Health Results

 

Where are we heading? And why should we bother?

‘Health Testing in the Chinese Crested Dog and the Future of the Breed’

Often we hear “My dogs do not need testing they have Clean Lines” unfortunately these people are only fooling themselves. No one can know if their dogs are clear of a disease unless they are tested for it. Another remark is “Oh they only test because they have problems” again, this is a smoke screen used by people who cannot or will not open their eyes to the issues in their breed.

If we are serious about improving the health of our chosen breed then we MUST test. Sticking our heads in the sand and blaming the new owners is not going to make the disease go away.

Testing and breeding from tested dogs will accomplish this as more and more DNA tests for diseases are uncovered.

 

The future of the breed is in our hands, if we do not care enough to breed only from the best and the healthiest then we are doomed to failure and the destruction of our breed. If we think that the Animal Liberationists will leave us alone when they have a stick to beat us with then we are even bigger fools.

Over the last 17 years I have seen an explosion of kennels around the world, some good and caring and some definitely not. We cannot allow “Puppy Farm” cresteds to be the norm for the breed, we cannot allow bad breeding practices to flourish while we do nothing. We have to be seen to be on top of our disease problems and being proactive in removing them from the breed. TESTING is the only way we can be sure our lines are clean and clear for the future breeders.

I know it’s a cliché but we are not the owners of the breed, we only care for it for a very short time and then it passes to other hands. Education of the new breeders is essential, education of the old breeders is even more important. How can we pass on what we do not practice ourselves? 

What kinds of tests are available?

Advances in Molecular genetic studies have resulted in the mapping of the canine genome. This means we can now accurately predict the genotype of a specific dog and test for animals that can be identified as having or carrying certain genetic diseases

The Chinese Crested has two forms of progressive retinal atrophy(PRA), which can eventually lead to blindness. One of these forms has a DNA test, prcd-PRA.

This DNA test can only tell you of the status of that one form of PRA, breeders and owners of the breed should still have regular eye exams to determine if any changes have occurred in the eye.

Glaucoma is another issues within the breed and is also detected by eye examination it can occur in conjunction with PLL or Primary Lens Luxation. This is an issue known in many other breeds as well such as Tibetan Terriers, Australian Cattle Dogs, and many other breeds. The lens is held in place in the eye by fibers known as zonules. If these zonules stretch or break, the lens can fall out of place, or luxate. When this happens it often requires immediate veterinary attention to remove the displaced lens and prevent painful secondary glaucoma, and sometimes loss of vision.

Not every case of Luxation is caused by PLL. Sometimes it can occur from blows to the head or strokes. DNA testing is one way to be sure it is not a genetic issue with that dog

 

The breed also suffers from another eye disease called Keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye syndrome. This can be a painful condition and the dogs need surgery or careful home care to live with it. It is not currently something we can test for with a DNA test and it doesn't always show in the parent's physical eye exams. If can be caused by a trauma or a sever eye infection.

Along with eye issues we have Leggs Calves Perthe Disease, which is a degenerative bone disease that affects the head of the femur. Inheritance is still open for discussion. Hip scoring is one way to test for it as there is no current DNA test. Parents may not show the disease but still be carriers.

A vet should test patellas when the dog has his health check. 

 

Some testing sites available

http://www.asaplab.com.au/K9range.html

http://www.optigen.com/opt9_test_prachc.html

 

 

Using Carriers and Affected dogs

 FROM “where DNA tests have been developed for Simple Recessive Diseases
     Karen Hedberg BVSc  

 

Of the 400 odd diseases in the dog that are inherited or have significant inherited components, more than half are believed to be single gene defects, and around 70% of these, are inherited as in a simple autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.  

Simple autosomal recessive gene DNA test

With a simple autosomal recessive gene, the DNA test will clearly differentiate between affected, carrier and normal individuals. The beauty of this type of genetic test is that you do not need to lose any valuable animals from your breeding program. Outstanding examples of the breed that are otherwise sound can be retained even if they are affected once this type of test is available. All you need to remember to do is to always breed ‘up’.

