Ivoryudx
New member
Hello all,
Newfoundlands should have minimum health clearances for Hips, Elbows, Hearts (by a Vet Cardiologist), and Cystinuria.
Since there has been a lot of excitement with people looking to get a new puppy, I thought it would be a good time to post the information about the OFA website. It is an easy way to help yourself research for a healthy puppy, and I'm sure others have more information that can be added.
www.offa.org
The OFA is not the only registry, but it is the largest and easiest to check. If other registries are used, then the breeder should be willing to discuss it with you further and explain what the difference is to OFA, and why they like it. It does not mean the other Registries are bad, just different, but the same standard of QUANTITY of sibling clearances are just as important. (described below)
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is the main registry for the U.S. for Hip, Elbow, Cardiology, Cystinuria, Patella's, and many other canine health issues. On their front page they offer in depth information on each disease as well as information for breeders on how to read a VERTICAL pedigree for health.
If your surfing the net, or are in contact with a breeder get the FULL REGISTERED name of the dog they are breeding. Take that full name and type it in the box provided on the OFA website and if that dog has its clearances it will show up on that page. It will also show if that dog has produced any other dogs with clearances, and if that dogs siblings have any clearances. If that dog does not show up, and they have not used any other Registry, then they do not have the Clearance, or has chosen to not register. Keep in mind, for hips, and elbows the dogs must be at least two year old, so dogs being bred younger than that are not cleared, and the most they can have is a PRELIMINARY Clearance, done usually at one year of age. You can also type in the kennel name and see the number of dogs that particular kennel has produced with health clearances.
Yes, breeding two dogs with all their health clearances can produce dysplastic dogs, but it does put the odds more in your favor, as well as decreasing the chances of your puppy being severely (crippled) dysplastic. IF, the dogs being bred were the only ones in their litter who have health clearances, the odds are not very good that they can produce sound puppies. That is the reason to look at a VERTICAL pedigree to see the siblings of the parents and even grandparents, to get an idea if there are more dogs with good health clearances than not. If there are no siblings, or parents listed, other than the dogs being bred, you may want to look farther, so you can increase your odds of getting a healthy puppy. IF the breeder has not checked any of the dogs outside of the ones they are breeding, (siblings) they become a very big question mark to your puppy, because you don't know if they are a good OR bad health indicator.
There are good Newfoundland Breeders out there who know many generations in the their pedigrees and have the official health checks to prove it. They are also adamant about the puppies they produce getting their health clearances, when old enough, so they can continue to make sound decisions in the direction their breeding programs are going. Your puppy is very important, even if it is never bred!
This does not mean that breeders who do not do health checks are bad people, but it does mean that they are not doing everything they can to produce sound, healthy dogs, which contribute positive things to the breed we love, and the puppy we bring home to adore. Breeders not doing health checks should not be supported by writing them a check and HOPING for the best, WE and our puppies deserve more than that.
edited to fix spelling errors
[ 11-06-2005, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: Ivoryudx ]
Newfoundlands should have minimum health clearances for Hips, Elbows, Hearts (by a Vet Cardiologist), and Cystinuria.
Since there has been a lot of excitement with people looking to get a new puppy, I thought it would be a good time to post the information about the OFA website. It is an easy way to help yourself research for a healthy puppy, and I'm sure others have more information that can be added.
www.offa.org
The OFA is not the only registry, but it is the largest and easiest to check. If other registries are used, then the breeder should be willing to discuss it with you further and explain what the difference is to OFA, and why they like it. It does not mean the other Registries are bad, just different, but the same standard of QUANTITY of sibling clearances are just as important. (described below)
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is the main registry for the U.S. for Hip, Elbow, Cardiology, Cystinuria, Patella's, and many other canine health issues. On their front page they offer in depth information on each disease as well as information for breeders on how to read a VERTICAL pedigree for health.
If your surfing the net, or are in contact with a breeder get the FULL REGISTERED name of the dog they are breeding. Take that full name and type it in the box provided on the OFA website and if that dog has its clearances it will show up on that page. It will also show if that dog has produced any other dogs with clearances, and if that dogs siblings have any clearances. If that dog does not show up, and they have not used any other Registry, then they do not have the Clearance, or has chosen to not register. Keep in mind, for hips, and elbows the dogs must be at least two year old, so dogs being bred younger than that are not cleared, and the most they can have is a PRELIMINARY Clearance, done usually at one year of age. You can also type in the kennel name and see the number of dogs that particular kennel has produced with health clearances.
Yes, breeding two dogs with all their health clearances can produce dysplastic dogs, but it does put the odds more in your favor, as well as decreasing the chances of your puppy being severely (crippled) dysplastic. IF, the dogs being bred were the only ones in their litter who have health clearances, the odds are not very good that they can produce sound puppies. That is the reason to look at a VERTICAL pedigree to see the siblings of the parents and even grandparents, to get an idea if there are more dogs with good health clearances than not. If there are no siblings, or parents listed, other than the dogs being bred, you may want to look farther, so you can increase your odds of getting a healthy puppy. IF the breeder has not checked any of the dogs outside of the ones they are breeding, (siblings) they become a very big question mark to your puppy, because you don't know if they are a good OR bad health indicator.
There are good Newfoundland Breeders out there who know many generations in the their pedigrees and have the official health checks to prove it. They are also adamant about the puppies they produce getting their health clearances, when old enough, so they can continue to make sound decisions in the direction their breeding programs are going. Your puppy is very important, even if it is never bred!
This does not mean that breeders who do not do health checks are bad people, but it does mean that they are not doing everything they can to produce sound, healthy dogs, which contribute positive things to the breed we love, and the puppy we bring home to adore. Breeders not doing health checks should not be supported by writing them a check and HOPING for the best, WE and our puppies deserve more than that.
edited to fix spelling errors
[ 11-06-2005, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: Ivoryudx ]