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**Pypeassesty** · 09-26-2012, 09:01 AM

Most genetic testing is done through OFA, and you can look up any registered dog on the database to verify breeder claims. A responsible breeder will give you this information. Other claims such as "genetically cleared through parentage" should also be verifiable.

For example, I had got Lily's PennHIP. I obviously am not breeding her, as she was spayed at 6 months, but at any point in time if someone asked me to verify what her DI was on each hip, I would be able to present to them the official statement from PennHIP. Both I and my vet have a copy, and PennHIP does keep record.

If I bred dogs, and a prospective owner asked me to verify the report, I would gladly do so. A breeder that does not do this, IMO, is either lying or a jackass and either way not someone I'd want to deal with.

As for what labs do the testing, I'm not familiar with other genetic tests, but, for example, when OFA says "thyroid", they are talking about a Thyroid Panel sent to one of these approved locations: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Thyroid Disease

In my experience, and for the purpose of my job at my hospital, I know that Idexx does not do the testing, they send their test requisitions to the University of Michigan (DCPAH).

So I am curious, who pays for genetic testing of a breeders animal? The OFA website has a long list of genetic conditions that can be tested for but what does it cost a breeder to get all of these genetic conditions tested?

After looking at the OFA website I must say that it seems to me for any genetic test to be of value to a potential dog purchaser, I suppose you would first need to research every condition known to occur in a particular breed with any frequency, then ask the breeder if they have certified results of each DNA test for that particular group of genetic anomalies for it to have any real value.

Do they test every dog or just the dam and sire? Can a dam and sire who are free of the gene for say hip dysplasia still have a puppy with hip dysplasia? Frankly if it were me, I would just find a breeder by recommendation who has produced lots of great dogs without problems and has plenty of satisfied customers you can speak with.

People who need certified laboratory genetic tests to pick out a dog seem a little anal or obsessive IMO. Jeez your buying a dog not developing a country. Spending money on genetic testing seems OK for a breeder looking to invest in top quality breeding stock but for a pet owner? Especially since the external risks to dog ownership far exceed the internal genetic risks. Other than a certified test that can guarantee for example that a dog cannot possibly develop a genetic condition which your are specifically trying to ensure against, what real value is it. I guess that if you can guarantee my puppy would never get crippled from a genetic hip problem that might be worth paying a little more for but it is probably more likely that same puppy is at higher risk of getting hit by a car or something and winding up dead or crippled.

Millions of mutts out there live happy and healthy lives with no need for DNA testing. Breeders do play with nature and therefore may want to take precautions but I would guess that if for every breeder who said their dogs are DNA tested, if the customer demanded to see certifiable documentation, many would find it is just a crock, simplya marketing tool high priced breeders use to help justify the prices of their dogs. Some people actually believe the more you pay the more you get.

Below is the OFA info on the thyroid testing for example, read it carefully and you will see that it really means nothing other that it can only determine if the dog currently is OK. So if you bought a puppy and the breeder said it has had a thyroid panel, great, but what good would that be after the dog is a year old?
OFA Thyroid Procedures

Purpose

To identify those dogs that are phenotypically normal for breeding programs and to gather data on the genetic disease autoimmune thyroiditis
Examination and Classification

Each dog is to be examined by an attending veterinarian and have a serum sample sent to an OFA approved laboratory for testing according to the enclosed application and general information instructions. The laboratory fee will be determined by the approved laboratory. All OFA forms and the OFA fee are submitted with the sample to the approved lab. Check with the referral laboratory for special sample handling and tests for registry purposes.
Certification

A breed database number of will be issued to all dogs found to be normal at 12 months of age. Ages will be used in the certification process since the classification can change as the dog ages and the autoimmune disease progresses. It is recommended that reexamination occur at ages 2,3,4,6, and 8 years.
Preliminary Evaluation

Evaluation of dogs under 12 months of age can be performed for private use of the owner since the few dogs are already positive at that age. However, certification will not be possible at that age. Dogs with Autoimmune Thyroiditis

All data, whether normal or abnormal is to be submitted for purposes of completeness. There is no OFA fee for entering an abnormal evaluation of the thyroid into the data bank. Information on results determined to be positive or equivocal will not be made public without explicit written permission of the owner. Thyroid Abnormalities

Thyroid abnormalities fall into several categories—two types will be defined by the registry.

Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Idiopathically Reduced Thyroid Function

Autoimme thyroiditis is known to be heritable
Equivocal Results

Those dogs with laboratory results that are questionable, therefore not definitive, will be considered as equivocal. It is recommended that the test the repeated in three to six months.

My conclusion is this stuff is way over rated.

