09/15/2024
Have you heard of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals?
OFA is a private, nonprofit organization that researches the prevention of orthopedic and hereditary diseases in companion animals.
Through testing breeding stock, the OFA has been successful in providing results that prevent the heredity of certain conditions, diseases, and structural faults in dogs.
Why is this important, you ask? Well, without these tests, a sire and dam may be passing down health problems that may have not yet presented themselves at the time of breeding. Through being informed of your stud or bitch’s health and structure, you can prevent many issues from being passed down through irresponsible breeding. With a working and active breed like the German Shorthaired Pointer, it is imperative that breeders hold their programs to a high standard of health when choosing to breed.
When researching a breeder for your next GSP puppy, the breeder should be conducting the following health tests:
🩻Hip and Elbow Dysplasia- OFA or PennHIP Radiographic Hip and OFA Elbow Evaluation
🫀Cardiac Evaluation- Congenital Cardiac Exam by Cardiologist, or Advanced Cardiac Exam, or Basic Cardiac Exam by Cardiologist
👀ACVO Eye Exam- Annual Eye Examinations until 6 years (72 months) old
👁️Cone Degeneration- DNA Based Cone Degeneration test results from an approved lab.
🩺Autoimmune thyroiditis- (Optional but recommended) OFA evaluation from an approved laboratory
🦠Von Willebrand’s Disease- (Optional but recommended) DNA-based vWD test from an approved lab
If you would like further info on OFA, please follow this link: https://ofa.org
