Border Collie Health
As responsible border collie breeders, we believe in the importance of doing DNA testing of breeding stock.
As such, we include having all of our breeding stock hip and elbow scored.
We strive for healthy puppies that will be a welcome and very much loved member of the family.
Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL)
CL is a particularly nasty disease that affects Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL)
CL is a particularly nasty disease that affects the brain of the Border Collie. A puppy appears normal at first, but around the age of 12-18 months they will start to show symptoms of brain malfunction. An affect dog will die by the age of 2 years. Luckily it is very rare in the breed and now DNA tests are available to identify carriers of the disease. A carrier is not affected and should live a normal life, but if bred to another carrier will you will produce affected puppies. The DNA test is relatively inexpensive when compared to breeding affected with this condition and the heartbreak that I so easily avoidable with DNA testing available to all.
Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
CEA is a disease that affects the dogs eyes. It has been known to be severe enough in Border Collies to make a dog blind. Although many DNA carrier puppies never show any symptoms. Again a DNA test has been developed to identify dogs that are clear, carriers or affected. Again dogs that are carriers may not develop any symptoms of the disease and may lead a normal life but if bred to another carrier will almost certainly produce affected puppies. The DNA test is expensive but in order to ensure the disease is eliminated from our breed over the coming years it is important to continue testing. .
The DNA test has taken out this risk and we can go forward with certainty.
Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS)
TNS . It is a serious neurological problem that affects the growth of puppies. There is a DNA test that has been developed and as a result we can carry out DNA testing on our breeding stock to know the status of our dogs and try and eradicate this health problem. Early test results indicate that this condition is much more widespread in the breed than first thought.
Hip & Elbow Dysplasia (HD)
HD is a condition that can affect many breeds of dog. It is caused by an ill fitting joint in the elbow or hip of the dog. Many studies have been carried out to determine the cause of the condition and how it relates genetically to breeding lines. We can however have dogs x-rayed to assess the condition of the hips and elbows. This is done typically over the age of 12 months of age and x-rays are sent to a professional for 'scoring'. Scores can be affected by interfering factors such as the dogs age, or any injuries prior to scoring. These scores help breeders determine which dogs to breed on with to minimise the risk of puppies developing the condition. The x-ray and scoring process is not cheap but if parents and grand parents of puppies are known to have low scores the probability is that offspring will also have low scores. Scores are generally displayed as x:x and the total is simply these two numbers combined, i.e. 3:4 is a Total of 7. The breed average for Border Collies is approximately a total of 9, but this is hard to validate as not all dogs are tested. Elbow scoring is also important as the ensure good elbows joints and thus identify any faults with this joint .
EPILEPSY
There has been a number of recorded cases of epilepsy in border collies from many countries around the world. Presently there is no DNA test available to border collie breeders.
DIABETES
I was sold a border collie pup (lovely girl) who ended up having to be put to sleep due to major complications which was a direct result of her diabetes.
I was told after the event about diabetes and pancreatitis in those lines.
As a result we spend much time researching and keeping account of lines that diabetes have found to occur. And use this information to avoid this problem to the best we can.
