What is "Health Testing"?

A lot of breeders state that they do "health testing," but what does this mean? And why does it matter? What health testing do we do here at Dark Loch Hounds?

"Health testing" is a wide ranging term. It can mean a simple DNA test using a cheek swab; it can mean blood panels; it can mean obtaining a CHIC number from OFA, or completing PennHip requirements, and any combination of these, along with a myriad of other tests. Why does it matter to you what type of health screenings and tests are completed? Let's look at these things a little closer.

DNA Testing and samples

There are several companies out there that will DNA test your dog. You will usually purchase a sample kit, they ship it to you and you swab your dog's cheek and then ship it back to the company. They will then run the DNA material and compare it against known genetic markers for dogs. You will then receive a report from the company explaining their findings. Generally, there will be information such as an estimate of the dog's full grown adult height and weight, any genetic markers found that the dog is a carrier for, and any additional genetic information the company feels will be helpful for you in caring for your dog.

You may ask, why would I do this type of testing? Some people want to know if there is any chance their pet is a carrier for genes that may activate in certain environmental situations, or to know if there is any chance their dog carries genetics that would cause concerns if they were to breed that dog in the future.

DNA testing gives you a nice look at your dog's genetic health, but is not a full picture.

Because many health issues are multifactorial, DNA testing is more of a starting point, and not an endpoint for health screenings.

Blood Panels

There are many tests that your veterinarian can run that are a simple blood panel. This can be to check for kidney or liver health, thyroid levels, or many other hormone and antibody levels. Blood panels are helpful for breeds that have certain autoimmune concerns, or for dogs with allergies or severe medication reactions. It is a good idea to speak with your veterinarian about what blood panels, if any, they recommend for your puppy.

OFA and CHIC numbers - what are these?

OFA stands for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Although it was founded specifically to look at hip dysplasia issues, it has expanded over the years and is now helpful to many breeds in tracking and testing for multiple issues, including cardiology concerns, orthopedics, deafness, and other breed specific concerns as outlined by the parent clubs.

When a dog has completed all required OFA health clearance testing that the breed parent club and OFA have decided are necessary to be "fully tested", that dog is then issued a CHIC number. This is a Canine Health Information Center number that certifies that this specific dog has completed the breed specific requirements for clearance through OFA.

PennHip

PennHip refers to the process of testing a dog's hips using a specific x-ray protocol, and testing

the dog for hip dysplasia. A score is issued between 0-1. The lower the number, the better the score. PennHip scores look at the laxity of the hip. PennHip checks can be completed earlier than OFA hip x-rays; being able to be completed at 16 weeks of age, instead of waiting until 2 years old.

What health testing do we choose to do at Dark Loch Hounds?

CHIC certification for Irish Wolfhounds includes having hips and elbows radiographed and reviewed by OFA radiologists, having their eyes dilated and looked at by OFA Ophthalmologists, and having a full cardiology workup done by an OFA Cardiologist, including wearing a 24 hour Holter Monitor yearly to maintain OFA standing. It is optional to complete a Serum Bile Acid test (liver shunt) but most breeders choose to do this for their puppies before they go to their new homes.

For Scottish Deerhounds, CHIC certification requires cardiology workup and DNA testing for Factor VII deficiency. It is optional to complete a Serum Bile Acid test (liver shunt) but most breeders choose to do this for their puppies before they go to their new homes.

At Dark Loch Hounds, our personal dogs are either CHIC certified by OFA, or in the process of becoming so. We have also decided to include blood panel testing for thyroid issues, which is administered by our vet to monitor thyroid health in our dogs. In addition to these tests, we DNA test our dogs so that we can try to have as accurate a picture as possible when we are looking at our dogs' health. Our dogs are, first and foremost, treasured members of our family, and we want to do the best we can to give them the healthiest lives possible.

Puppies bred by Dark Loch will have liver shunt testing completed before going to their new families.

What testing will be right for you?

Health testing can be a big decision, so you should look at what works best for you and your own situation. The most important thing to remember is that health testing is not about adding or losing value in your dog; it is about having information to ensure your best friend will be as healthy as it is possible to be.