Normal/clear dogs are usually given the ‘A’ pattern designation.

Carriers (heterozygous) are given the B’ pattern designation.

Affected dogs are given the C’ pattern designation.

Where ‘A’ = normal dominant allele and ‘a’ = affected recessive allele.

One allele comes from each parent.

 

 

When mating these dogs, mating two normal i.e. A to A will result in all A dogs, no testing required

With normal/clear A to carrier B dogs, 50% will be A and 50% will be B dogs – no affected dogs produced, only need to test those puppies that are retained to sort out the A from the B dogs, but this can be delayed if necessary until nearer breeding age (as no affected progeny).

With normal/clear A to affected C dogs, no testing is necessary, as all progeny are automatically B i.e. Carriers.

What you should try to avoid as much as possible is putting a carrier or an affected dog to anything but a normal/clear (A) dog.

 B-to-B matings will produce ¼ normal, ½ carrier and ¼-affected progeny therefore all progeny must be tested prior to sale (an expensive undertaking).

 Equally, B to C matings are very high risk as there will be 50% carriers (B) and 50% affected (C) progeny – again, all progeny must be tested prior to sale.

 Affected or C dogs can only be safely bred to a normal dog (A’s), as any other mating will produce significant numbers of affected progeny.

The most important point of using this type of DNA test correctly is that one can avoid producing any affected animals provided you know the DNA status of the parents for that disease.
Once all dogs in your kennel are clear or normal for the condition, no further testing is needed, provided you keep using normal animals

 

There is also some investigation into the way the hairless gene expresses itself

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON THE INHERITANCE OF HAIR OF THE CHINESE CRESTED

from their website

The aim of this study is to obtain more insight on the inheritance of hair of Chinese Crested dogs. Because almost everyone has a preference for a particular hair type e.g., true or hairy hairless, it is useful to investigate which type of parents will bring forth a certain hair type in their offspring. To date one study has been done in which DNA (FOXI3) was examined. This revealed the difference between DNA of hairless dogs and powderpuffs but did not take the degree of hairiness into account. This study does take the degree of hairiness into account.

Therefore it allows predicting the hair type of puppies based on visible hair characteristics of the parenting dogs.

You as breeder of Chinese Cresteds can provide us with useful information. The more breeders respond the more reliable the predictions will be.

This study is also helpful for further investigation of DNA of Chinese Crested dogs.

 
 
 prcd testing done by GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES 
 
 
Crested Health Data 
Lists our health results world wide.
 
Chinese Crested Breed Registry
A pictorial listing of Chinese Crested world wide.

  

Health Testing  Eye Exam and DNA prcd Results 

 

It is generally not known or discussed that the Chinese Crested Dog has two forms of PRA as well as Glaucoma and Primary Lens Luxation.
Many breeders only tell you about the prcd form, which can be tested for by DNA. However the second form is not yet available as a DNA test and therefore requires bi-ennial (once every two years) physical eye examination. Doing this will also detect early issues with the other eye diseases.
Recent events in the USA have given us a DNA test for Primary Lens Luxation. This will add to our arsenal of available tests by DNA.
 

However if you do not have the physical eye exam done, then it is impossible to state that your dogs are totally clear. At the most they can be (PRA prcd) clear, either by DNA or by having clear Parents.

We attempt to physically eye test every dog in our kennel bi-ennially even those that we no longer breed from until they reach the age of 12. After this time, on our Vet’s advice it is considered no longer necessary to do a physical eye exam.

We encourage owners and breeders to health test their dogs on a regular basis. However we are not the Breed Health Police and we cannot force others to do as we say by any form of bullying tactics. What we will do is help any breeder with sensible solutions to encourage them to start the testing process. If you think your dog has an eye problem, your first port of call should be your local vet. Vets are trained to recognise eye disease and if he or she considers that the dog needs further examination then they can recommend a Canine Ophthalmologist who will further investigate any issues.

