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Barrett Weimaraners

Breeders and Owners of Weimaraners for Sport, Hunting, and Companionship

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Health Testing for Weimaraners

March 7, 2020

Health Testing for Weimaraners

Everybody talks about health testing… All of us reputable breeders health test our dogs! Our hips are excellent! Our thyroids are normal! Our eyes are clear! Yay yay yay!!!

But what the crap does that all actually mean?

When you’re ready to buy a new house, you find yourself a real estate agent, yes? And it’s that real estate agent’s job to pull the title report and coordinate the home inspection, right? The whole point of the exercise is to help you avoid buying a home that has a six figure tax lien on it, or a foundation that isn’t stable.

Health testing works the same way.

The primary benefit of health testing is for the breeder to know what’s in the title report, or what comes up in the home inspection. The results aren’t meant to be perfect, but instead, data points to establish the bigger question of, “is my dog healthy enough to be considered a breeding prospect?”

The secondary benefit of health testing is for prospective buyers to be assured that they’re buying a dog from a breeder who has done their homework.

…

So what are the components of health testing, and what information should come with a Weimaraner that has been health tested?

To simplify the discussion, we’ll talk about the two primary sources of health information.

  • OFA. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is a registry for genetic diseases, and has created the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) Program to work with breed parent clubs to list primary health screening tests that breeders should perform on their stock before breeding. The OFA recommends the following screenings for Weimaraners:
    1. Hip Dysplasia – OFA Evaluation (for the record, one can also get a PennHIP evaluation done in lieu of an OFA evaluation)
    2. Thyroid – OFA thyroid evaluation from an approved laboratory
    3. Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist – Results registered with OFA
  • DNA. The genetic bases for Hyperuricosuria (elevated uric acid levels), Hypomyelination (shaking puppy syndrome), and Spinal Dysraphism (spinal canal defect) have been identified by researchers, and DNA testing is available through the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at UC Davis. Note: A DNA test for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is also available through UC Davis. However, this test was developed for another breed and is not reliable for Weimaraners at this time.

In addition to the above screenings, Barrett Weimaraners are also usually tested for elbow structure, color, and coat length. (We’ll talk about that in separate article.)

…

To the prospective puppy buyer: Please ask about health screening results. If you have the sire and dam’s AKC number, you may also go to the OFA website and verify the information OFA has on file by typing the AKC number into the search box in the upper right hand corner of the home page.

To the prospective Weimaraner breeder or stud dog owner: The following steps are intended to help you navigate through the health screening process for your dog:

  1. Verify your dog is age appropriate for testing. Minimum ages are:
    1. Hips and Elbows: 24 months
    2. DNA testing – HUU / HYM / SD: birth
    3. Eyes: 6 months
    4. Thyroid: 12 months, but should be spot checked for the life of the dog
  2. Order DNA test kit. Click here to get to the VGL website. Create an online account and order the Weimaraner Health Panel. This panel includes the three tests that are relevant to Weimaraner health. The shopping cart will ask you whether or not you want to “supply your own interdental/GUM brushes,” or if you want the lab to send you their cytology brushes for use. Choose the latter; there’s no additional charge. The test kit will arrive in the mail in a few days. Review the directions, complete the test, and mail it back in. Results will follow via email in a few weeks.
  3. Schedule veterinarian appointment to conduct x-rays and test thyroid. If the veterinarian is familiar with providing reproductive services (and not all of them are), this will be a simple procedure for them and for you. When you schedule the appointment, you are asking the veterinarian to do two things: 1) “x-ray hips for OFA,” 2) “draw blood for OFA thyroid panel,” Most vet will also require a general exam. You will be asked to fill out two forms for submittal to the OFA, one for hips and the other for thyroid. To complete this information, you will need a copy of your dog’s AKC certificate. Recommended veterinarians are posted here.
  4. Find a canine ophthalmologist. The OFA Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) certifications are performed by board certified (ACVO) veterinary ophthalmologists. Evaluations are quick and easy, and the office staff should be able to get your information “submitted to the OFA.” A simple Google search for “canine caer eye exam in [your area]” should yield plenty of results to choose from.
  5. Obtain results. OFA results will come in the form of hard copy certificates in the mail. DNA results are typically emailed when they are available. Once you have all of this information, consider what the results mean, and work with your breeder and/or mentor to determine the appropriate next steps for you and your dog.

All health records are posted on every litter announcement published by Barrett Weimaraners. Here’s an example out of the Swede x Mango litter post:

Sire Information:

MISS GCHG Camelot’s Luxe Winter’s Waltz, “Swede”

Sire: GCH Camelot’s I’m a Travelin’ Man, “Ricky”, Dam: BIF CH Camelot’s Diggin’ the Dancing Queen, “Izzy”, Bred by Susan Thomas, Owned by Julie Aune and Susan Thomas, AKC SR89369910, DOB 7/26/2015, OFA CHIC # 124332 (Hips: Good, Elbows: Normal, Advanced Cardiac: Normal, Eyes: Normal, Thyroid: Normal), HUU N/N, HYM N/N, SD N/N, Coat Length S/S

Dam Information:

CH Smokey Topaz n’ Barrett’s Margarita Peak, “Mango

Sire: GCHB Knight N’ Barrett’s Pioneer Mountain Man, “Boulder”, Dam: GCH Weimshadow-N-Smokey Topaz’s Lenka, JH NJP V, Bred by James and Deborah Ebert, Owned by Kim Burnell and Barry Burnell, AKC SR98702701, DOB 5/1/2017, OFA CHIC # 145384 (Hips: Excellent, Elbow: Normal, Thyroid: Normal, Eyes: Normal), HUU N/N, HYM N/NU, SD N/N, Coat Length S/S

Got questions?! Please feel free to contact us directly, anytime.

