Health tests
There are no guarantees when it comes to buying a Labrador puppy but you can help to stack the odds in your favour by choosing a puppy from health tested parents. Any reputable breeder will be happy to show you copies of the relevant certificates so never be fobbed off with excuses. The Kennel Club now has an online database that you can search provided you have the full registered name of a dog.
Hip scoring The current BVA/KC scoring scheme for hip dysplasia (HD) has been in operation since 1984 and since then over 100,000 X-rays have been assessed. Dysplasia means abnormal development, and the degree of hip dysplasia present is indicated by a score assigned to each hip. The hip score is the sum of the points awarded for each of nine aspects of the X-rays of both hip joints. The minimum hip score is 0 and the maximum is 106 (53 for each hip). The lower the score the less the degree of hip dysplasia present. An average (or mean) score is calculated for all breeds scored under the scheme and advice for breeders is to use only breeding stock with scores well below the breed mean score.
The minimum age for hip scoring is one year, and each dog is only ever scored once under the scheme.
Elbow Scoring The current BVA/KC scoring scheme for elbow dysplasia (ED) was launched in 1998. Dysplasia means abnormal development, and the degree of elbow dysplasia present is indicated by a grade assigned to each elbow on a scale of 0 to 3 (0 being the best and 3 being the most severe). Only the highest grade of the two elbows is taken as the elbow grade for that dog. The minimum age for elbow grading is one year, and each dog is only ever graded once under the scheme. Advice to breeders changed in recent years and now it's recommended to use only those dogs with grades of 0 for breeding.
Eye testing The BVA/KC Eye Scheme offers breeders the possibility of eye testing to screen for inherited eye disease in certain breeds. By screening breeding stock for these diseases, breeders can use the information to eliminate or reduce the frequency of eye disease being passed on to puppies. The eye test has to be repeated annually.
DNA tests
The genetic disorder, prcd-PRA , causes cells in the retina at the back of the eye to degenerate and die, even though the cells seem to develop normally early in life. The “rod” cells operate in low light levels and are the first to lose normal function. Night blindness results. Then the “cone” cells gradually lose their normal function in full light situations. Most affected dogs will eventually be blind. Typically, the clinical disease is recognized first in early adolescence or early adulthood. Prcd-PRA is inherited as a recessive trait. This means a disease gene must be inherited from each parent in order to cause disease in an offspring.
Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM) in Labrador Retrievers is an hereditary myopathy characterised by skeletal muscle problems such as muscle weakness and exercise intolerance.
The syndrome of Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) is being observed with increasing frequency in young adult Labrador Retrievers. Most, but not all, affected dogs have been from field-trial breedings. Signs first become apparent in young dogs - usually between 5 months and 3 years of age (average 14 months). In dogs used for field trials, this usually coincides with the age at which they enter heavy training. Littermates and other related dogs are commonly affected but depending on their temperament and lifestyle they may or may not manifest symptoms. Affected dogs exhibiting symptoms of collapse are usually described as being extremely fit, muscular, prime athletic specimens of their breed with an excitable temperament and lots of drive.
Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK) The condition occurs due to a mutation of the SUV39H2 gene, which causes the nose of affected dogs to dry out and be unable to lubricate itself as normal, which leads to chronic inflammation of the skin of the nose that can be very irritating for affected dogs.Dogs that inherit the condition will usually present with symptoms by the time they reach the age of 6-12 months, and the initial symptoms include rough, dry crusting on the nose and the edges of the nose where it reaches the rest of the muzzle. The crusting is usually grey or brown, and due to the dryness that accompanies the condition, the surface of the nose is also prone to cracking and splitting, leading to painful sores that also run the risk of being very prone to developing infections.
As the condition progresses, the pigmentation of the nose itself will change too, fading from its natural dark colour to a lighter pink shade.
While the condition does not affect the dog’s normal lifespan and compared to many hereditary health conditions, may be thought of as fairly minor in the greater scheme of things, it can still be painful and irritating for affected dogs as well as increasing the risk of them developing infections.
Lifelong maintenance and careful management of the condition is necessary on the part of the dog’s owner in order to preserve the dog’s quality of life.
Stargardt disease (STGD) This is an inherited eye condition that gets worse as a dog gets older. This disease affects the parts of the eye that sense light (the photoreceptors), causing them to deteriorate. As the photoreceptors break down, the dog’s eyesight becomes worse in both daylight and dim light.
Skeletal dysplasia (SD2) also known as dwarfism, is a genetic condition that causes long bones to stop growing before being fully developed. This particular type of dwarfism results in shortened front limbs and a raising dorsal line, but does not alter the torso length and depth as with other forms of dwarfism (pituitary dwarfism)
Macular Corneal Dystrophy (MCD) is an inherited eye disease that causes problems with a dog’s sight. In affected dogs, a build-up of carbohydrate causes the surface of the eye (the cornea) to become cloudy.
The tests for these conditions distinguish between clear, carrier and affected dogs. Clear dogs have no copies of the mutant gene responsible for the condition and will neither develop the condition nor pass the gene on to their offspring. Carrier dogs have one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the mutant gene; they will not develop the condition, but will pass a mutant gene on to approximately half of their offspring. Affected dogs have two copies of the mutant gene that causes the condition and will develop the disease. If one parent of a litter is tested clear for these conditions it ensures that no affected offspring will be produced