Breeding dogs safely and reducing disease

Many breeders make efforts to ensure the highest standards of welfare, take proper care of their dogs and try to ensure good homes for the puppies. They spend time and resources to make sure that genetic disorders in their lines are avoided. However, there are amateur breeders and puppy mills where there is no screening and poor genetic health is perpetuated.

Common hereditary diseases can affect different organs. Buyers of pure-bred puppies should ask for certification as a means of protecting themselves from amateur breeders that use questionable practices to breed their dogs.

Dogs can be affected by inherited disease of the eye, such as cataracts, glaucoma or progressive retinal atrophy. Collie eye anomaly is a problem with the blood supply to the retina and can result in a detached retina before two years of age, and eventually in blindness. All collie breeds can be affected by this condition.

Other inherited diseases can be musculoskeletal disorders. Hip dysplasia is one common disease and can cause osteoarthritis in the joint, the dogs affected by this condition becoming lame. Large breeds and some medium-sized breeds are commonly affected by hip dysplasia.

Heart diseases, such as mitral valve disease, aortic stenosis, tricuspid valve dysplasia are another group of inherited disorders. Endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus or hyperthyroidism can also be caused by genetic factors.

A pedigree puppy can be chosen to suit your lifestyle so that you will be better able to take care of it. With pedigree puppies you can find out about genetic tests that are available for the specific breed, but you have to make sure you choose a good breeder.

Just as humans can be unhealthy, dogs can suffer from genetic disorders. Kennel clubs make efforts to improve the health of pedigree dogs and use certifications to ensure that the dogs they are responsible for are checked for diseases. Moreover, they are involved in keeping such problems under control for future generations.

Breed standards are continuously reviewed and health schemes are implemented to avoid perpetuating sicknesses in future generations of dogs. Even though there are breeders that continue to breed unhealthy dogs, pet owners can actively combat such practices by refusing to buy puppies from such breeders.