Golden Retriever DNA health tests...

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- Progressive retinal Atrophy Golden Retriever Type 2 (GR-PRA1)

- And Progressive Retinal Atrophy Golden Retriever Type 2 (GR-PRA2)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited condition characterised by the breakdown of the retina in both eyes, causing progressive vision loss and resulting in total blindness. There is no treatment for PRA.

GR-PRA1 and GR-PRA2 both have the same effects, but are caused by different genetic mutations.

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- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRCD PRA)

The cells of the retina receive light from the external environment and transmit the information to the brain where it is interpreted to become vision. PRA causes cells in the retina at the back of the eye to degenerate and die, even though the cells may have developed normally early in life.

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- Ichthyosis type A (ICT-A) 

Ichthyosis is a type of dermatitis (skin disease) caused by skin cells not working properly. This leads to large, different coloured scales on the skin. There is no treatment for this disease, however, in some cases scale formation decreases in older dogs.

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- Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (DEB)

Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa is a skin disease present from birth, causing fragile skin. Fragile skin is easily aggravated into blisters and ulcers which can become infected. After around eight months skin blisters tend to disappear but mouth ulcers can last into adulthood.

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- Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED)

Ectodermal Dysplasia occurs from birth with affected dogs unable to produce an important skin protein. Skin is fragile and easily sloughs off the nose, footpads, and ears and affected dogs usually die within a few days of birth.

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- Muscular Dystrophy (MD)

Muscular Dystrophy starts showing from around eight to ten weeks of age in a shuffling gait, muscle weakness, difficulty eating and excessive drooling due to abnormal amounts of muscle contraction proteins. Severity can vary from death at an early age to longer life with mild symptoms.

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- Neuronal Ceroid Lipofusinosis 5 (NCL 5) 

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis is a lysosomal storage disease which affects an enzyme during metabolism of cellular material and progressively affects the brain and nervous system. This can cause a lack of muscle control and balance, abnormal gait, confused or aggressive behaviour, blindness, and seizures. Symptoms often progress rapidly and severely until death or euthanasia

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- Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)

Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a collagen disorder starting at a few weeks of age. It causes lameness and fractures due to thinner than normal bones, as well as loose joints and brittle teeth. Affected dogs are usually euthanised at a young age.

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- Sensory Ataxic Neuropathy (SAN)

Sensory Ataxic Neuropathy is a progressive neurological disorder which results in uncoordinated movements, abnormal posture, and reduced spinal reflexes. Symptoms may become severe enough for euthanasia. It can affect both males and females, but is only passed on through the maternal line.

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What the test results mean...

Clear - Clear means the mutation known to cause the disorder has not been found so they will not develop this disorder and they do not carry it. So they can not produce a puppy affected by this disorder. 

Carrier - Carrier means that one copy of the mutation has been detected. They will not develop this disorder but they can pass on one copy to their offspring. This means you must only breed a carrier to a clear so the pups wont be affected. The pups will have 50% chance of being clear and 50% chance of being a carrier. 

Affected - Affected means that they are likely to develop the disorder. In this case i would not breed from them and it is recommended that you don't but if someone did they would need to be bred to a clear dog to ensure no pups are affected but they will all be carriers. 

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Hip and Elbows

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal condition, often seen in large or giant breed dogs.

The hip joint functions as a ball and socket. In dogs with hip dysplasia, the ball and socket do not fit or develop properly, and they rub and grind instead of sliding smoothly. This results in deterioration over time and an eventual loss of function of the joint itself.

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Elbow dysplasia is a painful condition that causes one or both elbows to develop abnormally while a puppy is growing. There are three main areas inside the elbow joint that can be affected; some dogs have just one problem area, while others suffer with a combination.

Elbow dysplasia causes pain, swelling, instability and often leads to arthritis

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Hip and Elbow Dysplasia can be hereditary and that's why we score the parents . They can also be caused from to much pressure and/ or weight put on the joint from an early age. You really need to your puppy to be keeping 4 feet on the floor, no jumping up, set walking limits, no up and down stairs and keep their weight to a healthy weight (not letting them get tubby).

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