Cheers! – Kim and Stacy

Last updated: August 2021

Filed Under: Due Diligence and Pre-Breeding

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Melanie Kadach says

    October 7, 2020 at 4:05 am

    Hello, I would like help with understanding results I have been Sent by a breeder, I’m thinking of getting a pup from! Can you help?

    Melanie

    Reply

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Welcome to Barrett Weimaraners!!!

Hello! We're Kim and Stacy, two BFFs who came together because of Weimaraners; Kim lives in Southern CA and Stacy lives in Phoenix, AZ.

With the mentorship and support of the Weimaraner community, we breed on occasion and with purpose under the Barrett Weimaraners kennel name.

This website is primarily a place for us to showcase our dogs, but it's also a resource for prospective and current Barrett Weimaraner owners. If you'd like to join our extended family, please start {here}.

Contact us anytime at kim [at] barrettweimaraners [dot] com or stacy [at] barrettweimaraners [dot] com.

Cheers!

Field Trial/Hunt Test News

December 2019 – Soba earns Third Place in the Open Derby at the WCA National Field Trial in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

November 2019 – Tearin wins the Open Derby stake in Paulden, AZ to bag all of her juvenile Field Trial points.

April 2019 – Tearin earns Second Place in Futurity at the Western Classic in Kennewick, WA. Half brother Soba earns a Third Place in Open Derby the same week.

March 2019 – Boulder WINS the Open Gun Dog Stake with Handler Terry Chandler at the Las Cruces GSPC Field Trial. Daughter Mango earns a placement in the Open Derby Stake.

March 2019 – Mango goes to the NWA’s National Field Trial in Conway, AR and comes home with a Third Place in Open Derby!

February 2019 – Tearin WINS the Open Puppy Stake with 18 starters in California City, CA!

February 2019 – Soba wins a huge Open Derby stake (18 starters) in a very competitive trial.

February 2018 – Baja wins the 2018 Western Field Futurity in California City. Littermate sister Sookie comes in Fourth Place.

September 2017 – Boulder earns a very nice SECOND PLACE ribbon in the Open Gun Dog stake with 21 starters at the Sahuaro Brittany Club Field Trial in Springerville, Arizona.

June 23rd, 2017 – Ronin earns his JH title as well as a Fourth Place in Open Puppy ribbon at the Willamette Weimaraner Club Field Trials!!!!

March 2017 – Turbo wins the NWA Open Derby Stake for the second year in a row with Diane Vater.

February 2017 – Turbo wins the 2017 Western Field Futurity in California City. Littermate brother Ticon comes in Second Place. Baja and Zanie also earn their JH titles in four straight passes!!!

April 2016 – Three of the Autobots (Luna, Ticon and Turbo) get NAVHDA NA-tested. Scores are: Prize I (112) for Luna, Prize I (110) for Ticon, and Prize III (102) for Turbo.

March 2016 – Turbo wins the NWA Open Derby Stake in Conway, AR with Diane Vater.

February 2016 – Gracie (2014 Max x Friday) WINS the Open Derby stake at the 2016 WCA Western Classic in Kingman, AZ! Gracie now has 4 points towards her FC.

February 2016 – Bug (2014 Torque x Friday) WINS the Field Futurity at the 2016 WCA Western Classic in Kingman, AZ!

December 2015 – Gracie earns SECOND PLACE in the National Open Derby at the 2015 WCA National Field Trial in Ardmore, OK!

Show News

February 2020 – Josie earns her THIRD 5 pt Major to finish her Championship at the Sahuaro State Kennel Club Dog Shows in Phoenix, AZ.

October 2019 – Josie’s sire, Judd, earns a Stud Dog Placement from Judge Dana Cline at the WCA National Specialty Show in Wilmington, OH!

October 2019 – Josie earns a placement from the BBE bitch class at the WCA National Specialty Show in Wilmington, OH!

October 2019 – Bogie earns a placement from the 6-9 dog class at the WCA National Specialty Show in Wilmington, OH!

June 13, 2018 – Blaise goes to the WCA National Specialty Show and Earns a Second Place in Intermediate Futurity dog.

December 1st, 2017 – Boulder earns SELECT DOG at the WCA’s Winter Specialty in Ardmore, OK!!!! Daughter Mango earns a Reserve Winners Bitch ribbon the same evening; not bad for a show debut!

October 15th, 2017 – Cowboy goes BEST OF BREED FROM THE CLASSES OVER SPECIALS to become a NEW CHAMPION at the Black Mountain Kennel Club Shows!!!!

July 1st, 2016 – BOULDER WINS BEST DOG IN MATURITY AT THE 2016 WCA WESTERN FUTURITY/MATURITY!!!!

Click {here} to view a summary of all show brags!

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