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Leonberger
Health : Available
Testing
The
following tests are currently available to check the health of your Leos. Leonberger
health information is now available through the AKC's Canine
Health Information Center.
HIPS: There
are two ways to examine your Leonberger's hips. Both methods provide very useful
information and are recommended for optimum knowledge of your dog's hip status
and are described below: - The
Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals (OFA) provides ratings on all hip x-rays
submitted to them and include this information in their database. They will provide
preliminary ratings for dogs between 4 and 24 months of age, and final hip ratings
for dogs over the age of 24 months. The LCA requires OFA rated hips after the
age of 24 months for all breeding dogs.
You will first need to find
a veterinarian skilled in taking hip x-rays and ask them to take shots of your
dog's hips. Specific details on how
to take the x-rays are available here.
Most vets recommend sedating your dog in order to get the best x-rays, although
if you ask around, you will be able to find vets that can get good shots without
having to sedate. Prices for hip x-rays vary according to the vet you use, where
you live, and whether or not anesthesia is used. In order to get a rating from
OFA, you will then need to submit the x-rays along with a fee to the OFA.
All x-rays of dogs older
than 24 months are independently evaluated by three randomly selected, board-certified
veterinary radiologists from a pool of 20 to 25 consulting radiologists throughout
the US, who then give a rating of Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, Mild, Moderate,
or Severe.
- PennHip
(University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program) is a fairly new but very
exciting method of quantitatively measuring hip joint laxity in dogs. PennHip
evaluations can predict the likelihood of Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) onset
as early as 16 weeks of age. It is necessary to sedate the dog in order to obtain
a proper PennHip evaluation. PennHips generally run around $300.00 or less, depending
on geographic area. Find
a PennHip vet in your area >>
ELBOWS:
The Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals (OFA) also provides ratings on elbows.
Final ratings are provided only for dogs over 2. Normal elbows receive a "Clear"
rating while abnormal elbows are rated Grade I through Grade III.
THYROID:
Thyroid testing is recommended
at 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 years of age. Blood for a thyroid panel can be drawn by your
regular veterinarian and needs to be sent to an approved lab (Michigan State University
is one of the best). The Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals (OFA) maintains a thyroid database in which
Leonbergers are included for a fee.
EYES: Leonberger eyes
need to be checked on an annual basis after the age of 18 months, most especially
for breeding dogs. Cataracts can crop up at any age, even after a clear eye exam.
The Canine
Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) includes Leonbergers in its
registry for a fee. All eye exams need to be performed by an ACVO-approved ophthalmologist.
You will receive a form that will need to be filled in and sent to CERF to receive
a registry number.
Find an ACVO-licensed Canine Ophthalmologist near you
>>
CARDIAC
TESTING: Some Leonbergers are prone to heart problems such as Dilated
Cardiomyopathy, so testing dogs prior to breeding is a very good idea. A cardiac
auscultation done by a Board-Certified Cardiologist will pick up any heart problems,
and an Echocardiogram (ultrasound) may or may not be suggested if there is a problem.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals maintains a Cardiac Registry in which Leonbergers
are included for a fee.
Find
a Board-Certified Cardiologist near you >> ANNUAL
PHYSICAL EXAM: Each year, you should do the following things to get a
baseline on your Leo's health:
• Run a full blood panel including CBC
and platelet count
• Heartworm test
• Check for tumors, bumps,
and lumps
WEEKLY: Spend time going over your Leo, checking
ears, eyes, inside of mouth, underbelly, feet, nails and pads, to make sure nothing
is out of the ordinary. |
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