Please explain why and how these health tests can be carried out
Thank you
To prevent unnecessary suffering to the dogs (and to prevent unnecessary expense and heartache to the owners!)
There are hundreds of health problems affecting todays dogs, many of which have a hereditary component. These can cause blindness, deafness, blood disorders, and leave dogs unable to breathe or walk. Many are painful and debilitating, some are fatal.
Breeding untested dogs (or dogs known to have the problem) increases the chances that their pups will suffer. There is NO EXCUSE for this where health tests exist. For example, tests exist for hip and elbow displasia, PRA, SM, heart defects, deafness, etc.
If all potential breeding dogs were tested for the appropriate conditions, and if we only bred from healthy, sound dogs, then we could massively reduce the incidence of these disorders – perhaps eventually even eliminate some of them. We should at least try.
As for the human element – hereditary disorders also cause suffering for owners. Ask anyone who has seen a 9 month old puppy unable to run, living on painkillers because of hip displasia – or those who have watched their dog writhe and scream in pain from syringomelia. It is heart wrenching – and so often preventable by good breeding practices. In my opinion certain health tests should be compulsory by law, and those who breed untested dogs or those known to suffer these diseases should be prosecuted for animal cruelty!