{"id":2609,"date":"2012-09-25T08:00:47","date_gmt":"2012-09-25T07:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/?p=2609"},"modified":"2020-02-25T08:48:21","modified_gmt":"2020-02-25T08:48:21","slug":"genetic-testing-for-labradors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/genetic-testing-for-labradors\/","title":{"rendered":"Genetic Testing For Labradors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the last few years a range of genetic tests have sprung up.<\/p>\n

These tests were created to help Labrador breeders determine whether their breeding stock is likely to pass on one or more diseases to their puppies.<\/p>\n

These tests have been a fantastic development.<\/p>\n

Enabling us to make better choices about which Labradors to include in a breeding programme.<\/p>\n

Simple inheritance<\/h2>\n

Some diseases are passed on by a simple process.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In one straightforward type of inheritance each dog inherits a pair of genes (one from each parent) that is related to the disease in question.<\/p>\n

And these genes can either be good (do not cause the disease) or bad (can cause the disease\u00a0 if they are paired with another bad gene).<\/p>\n

\"Genetic<\/a>An example of this type of disease is Progressive Retinal Atrophy<\/a> which affects many of our dog breeds and cause blindness.<\/p>\n

Until the genetic test for a common\u00a0 type of PRA was developed,\u00a0 we could only test breeding stock by asking a specialised vet to examine the dog’s eyes.<\/p>\n

The problem with this old test was that dogs may show signs of the disease until after they have produced puppies.\u00a0\u00a0 The gene test enables us to prevent these dogs from being mated.<\/p>\n

One of the best things about some of these genetic tests is that not only do they help us exclude affected dogs from the gene pool, but that they also enable us to include Labradors that would have been excluded<\/em> before these tests emerged.\u00a0\u00a0 Let’s have a look how that works<\/p>\n

Excluding dogs from the gene pool<\/h2>\n

With this simple type of inheritance only a dog with two bad genes can get sick,\u00a0 but a dog with one good and one bad gene can pass the bad gene on\u00a0 to its puppies.<\/p>\n

If a dog has two bad genes,\u00a0 we can exclude it from our breeding programme.\u00a0\u00a0 We can also make preparations in advance to help care for the dog when symptoms of the disease arise.<\/p>\n

Including dogs in the gene pool<\/h2>\n

In the past,\u00a0 we could make a guess about whether or not a dog was carrying a disease,\u00a0 by looking at whether or not his close relatives became sick\/affected.<\/p>\n

If in doubt,\u00a0 the dog would be excluded from breeding.<\/p>\n

We could not risk mating a carrier (a dog with one bad gene and one good)\u00a0 with another carrier,\u00a0 because some of the puppies would then be affected (get sick).<\/p>\n

With the new gene tests,\u00a0 we can include carriers in a breeding programme provided that they are mated to dogs which are clear of the disease (two good genes)<\/p>\n

None of the puppies from this mating will be affected,\u00a0 though some may be carriers.\u00a0 All will therefore need to be tested in turn before breeding<\/p>\n

Why would we breed from a carrier?<\/h2>\n

You may be thinking \u2018surely it is better to mate only dogs which are free from the bad genes,\u00a0 clear dogs,\u00a0 with two good genes\u2019.<\/p>\n

The problem is,\u00a0 that in many pedigree breeds, the gene pools are quite small.<\/p>\n

After many years of closed registry breeding, \u00a0and because certain breeding practices involve the over-use of certain individual dogs, \u00a0the dogs within the breed are often quite closely bred and share many relations.<\/p>\n

Excluding more dogs from the breeding programme would be disastrous. We badly need more genetic diversity,\u00a0 and these simple tests give us that opportunity.<\/p>\n

More complex inheritance<\/h2>\n

Of course some diseases are not so obliging.\u00a0 Some are polygenic.\u00a0\u00a0 Many genes probably contribute to the disease, and we have not identified them.\u00a0 Sometimes the environment plays a part too.<\/p>\n

Hip dysplasia<\/a> is an example of such a disease.\u00a0 In this case our best bet is to test the breeding stock for \u2018symptoms\u2019 before they are mated.\u00a0\u00a0 And to only mate animals with the healthiest looking joints.<\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t ideal, but it\u2019s the best we have at the moment.<\/p>\n

Should I have my dog tested for diseases<\/h2>\n

Many tests are expensive and some are quite involved.\u00a0\u00a0 For the most part there is no need to have your dog tested unless you intend to breed from him or her.<\/p>\n

To find out more<\/h2>\n

To discover more about the genetic tests available and recommended for your breed of dog visit the Kennel Club\u2019s website.\u00a0 Here is their list of current DNA tests<\/a> available to dog owners.<\/p>\n

You can find out more about health screening generally on the Labrador Site\u2019s Health Screening<\/a> page<\/p>\n

More help and information<\/h2>\n

If you enjoy Pippa\u2019s articles, you will love her new book:\u00a0The Happy Puppy Handbook<\/a>(paid link)<\/span>\"\"\u00a0\u2013 a definitive guide to early puppy care and training.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the last few years a range of genetic tests have sprung up. These tests were created to help Labrador breeders determine whether their breeding stock is likely to pass on one or more diseases to their puppies. These tests have been a fantastic development. Enabling us to make better choices about which Labradors to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25448,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-labrador-health"],"yoast_head":"\nGenetic Testing For Labradors - The Labrador Site<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/genetic-testing-for-labradors\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Genetic Testing For Labradors - The Labrador Site\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Over the last few years a range of genetic tests have sprung up. 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