We have started Quincy’s health testing, even though he will not be two until the middle of next month.  A few months ago he tested normal with CERF for eye disorders.  Last week we mailed off his Neonatal Encephalopathy (NE) DNA test to VetGen.  I received the email results today and he is clear.  Now we wait for it to show up on the OFA website.

You might be wondering what is Neonatal Encephalopathy?

You can read the short version of the disease on the VetGen website

For a more detailed report, visit the people who developed the test at University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine website.

We are fortunate to have a few DNA test available in our breed.  Everyone who chooses to breed should take advantage of these test to keep bloodlines that might otherwise be tossed out or lost.  NE is a recessive that is fatal in young puppies.  In other words, if both the mom and dad carry the gene, 25% of those puppies will likely be affected and die before 7 weeks of age.  Old school breeders called this “Fading Puppy Syndrome” where a baby would start out fine, but nothing could save those pups.  Now we know for sure a carrier of the disease is unaffected and thus CAN be bred to a dog who is clear.  The Standard Poodle gene pool is tiny as it is, we should not simply toss out dogs who are carriers if we have known clear dogs to use with them.  Quincy is safe to bred to any Standard Poodle, be they clear or carrier for this disease.  He cannot possibly produce any affected puppies.

Genetics is beautiful, interesting, and amazing to me.  I suppose that is why I love doing this so much.

~Becky