Health Screening

Our dams/studs undergo extensive testing to ensure they are fit and healthy to produce the healthiest companions for our clients. We clear all of our breeding stock for hips and elbows through the OFA or through generational clearances. The Labrador Retriever, among other breeds, can be predisposed to unwanted genetic conditions so we test to ensure our dams/studs are not passing bad genes to their puppies.

Below is a list of tests that all our dams/studs are tested for.

Genetic Screening

Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM)

Centronuclear myopathy is a hereditary myopathy of Labrador Retrievers characterized by generalized loss of muscle tone and control.

Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (CMS)

Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is a neuromuscular disorder in Labrador Retrievers characterized by generalized muscle weakness and fatigue, often induced by exercise.

Cystinuria Type I-A

Cystinuria type I-A is a kidney disorder in which the kidneys are unable to reabsorb cystine, leading to the formation of crystals in the urinary tract, which can cause urinary obstruction, difficulty in passing urine, and presence of blood in the urine.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is an inherited neurologic disorder of dogs characterized by gradual muscle wasting and loss of coordination typically beginning in the hind limbs.

Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC)

Exercise-induced collapse is a genetic neuromuscular disorder characterized by muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and life-threatening collapse after intense exercise in otherwise apparently healthy dogs.

Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK)

Hereditary nasal parakeratosis is an inherited, recessive genetic defect that affects specialized cells of the canine nose, resulting in the formation of a crust with cracks over the nasal area of young dogs.

Hyperuricosuria (HUU)

Hyperuricosuria is an inherited disorder characterized by elevated levels of uric acid in the urine that can lead to the formation of bladder/kidney stones.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy in Labrador Retrievers is a sleeping disorder characterized by daytime sleepiness, fragmented sleep patterns, and sudden transient episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis triggered by play or food. This test detects a causal variant specific to Labrador Retrievers.

Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKDef)

Pyruvate kinase deficiency in Labrador Retrievers is a chronic, severe hemolytic anemia caused by defective production of the enzyme pyruvate kinase. Signs in affected dogs may include lethargy, low exercise tolerance, and fatigue.

Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd)

Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD) is an inherited form of late-onset progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) that has been identified in many dog breeds.

Skeletal Dysplasia 2 (SD2)

Skeletal dysplasia 2 (SD2) is an inherited disorder that causes a mild form of disproportionate dwarfism consisting of short legs with normal body length and width.

Stargardt Disease

Stargardt disease is a degenerative eye disorder resulting from the progressive loss of the photoreceptor cells that are responsible for sensing light. Affected dogs show a decline in vision with age but appear to retain some vision throughout their life.

X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM)

X-linked myotubular myopathy in Labrador Retrievers is an inherited muscle disease that manifests with generalized muscle weakness and progressive muscle atrophy in puppies.

Other Health screenings

OFA Certified Hips and Elbows*

The best way we can prevent hereditary hip/elbow dysplasia is to screen our dams for the disease prior to breeding them and we do just that.

Hip dysplasia is a deformity of the hip that occurs during growth.
Elbow dysplasia is the disease most commonly implicated in front limb lameness (limping) in dogs. It occurs when the bones that make up the elbow joint don't come together just right, leading eventually to painful movement in the forelimb.

Health Checks

We do health checks on our dams before, during and after breeding with a highly reputable reproductive veterinarian. We take every step necessary to ensure the health of our dogs and their litters.

Vaccines

All of our dogs are kept up to date on vaccines and flea and tic prevention.

* OFA certification is used when the generational history is not known.