All breeding dogs undergo X-ray evaluation of their elbows and hips via Pennhip and OFA preliminary certification prior to 24 months. At 2 years old they undergo a final OFA certification of the hips and elbows with new X-ray. Any dogs not passing evaluation will not be bred.
All breeding dogs are DNA tested for breed purity and to detect any one of the 210 disease variants they are tested for, in particular Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), Canine Multifocal Retinopathy 1 (CMR1), Dental-Skeletal-Retinal Anomaly (DSRA), and Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinsosis 1 (NCL1).
This exam is based on auscultation, which is listening to the sounds of the heart using a stethoscope. Areas where the vet will listen include cardiac valves, the subaortic area, the ascending aorta, the pulmonary artery, and the craniodorsal cardia base. The left and right precordium are also examined.
Veterinary Evaluation of Patellar Luxation. Results registered with OFA.