Important Aussie Health Info Please Read On!
Australian Shepherds, in general, are a pretty health breed, with an average lifespan of between 12 and 15 years. But like most breeds, the Australian Shepherd is not immune to health problems. That is why it is very important for us as Miniature Australian Shepherd Breeders to do appropriate Health Testing & Research on all of our breeding adults, this will help to point us in a positive direction to producing happier and healthier puppies. It is also Very important for you as a potential owner or customer to do your research and homework to help you make the right decision for picking a good breeder.
Eye CERF - All of our dogs are tested annually and each of our dogs have continually tested clear for eye diseases.
An eye exam is performed by a board certified Veterinary Opthamologist. This exam looks for a multitude of eye diseases and or issues. Annual re-examination is recommended for all dogs. The CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) database provides a registry of dogs that have been certified free of heritable eye disease.
PRCD/PRA - None of our dogs here are affected by this disease via DNA Tests. The genetic disorder Progressive Rod-cone Degeneration-Progressive Retinal Atrophy, causes cells in the retina at the back of the eye to degenerate and die, even though the cells seem to develop normally early in life. The result is declining vision and eventual blindness. The “rod” cells operate in low light levels and are the first to lose normal function. Night blindness results. Then the “cone” cells gradually lose their normal function in full light situations. Most affected dogs will eventually go blind. It’s important to remember that not all retinal disease is PRA and not all PRA is the prcd form of PRA. DNA testing will make the diagnosis, prior to the onset of disease.
Hereditary Cateracts or H.C. - None of our dogs here are affected by this disease via DNA Tests. Cataracts are an eye disorder affecting the lens transparency. Cataracts are very often inherited and occur in more than 70 dog breeds. In connection with the hereditary forms of cataracts in dogs, there have been described several modes of inheritance, the majority being autosomal recessive. There are also autosomal dominant or polygenic modes of inheritance. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in dogs.
Hips (OFA) Our dogs recieve a preliminary OFA at one year of age and have their official OFA done at two years of age. Our dogs must recieve a report of Good or Excellent to remain in our breeding program. The very first step in the development of arthritis is articular cartilage (the type of cartilage lining the joint) damage due to the inherited bad biomechanics of an abnormally developed hip joint. Traumatic articular fracture through the joint surface is another way cartilage is damaged. With cartilage damage, lots of degradative enzymes are released into the joint. These enzymes degrade and decrease the synthesis of important constituent molecules that form hyaline cartilage called proteoglycans. This causes the cartilage to lose its thickness and elasticity, which are important in absorbing mechanical loads placed across the joint during movement. Eventually, more debris and enzymes spill into the joint fluid and destroy molecules called glycosaminoglycan and hyaluronate which are important precursors that form the cartilage proteoglycans. The joint's lubrication and ability to block inflammatory cells are lost and the debris-tainted joint fluid loses its ability to properly nourish the cartilage through impairment of nutrient-waste exchange across the joint cartilage cells. The damage then spreads to the synovial membrane lining the joint capsule and more degradative enzymes and inflammatory cells stream into the joint. Full thickness loss of cartilage allows the synovial fluid to contact nerve endings in the subchondral bone, resulting in pain. In an attempt to stabilize the joint to decrease the pain, the animal's body produces new bone at the edges of the joint surface, joint capsule, ligament and muscle attachments (bone spurs). The joint capsule also eventually thickens and the joint's range of motion decreases.
No one can predict when or even if a dysplastic dog will start showing clinical signs of lameness due to pain. There are multiple environmental factors such as caloric intake, level of exercise, and weather that can affect the severity of clinical signs and phenotypic expression (radiographic changes). There is no rhyme or reason to the severity of radiographic changes correlated with the clinical findings. There are a number of dysplastic dogs with severe arthritis that run, jump, and play as if nothing is wrong and some dogs with barely any arthritic radiographic changes that are severely lame.
~ Make Sure You Do Your Research & Buy From A Reputable Breeder That Has Health Tested Their Dogs ~
