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Health Issues
Being a conscientious responsible breeder means breeding for the betterment of the breed, not the pocketbook. We at ApricotGold strive to breed for health, and temperament as well as the betterment of the breed. We strive to study the pedigrees and genetics in the ancestry before breeding.
We also recognize the fact that there is no way that we can know it all, therefore we often network and contact other breeders and researchers who can share their knowledge with us before we breed. Knowing the backgrounds of the bloodlines in the pedigrees is essential in order try to prevent genetic disorders.
We take every possible measure to ensure that our dogs are healthy prior to breeding, including screening for Hip dysplasia (OFA), CERF, SA, Von Willebrands Disease, and Thyroid. There are, however, some things that we cannot test for yet, such as Addisons Disease.
We test to determine if our breeding poodles have any of these conditions, or when possible, if they carry the gene. When the parents are tested and the results come up clean, the odds are very good that the offspring will live out their lives without ever having any of these genetic problems but it is no guarantee.
Any potential parents that do not pass their health testing are neutered/spayed and placed in wonderful loving homes. To help you understand some of the health issues we face, here are some short definitions for you. We are by no means trying to diagnose or pretend to be experts in these fields. You can find out a lot more about these ailments by asking your vet or doing research for yourself.
Definitions:
Hip Dysplasia -
In this condition the hip sockets are irregular in shape and it becomes painful for the dog to walk, often starting at less than 2 yrs of age, requiring medication for the life of the dog, and often surgery. We at ApricotGold do the hip and elbow x-rays to screen our breeding adults and have our vets send the x-rays to OFA for proper reading and categorizing. You too can have your puppy’s hips checked for this. You can do preliminary x-rays before the puppy is two years old, but this is not conclusive. You will still have to do it again once your puppy is over two years old.
Sebaceous Adenitis (SA) –
A dog can either be a carrier, or be affected. It is hard to identify this condition and can be misdiagnosed as hypothyroidism, allergies, or even dermatitis. In this condition the dog loses its hair, permanently. It can develop when young, or older. Currently, there is no cure.
PRA-
Progressive retinal atrophy (and other eye disorders). Genetically inherited eye diseases, with or without accompanying cataracts and blindness. We at ApricotGold have our poodle's eyes CERF'd by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist and sent to The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) where theycheck to see if any signs of eye problems are present at the time of testing. Because eye problems can develop over a short period of time, testing must be done YEARLY on all breeding animals.
Addison's disease -
With this condition, because of adrenal gland malfunctioning, the dog's own immune system attacks and destroys its own body's normal tissues. Oftentimes outward symptoms will not show for several years.
Addison's disease is defined as a substantial decrease in the production of cortisone and aldosterone by the adrenal glands. A dog affected by this disease will become ill, get better for a time and get ill again. Oftentimes they will crash and at times even die. The illness is not easy to identify. Once identified, however, this can be controlled through medication which must be continued for the life of the dog. At this time there is no cure.
Von Willebrand's disease (vWD)-
This, similar to hemophilia in humans, is a condition where the blood does not clot well. Anything that would normally cause a small amount of bleeding, (for example a small cut on the paw or a bruise) will bleed more than normal. If not quickly attended one such cut or bruise could be serious. This condition could be life-threatening. A simple DNA test preformed from a swab of your puppy’s check can tell you if your puppy is a carrier, is affected or is clear of this disorder. A carrier should never be bred to another carrier as this will produce affected puppies.
Thyroid -
This is difficult to diagnose from outward signs, and if not caught and treated early, can cause much pain and early death. It is very similar to Thyroid in us humans. This is an Autoimmune disease resulting in low production of the thyroid hormones L-thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) and is often seen as Hypothyroidism. These two hormones control the rate of metabolism in mammals. Symptoms may include obesity, poor coat, hair loss, lethargy, heat seeking, skin problems, and infertility; however, it can be treated with hormone therapy.
Bloat-
This is a very real ailment as well as a very frustrating and mysterious one. There has been so much controversy as to why and how this happens. Some think that this is a genetic issue. Others argue that it is an environmental issue. Still others will tell you that this a chest structure issue. At this point there is no definite answer as to whether bloat is genetic or not. One thing is for sure, it can be fatal. If you educate yourself to the signs of bloat, you could very well save your pet’s life.
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