09-26-2012, 09:01 AM	#14
Pypeassesty Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 382 Senior Member	Most genetic testing is done through OFA, and you can look up any registered dog on the database to verify breeder claims. A responsible breeder will give you this information. Other claims such as "genetically cleared through parentage" should also be verifiable. For example, I had got Lily's PennHIP. I obviously am not breeding her, as she was spayed at 6 months, but at any point in time if someone asked me to verify what her DI was on each hip, I would be able to present to them the official statement from PennHIP. Both I and my vet have a copy, and PennHIP does keep record. If I bred dogs, and a prospective owner asked me to verify the report, I would gladly do so. A breeder that does not do this, IMO, is either lying or a jackass and either way not someone I'd want to deal with. As for what labs do the testing, I'm not familiar with other genetic tests, but, for example, when OFA says "thyroid", they are talking about a Thyroid Panel sent to one of these approved locations: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Thyroid Disease In my experience, and for the purpose of my job at my hospital, I know that Idexx does not do the testing, they send their test requisitions to the University of Michigan (DCPAH). So I am curious, who pays for genetic testing of a breeders animal? The OFA website has a long list of genetic conditions that can be tested for but what does it cost a breeder to get all of these genetic conditions tested? After looking at the OFA website I must say that it seems to me for any genetic test to be of value to a potential dog purchaser, I suppose you would first need to research every condition known to occur in a particular breed with any frequency, then ask the breeder if they have certified results of each DNA test for that particular group of genetic anomalies for it to have any real value. Do they test every dog or just the dam and sire? Can a dam and sire who are free of the gene for say hip dysplasia still have a puppy with hip dysplasia? Frankly if it were me, I would just find a breeder by recommendation who has produced lots of great dogs without problems and has plenty of satisfied customers you can speak with. People who need certified laboratory genetic tests to pick out a dog seem a little anal or obsessive IMO. Jeez your buying a dog not developing a country. Spending money on genetic testing seems OK for a breeder looking to invest in top quality breeding stock but for a pet owner? Especially since the external risks to dog ownership far exceed the internal genetic risks. Other than a certified test that can guarantee for example that a dog cannot possibly develop a genetic condition which your are specifically trying to ensure against, what real value is it. I guess that if you can guarantee my puppy would never get crippled from a genetic hip problem that might be worth paying a little more for but it is probably more likely that same puppy is at higher risk of getting hit by a car or something and winding up dead or crippled. Millions of mutts out there live happy and healthy lives with no need for DNA testing. Breeders do play with nature and therefore may want to take precautions but I would guess that if for every breeder who said their dogs are DNA tested, if the customer demanded to see certifiable documentation, many would find it is just a crock, simplya marketing tool high priced breeders use to help justify the prices of their dogs. Some people actually believe the more you pay the more you get. Below is the OFA info on the thyroid testing for example, read it carefully and you will see that it really means nothing other that it can only determine if the dog currently is OK. So if you bought a puppy and the breeder said it has had a thyroid panel, great, but what good would that be after the dog is a year old? *OFA Thyroid Procedures* *Purpose* To identify those dogs that are phenotypically normal for breeding programs and to gather data on the genetic disease autoimmune thyroiditis *Examination and Classification* Each dog is to be examined by an attending veterinarian and have a serum sample sent to an OFA approved laboratory for testing according to the enclosed application and general information instructions. The laboratory fee will be determined by the approved laboratory. All OFA forms and the OFA fee are submitted with the sample to the approved lab. Check with the referral laboratory for special sample handling and tests for registry purposes. *Certification* A breed database number of will be issued to all dogs found to be normal at 12 months of age. Ages will be used in the certification process since the classification can change as the dog ages and the autoimmune disease progresses. It is recommended that reexamination occur at ages 2,3,4,6, and 8 years. *Preliminary Evaluation* Evaluation of dogs under 12 months of age can be performed for private use of the owner since the few dogs are already positive at that age. However, certification will not be possible at that age. *Dogs with Autoimmune Thyroiditis* All data, whether normal or abnormal is to be submitted for purposes of completeness. There is no OFA fee for entering an abnormal evaluation of the thyroid into the data bank. Information on results determined to be positive or equivocal will not be made public without explicit written permission of the owner. *Thyroid Abnormalities* Thyroid abnormalities fall into several categories—two types will be defined by the registry. Autoimmune Thyroiditis Idiopathically Reduced Thyroid Function Autoimme thyroiditis is known to be heritable *Equivocal Results* Those dogs with laboratory results that are questionable, therefore not definitive, will be considered as equivocal. It is recommended that the test the repeated in three to six months. My conclusion is this stuff is way over rated.
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