HEALTH

Merlot CD, NAJ, CGC, SAR - Sadie CGC/TDI - Major CD, CGC/TDI
The foundation dogs of Anutta Poodles

Sadly, the Standard Poodle breed is steeped in health concerns. Poor breeding tactics, close inbreeding, etc., have caused this lovely breed to be a virtual nightmare when it comes to health. This page has been needing an update for some time now. I am sorry most of the links were broken. Hopefully this has been corrected.

Here is a list from the VIP website stating what health testing a breeding Standard Poodle should have done.

Hips for hip joint dysplasia (HD)

How: X-ray
When: After second birthday for OFA, after 3 months for Penn-Hip, may do screening for Legg-Perthe’s Disease at 6 months of age
Where: Most veterinarians are experienced in x-raying dogs’ hips. These films are then sent to the registry for a reading. Many orthopedic and radiology specialists can do the Penn-Hip films.

Skin for sebaceous adenitis (SA)

How: Two small skin biopsies done in the midline near the shoulders
When: After the second birthday and annually thereafter
Where: Your veterinarian can take the biopsies, these are then sent to a certified veterinary dermatopathologist. For a list of the currently certified pathologists go to CHIC pages at http://www.caninehealthinfo.org

Eyes for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and the other 21 inherited eye abnormalities found in poodles such as juvenile cataracts, entropion, ectropion, etc.

How: Eye examination
When: An eye exam at 8 weeks of age and annually thereafter.
Where: By a veterinarian who is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists for routine eye examinations. There may be an “eye clinic” held in your area sponsored by a breed club. There is a DNA linkage test available for Miniature and Toy Poodles but so far it is not approved for Standards.

DNA for Von Willebrand’s disease (vWd)

How: Cheek swab sample
When: Anytime after birth
Where: VETGEN

Blood for thyroid malfunction

How: Blood sample
When: Subsequent to sexual maturity in males and between heat cycles (12 to 16 weeks following onset of heat) in the female.
Where: A full set of thyroid tests including evaluation for thyroid antibodies should be done. For a list of the labs approved to do these tests go to: www.offa.com

Addison’s Disease

How: Blood test for sodium/potassium ratio as a screening test (suspicious for Addison’s disease is a ratio of less than 27), ACTH stimulation test in suspected Addison’s Disease. At this time there is no DNA test to search for carriers of this disease and no way to determine if the dog will get Addison’s Disease until they are actually ill with the disease.
Where: Most veterinarians can do these tests and send them to a laboratory for analysis

Juvenile Renal Disease:

UPDATE: NEW DNA test for JRD in 2007!! More information to follow with link to where you can get your test!

There are also health issues that have no test but are common problems.

Ear Infections- Dr Gracie Blair MD has a fabulous write up on how to manage ears. Read it here!
Bloat- Also know as Gastric Torsion. Read about this here.
Epilepsy- Read about this here.

The VIP website has a great list of health issues related to Poodles in General.

FULL LISTING OF HEALTH ISSUES IN POODLES

Information is the key to improving our breed. If you have info on dogs suffering from any of the above, please let me know about them. I am not out to bad mouth any person's breeding program. I am only out to help our poodles move forward to a healthy future. A bloodline might have one or more of these issues hiding in the background. Possibly even issues not listed above! Even extremely careful breeders will have problems crop up from time to time. Do not think for one instant any breeder can tell you their line is clear of health concerns. If they claim that, run.. don't walk, to another breeder. If you bred long enough, there will be issues that occur. It is how the breeder handles those issues which set them apart.

IF ONE OF MY PUPPIES SHOWS SIGHS OF ANY HEALTH ISSUE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I cannot correct a problem I do not know about. Just because the dogs living with me or co-owned by me, show no signs of illness does not mean they will produce tip top healthy puppies. A breeding program can only be successful the owners keep the breeder informed of the health and welfare of the dogs they produce. :) Keep me in the loop, so I can produce poodles for many years to come!

Canine Reproduction Seminar (really good reading for anyone interested in this subject)