Hip dysplasia is common in many large dog breeds, and Labs are unfortunately not exempt. It is an abnormal formation of the ball and socket of the hip joint that eventually leads to painful arthritis.

 

While most people are aware of hip dysplasia, they are often less aware of an equally important test. Elbow dysplasia is also commonly found in Labradors.
 

• Ununited anconeal process (UAP)

• Fragmented coronoid process (FCP)

• Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD)

• Elbow incongruency.

Unfortunately, elbow dysplasia is also crippling to your pups; so it’s extremely important to get normal elbow certifications through the OFA before breeding.

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CAER still known as CERF to some old timers you will see on most breeders site- EYES-NORMAL with a # beside it -This test identifies inherited eye diseases in purebred dogs. This test aims to identify conditions that may or will cause vision deficits or other compromise of ocular function. This exam only identifies observable eye abnormalities and will not be able to determine if a dog with an observable normal eye is a "carrier" of genetic diseases which will cause eye abnormalities if bred to another "carrier" dog or "affected" dog of the same genetic disease. An example in Labradors would be PRA-prcd; "carriers" eyes look normal on exam, but the dog could produce puppies affected by the disease if not bred to only "clear" mates (more on this below). Dogs cannot be "normal/clear by parentage" for eyes. Certifications are good for 12 months and should be repeated at least through the dog's breeding years. Dogs are rated as normal, breeder option, or non-passing. A normal rating means the eye was determined to be normal. A breeder option rating means there is a condition in the dog's eye, but it does not represent potential compromise of vision or other ocular function. It is considered passing and the dog will be given a certification number. A non-passing rating means the eye was considered impaired and the condition present is known to be heritable; this dog will not receive a certification number. How to get your dog tested: See your regular Vet and ask for a referral for to a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist for a CAER exam. You may also be able to find eye clinics, such as at a dog show. Take a copy of the dog's AKC registration certificate and microchip information to the exam. The exam consists of dilation of the dog's eyes and examination by the Vet.

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Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) is a recessively inherited condition which results in hind limb weakness after relatively short periods of high intensity exercise. EIC is most well known from the Labrador Retriever but has now been identified in a number of other breeds. There is a genetic test for this recessive condition, which should be preformed before breeding to ensure the pups don’t suffer from this frustrating ailment.

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Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM), which is similar to muscular dystrophy in humans, results in weight loss, loss of tendon reflexes, awkward gait and exercise intolerance.
 

Progressive Retinal Atrophy-Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA/PRCD): This is a genetic diseases that causes eventual blindness in affected dogs. Dogs affected with PRA will eventually present with changes to the eye that is visible during an eye exam, such as a CERF exam. However, the dog may not show symptoms until well up in age and could have been bred before it was diagnosed. The CERF exam cannot alone be relied upon to diagnose dogs with PRA, and will never be able to identify PRA carriers. This is the reason it is so important to genetically test for PRA-prcd. Genetically, dogs are classified as PRA-prcd clear, carrier or affected. Clear and carrier dogs will never show symptoms. Affected dogs will have symptoms. How to get your dog tested: Buccal swabs are typically used to collect samples for PRA-prcd testing. You may choose to collect and submit your own buccal swabs or you may have your Vet collect the sample. Each lab has its own collection protocols and may provide buccal swabs

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Narcolepsy (NARC) - This disease runs in large breeds and can either cause the dogs to suddenly fall asleep or look like they are having a seizure. This is a genetic disease that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and brief losses of consciousness. Dogs are classified as clear, carrier, or affected. Clear and carrier dogs will never shown symptoms. Affected dogs will typically exhibit symptoms of narcolepsy.

Retinal Dysplasia/Occuloskeletal Dysplasia (RD/OSD): This is a genetic disease that causes impaired vision and dwarfism, among other abnormalities. Dogs are classified as RD/OSD clear, carrier, or affected. Clear dogs will never show symptoms. Carrier dogs may, but not always, exhibit mild retinal folds visible during a CERF exam; they will have no other symptoms of RD/OSD. Affected dogs will have symptoms

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Hypernasal Parakeratosis (HNPK): This is a disease that can cause an overgrowth of keratin cells. It often affects the nose and paw pads. The nose often appears crusty in affected dogs. The serverity of the disease varies and can be painful. Dogs are classified as clear, carrier, or affected. Clear and carrier dogs will never show symptoms. Affected dogs will often have some symptoms related the cystinuria.

Cystinuria: This is a genetic disease that causes defects of the kidney tubules. Dogs are classified as clear, carrier, or affected. Clear and carrier dogs will never show symptoms. Affected dogs will often have some symptoms related the cystinuria. The following labs offer cystinuria testing for Labradors:
DM (Degenerative Myelopathy): This is a genetic disease that causes progressive degeneration of the dog's spinal cord, eventually leading to paralysis. Dogs are classified as clear, carrier, or at risk. Dogs at risk are likely to develop symptoms in their lifetime, but the severity may vary.

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Skeletal dysplasia 2 (SD2)(Shorter Legs) is a conformation related test based on research done at the University of Bern in Switzerland. The group of European researchers identified a mutation in a collagen gene responsible for a very mild form of dwarfism. This is NOT a test for the more extreme form of dwarfism found in Labrador Retrievers. While originally described in Europe, we have detected this in the U.S. population, although too few dogs have been tested to know anything of frequency. This is a recessively inherited condition. Labradors affected (2 copies) with this mutation will have a shoulder height that is on average only about 5 centimeters lower than the breed standard accepts. There is a great deal of overlap between affected animals and “normal” animals that just happen to be small. No other joint or ocular problems seem to be associated with this condition. Result Types: Clear, Carrier, Affected

 

Macular Corneal Dystrophy (MCD) - This is a new test that breeders are just now finding out about. So don’t freak out if your breeder or a breeder you are choosing hasn’t tested for it yet. They will soon be .
I'm looking at it like when EIC came out. It took a while for the responsible breeders to all jump on board. It did eventually happen. MCD is a relatively rare disease which is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, meaning that both parents must be at least carriers of the disease to produce an affected offspring. The disease is characterized by a diffuse cloudiness of the cornea as well as an abnormally thin cornea in affected animals. This mutation has only been reported in Labrador Retrievers, but may be applicable to designer breeds containing Labrador. In a UK study, a little over 3% of Labradors were carriers of this disease.

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