Before you buy ANY Australian Cattle Dog, you should make that
sure that the puppy and the parents have been tested. Some of the tests that you should be interested are listed below. There
are certificates available for each test, and should be supplied to you as a
buyer. Don't take anyone's word - that the test has been done unless
you see the certificate. You can also check on each web site for the
name of the parents to verify. All dogs should have
at least a BAER test, and OFA, and a CERF test. This should be
indicated on your contract between buyer and seller. Ask for
copies of each test. Accept NO other form of proof of health
certifications.
BAER - the ears OFA - - the hips, elbows, hocks OVC - -the hips in Canada - OVC stands for Ontario Veterinary College rating CERF - the eyes What These Certificates Look Like ? Including new PRCD certificate.The Australian stockmen who crafted the cattle dog out of several breeds were looking for the ideal dog. As so often happens, however, the search for -- and especially the perpetuation of -- the ideal often introduces a few less-than-ideal characteristics to a breed. In the cattle dog's case, these are hip dysplasia, luxating patella, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothroidism, hemophilia A and deafness.
Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joint resulting in a poor fit between the head of the femur bone and the hip socket, in which the femoral head normally lies. This condition can be alleviated by surgery. The first ACD with an OFA number was Morse's Nojack, in 1977; ACD-001
Luxating patella is a dislocation of the small, flat, moveable bone at the front of the knee. An inherited tendency, luxating patella can be aggravated by excess weight and, more likely the case in Australian cattle dogs, strenuous exercise. The condition can be corrected by surgery.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is the wasting away of the vessels in the retina. Initially manifested as night blindness in young dogs, as PRA progresses, its victims become totally blind. Australian cattle dogs carry two forms of PRA: early onset, which strikes before the age of two; and late onset, which usually is not detectable before the age 6 or more.
Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disease that results in the abnormally low production of thyroid hormones. The symptoms of hypothyroidism include lethargy, mental depression, weight gain and a tendency to seek out warm places. Hypothyroidism can also affect the coat and skin, causing hair loss and excessive dandruff.
Hemophilia A, a sex-linked recessive trait carried by females and manifested in males, is a blood-clotting disorder brought about by a deficiency in certain substances responsible for normal blood coagulation.
In addition to determining -- as much as one can determine -- the occurrence of inherited problems in a particular line of dogs, anyone who is considering an Australian cattle dog or any dog, should ask the seller or provider of that dog who will be responsible for the vet bills if a radiant-looking puppy should be victimized by an obviously inherited condition later in its life.