 

NAME DOB Last Eye Exam Results prcd by DNA Clear by Descent Comments Patella 

Eltarin Love In The Mist (†) 

1994 

11.03

Passed 

Clear

  x1 Age Cataract   
Xioma Opium (d) (†)  1995  12.01  Passed         

Eltarin China Rose (d) (†)   

1996 

5.05 

failed 

 

 

X2 Cataracts 

 

Shatsa Almond Blossom (d)  

1998

4.08 

Passed 

Clear 

     

Shatsa Dandylion 

1998 

2.10

Passed 

Clear 

 

 

 

Shatsa Tiger Lily (d) 

1998 

12.04 

Passed 

 

 

 

 

Xioma Painted Daisy (d) 

1998 

12.03 

Passed 

Carrier 

 

 

 

Xioma Sagebrush (d) 

2000 

1.09 

Passed 

 

Clear 

 

 

Xioma De Je Vu  (d)

2001 

1.09 

Passed 

 

 Clear

 

 

Xioma Flower O Darkness (d)

1998 

11.06 

Passed 

Carrier 

 

 

 

Xioma Here Be Dragons (d)

2001 

1.09 

Passed 

Clear 

 

 

 

Xioma Tiger Moth (d)

2001 

11.06 

Passed 

 

 

 

 

Xioma Tiger Rag (d)

2001 

11.06 

Passed 

 

 

 

 

Prefix Smoke On The Water Imp Swdn 

2002 

03.08 

Passed 

Clear 

 

 

 

Xioma Firefly Dance 

2002 

1.09 

Passed 

 

Clear 

 

 

Xioma Fire In The Sky 

2002 

1.09 

Passed 

Clear 

 

 

 

Xioma And The Gypsy Said 

2004 

1.09 

Passed 

 

Clear 

 

Passed

Xioma Painted Desert 

2004 

 

 

Carrier 

 

 

 

Lohamras Plumb Crazy (d)

2005 

11.06 

Passed 

Clear 

 

 

 

Xioma Cry Havoc 

2006 

3.08 

Passed 

 

Clear 

 

 

Xioma Fire In The Blood 

2006 

 

 

 

Clear 

 

 

Xioma Wings Of The Night 

2006 

3.08 

Passed 

 

Clear 

 

 

Xioma Take Me As I Am (d)

2006 

7.09 

Passed 

Clear 

 

 

 

Xioma If You Love Me 

2006 

02.10

Passed 

Clear 

 

 

Passed

Xioma Unforgetable (d)

2006 

1.09 

Passed 

Carrier 

 

 

 

Xioma Sharp Dressed Man 

2007

1.09 

Passed 

 

Clear 

 

Passed

Xioma Golly Miss Molly 

2007 

1.09 

Passed 

 

Clear 

 

Passed

Xioma Dressed To Kill (d)

2007 

 

 

 

Clear 

 

 

Zalex Beautiful Norwegian Lover Boy Imp Swn 

2006 

1.09 

Passed 

Clear 

 

 

 

Xioma Butterfly Effect 

2008 

02.10

Passed

 

Clear 

 

 

Xioma Timeless Beauty 

2008 

 

 

 

Clear 

 

 

Xioma Time After Time 

2008 

 

 

 

Clear 

 

 

Xioma Boy From The Bush

2009

02.10

Passed

 

Clear

 

Passed

Xioma Southern Son

2009

 

 

 

Clear

 

 

Satamu Yang Yuhan

2009

02.10

 Pased


Clear

 

Passed

Xioma Wind Horse (d)

2009

 

 

 

Clear

 

 

Xioma Spirit Horse (d)

2009

 

 

 

Clear

 

 

Xioma Flying Horse (d)

