PlayTyme Papillons

Papillon Health Testing

As a Breeder we are often asked what tests we perform on our papillons and why? If we are not asked these questions when new perspective buyers call us we usually spend time educating on what health tests should be done on a papillon if they do not get a puppy from us.

"Education is key to a better papillon of the future".

DNA tests can help you predict and prevent health conditions, such as PRA, NAD, and von Willebrand disease. DNA tests can help minimize the risk of illness in your dog's offspring by DNA clearing parents.

Normally, dogs have 78 chromosomes. These are bands of genetic material (DNA) composed of nucleotides. There are four nucleotides: adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine. How these are arranged and paired determines your dog’s genetic makeup. Each puppy receives half their genetic material from their dam and half from their sire.

“Breeders have long known the importance of genetic screening to avoid producing puppies affected with known genetic conditions, and newer tests looking genome-wide are also invaluable to help maintain diversity and minimize inbreeding in litters,” Boyko said. “For individuals with pedigreed dogs, genetic health screening is helpful to ensure you’ve added a healthy, well-bred dog to your home.”

Why DNA Test?

Many breeders test for inherited problems known to occur in a breed and share that information with you. For example, veterinarians now recommend MDR 1 testing for any herding breed and some sighthounds. That gene regulates sensitivity to certain drugs, which can be important in an emergency.

Plus, any dog who is going to be bred should be tested for inherited problems known for their breed.

For the future

As we learn more about inheritance and genetics, more testing will become available for our canine companions. Testing can help with planned breedings to minimize risks of illness. It can also alert people to potential health risks that their dog may develop so they can take steps to modify their dog’s lifestyle.

Genetic findings in canine health can also be used for studying similarities in human conditions, such as in the field of comparative oncology (cancer).

“Developing tests that can identify dogs with high risks for cancer will be hugely important, especially as our ability to screen and treat cancer in dogs continues to improve,” Boyko said. “There are also cardiac diseases, orthopedic diseases and autoimmune diseases where genetic screening has the potential to become quite important in the future. Eventually, I think, genetic screening will be invaluable for more than just assessing health risks, and it will be commonly used to assess behavioral predispositions and guide decisions for training — as well as our recommendations for nutrition, supplements and medications.”

Reading Your Results

(CLEAR/NORMAL):

These dogs have two copies of the normal gene and will neither develop Disease nor pass this mutation to their offspring.

(CARRIER/NOT AFFECTED):

These dogs have one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the mutation associated with this disease. They will not develop disease and will, if bred, pass the mutation to 50% of its offspring, on average.

(AT RISK/AFFECTED):

These dogs have two copies of the mutation associated with this disease and are susceptible to developing problems with disease.

What we Test For in Papillons

Progressive Retinal Atrophy -PRA

PRA is a retinal disease that causes progressive, non-painful vision loss. The retina contains cells, called photoreceptors, that collect information about light and send signals to the brain. There are two types of photoreceptors: rods, for night vision and movement, and cones, for day vision and color. This type of PRA leads to early loss of rod cells, leading to night blindness before day blindness.

PRA caused by a mutation in CNGB1 has been described in Papillons and Phalenes. The age of onset is highly variable with this form of PRA, but dogs typically have complete loss of vision by by seven years of age.

Von Willebrand Disease , vWD

Von Willebrand Disease (vWD) is a type of coagulopathy, a disorder of blood clotting. vWD is characterized into three types based on clinical severity, serum levels of vWF, and vWF multimer composition. Dogs with Type I vWD have low vWF levels, normal multimer composition, and variable clinical signs.

Von Willebrand Disease (vWD) causes easy bruising and excessive bleeding from small cuts and nicks; you may also observe blood in your dog's stool or urine. Affected dogs are also at risk for excessive bleeding during surgery. Von Willebrand Factor is exposed on tissue surfaces upon tissue injury, where it is recognized by platelets and other clotting factors, thus triggering the clotting cascade. vWD is characterized into three types based on clinical severity, serum levels of vWF, and vWF multimer composition. Dogs with Type I vWD have low vWF levels, normal vWF multimer composition, and mild to moderate clinical signs.

Factor VII Deficiency

Factor VII deficiency is a type of coagulopathy, a disorder of blood clotting. It is characterized by mild to moderate abnormal bleeding (generally less severe than that caused by deficiencies in other clotting factors such as Factors VIII or IX). Some dogs with this condition will show no clinical signs.

Factor VII deficiency is characterized by mild to moderate bleeding (generally less severe than that caused by deficiencies in other clotting factors such as Factors VIII or IX). In fact, a subset of dogs that test positive for Factor VII deficiency appear perfectly normal and the deficiency is only noted during routine blood panels. When dogs do show symptoms they are characteristic of a factor deficiency, with prolonged clotting times and bleeding in the chest, abdomen, and joints after trauma. Affected dogs do have a risk of surgical complications due to uncontrollable bleeding and may require blood transfusions during surgical procedures.

Neuroaxonal Dystrophy, NAD

Neuroaxonal dystrophy is an inherited neurological disease. Affected dogs typically present between 1-4 months of age with an abnormal gait, hindlimb weakness, and incoordination.

The disease rapidly progresses to complete paralysis, blindness, and inability to eat. Affected dogs may also exhibit tremors, loss of hearing, and extension of limbs.

Dogs are typically euthanized within a few months of showing clinical signs due to the severity of the disease.

Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER)

The purpose of the OFA Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) is to provide breeders with information regarding canine eye diseases so that they may make informed breeding decisions in an effort to produce healthier dogs. CAER certifications will be performed by board certified (ACVO) veterinary ophthalmologists.

Many of the diseases and disorders that affect the eyes have genetic factors. The Eye Exam by Ophthalmolgist helps to find and then eliminate abnormal eye issues in breeding animals by failing the eye exam. Dogs that pass the eye exam have normal eyes and get a passing grade on this test

OFA - Patellar Luxation

The patella, or kneecap, is part of the stifle joint (knee). In patellar luxation, the kneecap luxates, or pops out of place, either in a medial or lateral position.
Bilateral involvement is most common, but unilateral is not uncommon. Animals can be affected by the time they are eight weeks of age. The most notable finding is a knock-knee (genu valgum) stance. The patella is usually reducible, and laxity of the medial collateral ligament may be evident. The medial retinacular tissues of the stifle joint are often thickened, and the foot can be seen to twist laterally as weight is placed on the limb.

Congenital Cardiac Disease

Congenital heart disease in dogs is a malformation of the heart or great vessels. The lesions characterizing congenital heart defects are present at birth and may develop more fully during perinatal and growth periods. Many congenital heart defects are thought to be genetically transmitted from parents to offspring; however, the exact modes of inheritance have not been precisely determined for all cardiovascular malformations. The most common congenital cardiovascular defects can be grouped into several anatomic categories.