the American Staffordshire Terrier, Old English Sheepdog, Brittany Spaniel, and Gordon Setter, symptoms do not appear until adulthood or even middle age. In dogs, CA is also usually an autosomal recessive gene, but in a few breeds, such as the English Pointer, the gene is sex-linked. New information about the progress of the research (February 2010): Update on CA research in Kelpies at University of New South Wales. (Feb 2010) Previously we have reported that we have identified the region of DNA containing the Cerebellar Abiotrophy gene that results in ataxia in affected kelpies. The genetic cause of the disease looks to be very difficult to identify but we will persevere until a DNA test is developed.
Note: The dogs in the pictures are randomly chosen and have nothing to do with the diseases described.