Dog-Play: Dog Genetics Health Issues by Breed

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Dog Genetics Health Issues by Breed

The purpose of this page? Honestly? It is just for me. When I offer advice on various breeds I like to be able to refer people to informative web sites that seem to me to have some substance. Consider this page my "bookmarks" page on breed health issues. If you find it useful I'm happy to share.

This breed health links collection is an attempt to collect information on breed specific health issues. Take the information with a grain of salt as I don't have the time or the interest to research the validity of the information. You might ask why I provide the information if I'm not sure its valid. A fair question. Call it a starting place. On the other hand I don't include just any site that happens to list breed health problems. I try to pick sites that seem to have some direct or personal experience with the issues e.g. breed clubs, breed fans, and sometimes breeders. I'm looking for sites where the health issues listed are just a bit more than mere rumor. My goal is also to avoid sites that simply list the health issues, and instead focus on ones that do some explaining, perhaps about the health issues, the genetic relationship, that kind of thing.

If I don't have a link by all means do a web search for the breed and try to find information on the health issues. In most cases you will be able to find it. Usually the way I've been finding them is to type in the name of the breed then either the word "health" or even better a health problem I already know about or its test. E.g. Collie CEA

Keep in mind that not all health issues are created equal. Some are easily corrected and thereafter do not adversely affect the life of the dog, others are life threatening or a life long burden, and some a merely a minor nuisance. Actually I have focussed mostly upon suggested health testing before breeding. That does not always correlate well with existing health issues. For example, breeders of Huskies are encouraged to check for hip problems, yet they have a very low incidence of hip problems. This is good as "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The sad thing I've noted is the number of breed clubs where the website provides no breed health information. I'd expect the people in the breed to believe it is important to educate everyone about health issues in the breed. Some will happily spend lots of space showing pictures of their National Specialty, but not a word on selecting a good breeder. Personally I'd take that as a warning sign that the breed culture might be one that doesn't care much about the dog. It doesn't mater whether you are a good web designer or a poor one, what you chose to put on the site reflects what you think is important to your audience. I'd look more for a breed club that appears to consider educating people about their breed as a critical value of their web site. Check the Pet Web Library for more general health issues.

Back to the Breeder's Ethics page

Breed Health Links *

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Additional resources

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Affenpinscher: Affenpinscher Club of America
Afghan Hound: Afghan Hound Club of America
Airedale Terrier: Airedale Terrier Club of America
Akita: Japanese Akita Club of America, Inc; Akita Club of America Health Issues; Akita Temperament; Breeder Checklist; Akita Alumni on Akita Health
Alaskan Malamute: Alaskan Malamute Health Home Page; Health and the Alaskan Malamute
American Eskimo: American Eskimo Dog Club of America, Inc; American Eskimo Health Concerns
American Water Spaniel: American Water Spaniel Field Association, Inc, Epilepsy; American Water Spaniel Field Association, Inc, Hypothyroidism; AWS Partners
Anatolian Shepherd Dog: Anatolian Shepherd Dogs International
Australian Cattle Dog: Australian Cattle Dog Club of America
Australian Shepherd: United States Australian Shepherd Association; Australian Shepherd Club of America, Health Handouts; Genetic Diseases in the Australian Shepherd; Genetic Nightmares, Australian Shepherd Club of Arizona
Australian Terrier: The Australian Terrier Club of America, Inc.; Australian Terrier Club of America Health Survey

Dog Genetics Health Issues by Breed

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