OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certification numbers for hips and elbows. An OFA number indicates that a dog has been evaluated by x-ray by the OFA and found to show no signs of having Hip Dysplasia  at age 24 months or older.   Passing OFA ratings for hips will indicate whether the dog’s hip structure has been found to be “Excellent, “Good” or “Fair”.  Parent OFA rating is important in predicting the tendency to hip dysplasia, as is the OFA history in the pedigree. OFA also evaluates elbow x-rays and rates elbows as “Normal” if no indication of elbow dysplasia is found. Elbows are rated by the OFA only on a pass/fail basis. 

CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) All breeding dogs should have an annual CERF examination.   A CERF exam is only good for one year and can only be done by a board certified ophthalmologist.   A CERF exam can detect such anomalies as cataracts, Persistent Pupillary membranes, retinal problems, and other congenital ocular anomalies.

OptiGen - Research has lead to a DNA test to identify dogs that are either normal, carriers or affected with Progressive Retinal Atrophy.  PRA is caused by a recessive gene. Pattern A and A1 are dogs that are normal, i.e., do not carry the gene. Pattern B or B1 are carriers (have one recessive gene), and Pattern C and C1 are dogs that carry two recessive genes, and thus are affected with PRA, leading to blindness. Pattern B/B1 and Pattern C/C1 dogs should only be bred to Pattern A/A1 to avoid producing PRA-affected puppies. Before this genetic test was available, PRA blindness was a serious risk in most breeding lines, but since the advent of the test, there is no excuse for producing an affected dog.

GM1 - Storage Disease (GM1 gangliosidosis) is a recessive, genetic disorder. It is produced only when two carriers are bred together. The disorder is caused by a lack of an enzyme that allows the build up of toxic substances in the nerve cells.  It is fatal to affected puppies.

UPenn Cardio – Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (JDCM) is a recessive genetic disorder. If both parents carry the gene and pass it on to a puppy, that dog will be affected with Cardio, typically resulting in death due to reduced heart function at an age of a few weeks to a few months. After extensive research funded by the PWDCA and the PWD Foundation, researchers at U. of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have very recently developed a DNA linkage marker for Cardio. The test indicates non-carriers (Normal, type 1-1) and carriers (type 1-2), and is yet another great advance in genetic testing to help breeders produce healthy dogs.

For additional information from the PWDCA on health considerations in PWDs, click here.

For a good article on PWD genetic testing, see the PWD Foundation, and also CHIC (Canine Health Information Center).