Health Testing

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DM is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs.  The disease has an insidious onset typically between 8 and 14 years of age.  Dogs can become paraplegic; loss of urinary and fecal continence may occur. 

CEA is an inherited disease that affects the choroid layer of tissue and is thinner in dogs suffering from the disease.  This layer of tissue is responsible for supplying nutrients and blood to the retina.  With insufficient blood flow, the choroid does not develop properly and can often lead to retinal detachment and subsequent blindness.

CD is an inherited eye disease affecting Australian Shepherds.  Affected dogs develop day blindness (blindness to bright light) and light sensitivity between 8 and 12 weeks of age due to degeneration of cells in the eye called cone photoreceptors which are responsible for vision in bright light.  Affected dogs have normal vision in low light and structures of the inner eye appear normal on eye exams.

I-GS is an inherited disease affecting dogs.  Affected dogs are unable to make adequate amounts of a protein that plays a role in absorption of certain nutrients in the intestinal tract and the kidneys resulting in anemia.

NCL is a lysosomal storage disease affecting Australian Shepherds.  Affected dogs lack specific enzyme necessary for normal cellular metabolism.  As a result, there is an abnormal accumulation of waste compounds primarily in the cells of the nervous system, leading to a range of nervous system disorders.

HUU is a disease characterized by the excretion of uric acid leading to the formation of urinary calculi, stones, which may require surgery.

OFA eye Exams should be performed on all puppies prior to 8 weeks of age and yearly thereafter, by a licensed veterinary ophthalmologist.  Some eye diseases can occur at several ages.  At 8 weeks of age, many diseases can be diagnosed and after they are diagnosed, they will not disappear or go normal later in life.  Some diseases will get better or worse with age or change their appearance.  A puppy can pass an OFA eye exam at 8 weeks and at a year, and not pass an OFA exam at 2 years or later because they developed a disease.  Dogs should have an OFA exam every year to ensure that they have not developed serious ocular diseases that occur after dogs are one or 2 years of age. Eye screening is a very important for the health of your dog.

HC is a clouding of lens of the eye caused by a breakdown of tissue in the eye.  This generally results in an inability to see clearly, and can cause total blindness in canines, mutations that result in cataracts can be passed to offspring.  

MDR1 gene, or multi-drug resistance gene, codes for a protein that is responsible for protecting the brain by transporting potentially harmful chemicals away from the brain.  In certain breeds, including Australian Shepherds, a mutation occurs in the MDR1 gene that causes sensitivity to Ivermectin, Loperamide, and a variety of other drugs.  The defective protein inhibits the dog's ability to remove certain drugs from the brain, leading to a buildup.  as a result of the accumulatio of these toxins, the dog can show neurological symptoms, such as seizures and even death. 

PRA/PRCD is an inherited eye disease with late onset of symptoms that are due to degeneration of both rod and cone cells of the retina.  These cells are important for vision in dim and bright light. Most dogs begin to show symptoms of the disease at approximately 3-5 years of age that manifests as difficulty seeing at night and loss of peripheral vision.  Loss of complete eyesight can result.

We are a minimal vaccine kennel.  We do not endorse booster shots after one year of age.  Rabies is required by law but should be given as close to a year old as possible. …  vets will administer a rabies vaccine as early as 4 months.  If possible, pay the extra charge and have your vet order your dog the mercury free vaccine.  We follow Dr. Jean Dodd's vaccine protocol.  Google 'why we shouldn't over vaccinate our dogs' to visit numerous sites explaining why over vaccinating causes more harm than good.  Dr. Jean Dodd's (hemopet.org) is a great site to visit about vaccinations.

Puppies should NOT be spayed or neutered until at least 1 year of age.  If doing performance sports, it is wise to wait until at least 15 months of age.  Puppies need these beneficial hormones to develop properly.  You can visit TheDogPlace.org and click on Early Spay-Neuter link to learn more about the benefits of not spaying/neutering your pet at an early age.  Also, you can Google "DR Chris Zink DVM".  She is the author of the article in TheDogPlace.org site.

Puppies should be limited to what exercise they engage in.  We recommend you follow the 6'" rule.  No jumping off of couches, beds, ATVs, from back of pickup beds, after Frisbees as a puppy.  Their soft joints can be permanently damaged/injured with a wrong fall or landing.  Their bones are still soft, and a wrong fall or jump can cause breaks.  This has occurred twice with a puppy that were allowed to jump off a bed and play with older, rougher dogs.  Puppies should not jog with their people for long runs or up and down inclines until an older age when growth plates have closed, and bones are hardened.  We enclose valuable information on appropriate exercise at the appropriate age with every puppy folder.