2009

 

 

 

Clear

 

 

Xioma Sky Horse (d)

2009

 

 

 

Clear

 

 

Chinois Hello Dolly

 

 

 

Clear

Clear

 

 

NAME DOB Last Eye Exam Results prcd by DNA Clear by Descent Comments Patella
Xioma A Dance With Dragons             
2011     Clear yes    TBA
Xioma Songs Of Ice And Fire 2011     Clear yes    TBA
Xioma As If By Majic 2011     Clear yes    TBA
Sun-Hee's Live And Love Imp Swdn    2009  normal  Clear      
               
               
               
               
               



prcd CLEAR BY DEFAULT (Dogs we do not own)


     
NAME
DOB
prcd
Xioma Bound For Glory
11.03
Clear *         
Xioma Bramble Bush
11.98
Clear *
Xioma Dragon Of The Fire
7.05
Clear *
Xioma Dragon Of The Haze
7.05
Clear *
Xioma Dragon Of The Sky
7.05
Clear *
Xioma Dragon Of The Smoke
7.05
Clear *
Xioma Dragon Of The Water
7.05
Clear *
Xioma Fields Of Glory
11.03
Clear *
Xioma Ghost Gum
1.02
Clear *
Xioma Glory Hallelujah
11.03
Clear *
Xioma Gypsophylia
11.98
Clear *
Xioma High Voltage
2.06
Clear *
Xioma Lady's Mantle
11.98
Clear *
Xioma The Magic Dragon
8.04
Clear *
Xioma Thunderstruck
2.06
Clear *
Xioma Witches Brew
5.04
Clear *
Xioma Dressed To Kill
4.07
Clear * 
Xioma Road To Glory
11.03
Clear*

 

Name                            Primary Lens Luxation By Descent
Xioma Fire In The Sky Normal  
Prefix Smoke On The Water Imp swdn Normal  
Xioma FireFly Dance Normal  
Xioma Fire Of The Heart Normal yes
Xioma Golly Miss Molly Normal  
Shatsa Almond Blossom Normal  
Xioma And The Gypsy Said Normal  
Satamu Yang Yuhan Normal  
Satamu Dark Warrior Normal  
Xioma Boy From The Bush Normal  
Zalex Beautiful Norwegian Loverboy Imp Fin Normal  
Xioma Sharp Dressed Man Normal  
Xioma Butterfly Effect Normal  
Xioma If You Love Me Normal  
Xioma Wings Of The Night Normal  
Chinois Hello Dolly Normal  
Xioma Flying Horse Normal  
Xioma Flying Horse Normal  
Xioma Spirit Horse Normal  
Xioma Silver Haze Normal yes
Xioma Smoked Almonds Normal yes
Xioma On Silent Wings Normal yes
Xioma On Eagles Wings Normal yes
Xioma Wings Of Crystal Normal yes
Xioma Wings To Fly Normal yes
Wind Beneath My Wings                   Normal yes
Xioma Timeless Beauty Normal yes
Xioma Ice Storm Normal yes
Xioma Element Of Fire Normal yes
Xioma Dressed To Kill Normal yes
Xioma Road To Glory Normal  
Sun-Hee's Live And Love Imp Swdn              Normal                                    
Xioma A Dance With Dragons Normal Yes
Xioma Songs Of Ice And Fire Normal Yes
Xioma As If By Majic Normal Yes
     
     
     
     
     
     


 

 
Cat Cataract
VDH Vitreous Degeneration
Acc Accidental eye damage confirmed by vet 
Clear  Clear DNA profile
Clear * PRCD clear by parentage
C Carriers
A Affected
Colour Dogs we do not own
d Desexed
(†) Deceased
Passed  

Passed last physical eye exam

 

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Contact Details
Sally & Sylvia Johnson
PO Box 1750; Virginia, SA, Australia
Phone : 08 85243884
Email : xiomakennels@gmail.com


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