healthconcernscocker

What Is Health Testing

Conscientious breeders check the dogs they will be breeding for hereditary health problems. The breeder should show you the proof that their dogs are tested. This does not guarantee puppies will not develop problems but it certainly minimizes the risks. These problems are not just specific to the American Cocker Spaniel and can develop in most other breeds of dogs as well. This is what most breeders check for:

Hip Dysplasia (HD)
This is a defecit of the hip socket that may cause lameness and pain. A x-ray is taken of the dogs hips by a regular veterinarian and then sent to the University of Guelph or the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. This x-ray is read by specialized veterinarians. Some breeders are also doing a new method of x-raying called Penn Hip.

For more information on hip dysplasia check out:
http://workingdogs,com/doc0090.htm

Eyes
Cockers eyes need to be checked yearly by a Board Certified Veterinary Opthalmologist for cataracts (hardening of the lens) and PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) plus other inherited eye diseases. Dogs certified clear may still product puppies with eye diseases.
For more information check out:
http://www.eyevet.org/

Other Diseases:

Epilepsy
This is a condition in which a dog has convulsions. Convulsions can be caused by many factors: injury, engesting poison, or inherited. Dogs with this condition should not be bred. The treatment is anticonvulsant medication. There is no test for this desease

For more information check out:
http://www.VIPoodle.org