OFA Archives - Timberidge Goldendoodles

Today we drove to Norwood, Ohio to visit Dr. Haeussler at the Animal Eye Institute. After receiving drops to dilate their eyes, Moses & Abria hopped up on Dr. Haeussler’s examination table, and he checked their eye health. The CERF (Canine Eye Research Foundation) exam looks at the lens, cornea, optic nerves, and other parts of the eye to ensure that everything looks normal and healthy and that no hereditary eye conditions are present. Happily, Moses & Abria received passing CERF scores!

In addition to receiving passing CERF scores to ensure current eye health, we also DNA test our parent dogs for prcd-PRA to make sure they won’t develop this disease later in future years. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an inherited disease, is a condition where the retina slowly dies eventually causing blindness. prcd-PRA (which stands for progressive rod-cone degeneration PRA) is the type of PRA sometimes carried by poodles. Consequently, Moses was tested to ensure that he is “clear.” This means he won’t develop prcd-PRA as he ages and it eliminates any possibility that he could be a silent carrier, passing the disease onto his puppies. Since Abria is a goldendoodle (making her half poodle), she also runs the risk of carrying prcd-PRA. Fortunately her dad was DNA tested for it and was clear, so we know she is too (this is known as clear by parentage). We are pleased to have parent dogs with healthy eyes so you can be confident that your goldendoodle puppy has healthy eyes as well.

Check out our blog post about DNA health testing for more information about the importance of testing parent dogs for prcd-PRA.

We’re not surprised by the results but it’s certainly a relief to have the official reading: Moses & Abria both have normal hips per OFA! Genetic and environmental factors play a role in your goldendoodle’s risk for developing hip dysplasia. Because we want to set your goldendoodle puppy up for success, we test the parent dogs before breeding them to decrease the possibility of a genetic predisposition. To test for hip dysplasia, an experienced veterinarian takes x-rays of the dog’s hips and those x-rays are then sent to OFA where three specialized veterinarians examine them to determine the official reading.

We’re happy to report that your puppy comes from health-tested parents so fortunately the hereditary aspect is minimized. Even so, because puppy bones and joint are immature, many environmental factors influence hip health, especially during the first 6 months of your puppy’s life. There are a few things you can do during to help ensure that your puppy doesn’t develop hip dysplasia. First, don’t over exercise your puppy or encourage her to exercise when she’s tired. General puppy gallivanting around your backyard is important for muscle development, but do not take your puppy on walks longer than a mile and never take your young puppy on a run. If your puppy lies down on a walk, it’s her way of saying she’s had enough. Allow her to rest and don’t push her to go any further. Second, stairs and any jumping should be avoided until at least 6 months of age. At 6 months old, a goldendoodle puppy can jump over something about 4″ in height. Also be careful not to let your goldendoodle puppy jump off of an elevated surface like a couch or out of a car, as injuries can easily happen. Lastly, weight is important throughout your goldendoodle’s life because obese dogs of any age are more likely to develop hip dysplasia. By being careful not to over exercise your goldendoodle puppy, not allowing her to jump or use stairs, and helping her maintain a healthy weight throughout her life you are playing your part in helping prevent her from developing hip dysplasia. If you are interested in learning more about hip dysplasia, check out this article from the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA).

Eye Health: The CERF Exam & prcd-PRA DNA Testing

OFA Hips Testing