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Health The majority of Entlebuchers are of sound constitution. They will lead healthy lives and will not encounter any significant problems. However, there are a number of genetically inherited diseases affecting the breed of which the potential puppy owner should be aware. Being a rare breed, the relatively small number of dogs results in a limited gene pool. This makes it difficult to reduce the incidence of hereditary diseases over the generations and this is further complicated by the mode of inheritance for some diseases. There is a high frequency of eye-disease in the Entlebucher breed including PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) and cataracts. PRA PRA is an hereditary disease that leads to blindness in later life. It is caused by a recessive gene, meaning that a puppy must inherit two copies of the defective gene (one from each parent) for the disease to be expressed. An affected dog will show impairment of vision particularly in dim or subdued light at the age of 3 years or older. This will progress to total blindness by 6 to 8 years of age. The so-called "late-onset" of PRA makes it particularly difficult to eradicate from the breed since dogs are often bred before any of the symptoms have appeared. At the moment, the only course of action for responsible breeders is to regularly test the eyes of all breeding dogs and bitches for early signs of the disease. However there is some hope in the form of a genetic test currently being developed at the University of Michigan State and funded by NEMDA (National EMD association in US). Once developed, this test should allow breeders to gradually remove the threat of PRA from the breed once and for all. Hip Dysplasia Entlebuchers (along with many other breeds) are prone to Hip Dysplasia (HD), a form of arthritis caused by a mismatch in the size or alignment of the thigh and pelvic bones. In the early stages, there are no clinical signs, but as wear and tear increases, there is pain and associated lameness. It is currently accepted that HD is not purely genetic and that other factors including diet, weight and exercise also play a part in determining whether a dog develops the disease. In the UK, breeding dogs are hip-scored by the British Veterinary Association based on x-rays. The hip score is the sum of points awarded to 9 different features on both hip joints. The lower the number, the less the degree of HD present. The range for each hip is 0-53 so the total score will vary from 0 (totally clear) to 106. For more information, visit the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website. |