Health

We undertake extensive health testing before breeding; dogs are embark tested. There will be a multi-generational history of verifiable health clearances.

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We test for;

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Degenerative Myelopathy: A disease of mature dogs, this is a progressive degenerative disorder of the spinal cord that can cause muscle wasting and gait abnormalities. Affected dogs do not usually show signs until they are at least 8 years old, where the first signs of neural degeneration appear in the nerves that innervate the hind limbs. 

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Primary Lens Luxation: This surgically correctable condition causes the lens to spontaneously detach from its normal residence within the pupil, leading to reduced visual acuity and irritation to the surrounding tissues.

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Progressive Neuronal Abiotrophy (Canine Multiple System Degeneration):A progressive neurologic disease, this condition is best described in the Kerry Blue Terrier. Affected dogs can begin showing gait abnormalities and head tremors as early as 3 months of age. While dogs often have difficulty walking towards the end stages of the disease, they show no behavioral abnormalities and appear to be aware of their surroundings and companions. There is no definitive treatment for CMSD; current treatment is supportive and aimed towards keeping dogs comfortable as the disease progresses.

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Progressive Retinal Atrophy - prcd Progressive rod-cone degeneration: This retinal disease causes progressive, non-painful vision loss. The retina contains the cells, photoreceptors, that collect information about light: that is, they are the very beginning of how we see. There are two types of photoreceptors: rods, which gather information about light intensity and are the major contributors to night vision, and cones, which distinguish color and are the major contributors to day vision. In nearly all forms of PRA, the rod cells are affected first, leading to night blindness. They are followed by the cone cells, leading to day blindness. The mechanisms by which the photoreceptors degenerate vary depending on the specific mutation that causes PRA.

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Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis: This form of lysosomal storage disease can cause juvenile to adult-onset neurologic signs, depending on the affected gene. While lipofuscin is commonly observed in the tissues of aged animals, dogs with NCL show an inappropriate accumulation of lipofuscin in the cells of the retina and the brain as early as 6 months and as late as 6 years, depending on the gene affected. 

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Progressive Neuronal Abiotrophy: In Kerry Blue Terriers and Chinese Crested Dogs, CMSD has been been mapped to mutations in the SERAC1 gene. SERAC1 is necessary for mitochondria, cellular structures that supply the cell with the energy currency ATP and has also been linked to cerebellar disease in humans.

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DNA testing allows us to ensure we only pair clear to clear or carrier to clear. We will never breed two affected dogs or two carriers together.