Health Clearances by dog
The CWCCA (parent club of the Cardigan) has only made it necessary for a CERF (eyes), Hip Xray, and PRA for them to be labeled on the CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) website. These animals do not even have to PASS these tests, just that they in fact were tested for them.
Unfortunately other things plague our breed and I am happy to report that my intact animals have been or will be tested for ALL known tests in Cardigans. These include PRA status, DM (Degenerative Mylepothy), Hips, Elbows, Patellas, Cardiac, Thyroid and CERF. While some breeders may feel it unnecessary to test for all these things I personally feel that it is important to test for what is available in our breed for the most sound and healthy animals when choosing a prospective mate for our dog/bitch AND to show others publicly that my animals may or may not have something. Since my dogs so far have been 'normal' or only carriers, my animals will NEVER exhibit these terrible genetic diseases.
If you look elsewhere for a puppy, please ask the breeder why they are not testing their dogs for these other genetic diseases/faults, even if they are (for the time being) less likely to occur in our breed. Considering there are not many Cardigans tested for some of these hereditary issues only makes it all the more important to keep testing to make sure it is not running rampant in our breed and we just don't' know about it, because we don't test.
Also ask to see a copy of the pedigree. Some people claim that they have generations of dogs tested for various things and that is misleading. Its in fact not the entire generation, but only one dog in each generation. You will find that in many lines of Cardigans,that overall as a breed, it isn't typically tested strenuously and therefore will not have many relatives tested for these things either, which is unfortunate. Those same people who are misleading you about their generations of testing will also mislead you on other things. I've learned from experience, so please be careful!
Those of us who have Cardigan Welsh Corgis are in a position to avoid the mass proliferation of the breed by dollar-oriented breeders. Cardigans are not yet that common. We are also in a position to make our breed sounder and healthier by learning about the physical and mental obstacles that are out there – and then by being selective. The question is, about what should we be selective? Is the breed standard the ultimate guide to what a “good breeder” seeks to produce? It is at this point that there is divergence of opinion. I believe (because I choose to believe it) that we, as a group, can produce dogs that are not only beautiful on the outside, but are also genetically healthy. It requires more effort, being even more selective than we must be when we focus on physical beauty alone, and, yes, it costs more money.
The only way I know to diminish the occurrence of those problems in any breed, including Cardis, is to health test and to use the testing as a tool in selecting for the next generation. There is not instant gratification when we do it this way. There are small steps forward and sometimes a big step or two backward. The goal must remain. Individual breeders make their own choices about what testing they do or do not do, what they believe is important, and what they can afford to do. This is not a contest with the person who’s done the most testing being declared the winner. The winners are the dogs that will live long and die of old age, pain free.
So, it’s my opinion that each of us, involved in any aspect of breeding or showing dogs, has a responsibility to our breed. How we choose to fulfill that responsibility is a personal decision. What we excuse or overlook is our personal decision, the traits for which we select is a personal decision. I can live with mine.
I am trying for healthy, structurally correct dogs with outstanding temperaments.
Sadie (spayed)-
CERF NORMAL - WCC-968, (2006,2009)
PRA CLEAR through a combination
Oliver (neutered)-
CERF NORMAL 2006 WCC-967,
PRA CLEAR through a combination
OFA Prelim hip - MILD (9 mo)
OFA Hips - MILD (43 mo.)
OFA Elbows - NORMAL (43 mo.) WCC-EL150M43-PI
Degenerative Myelopathy - NORMAL (N/N) WCC-DM223/60M-PI
Zoe - CHIC
PRA CLEAR through DNA test
CERF NORMAL 2008 (not submitted to database), 2009, WCC-1146
Thyroid NORMAL - WCC-TH31/18F-VPI
Coat Length N/F Carrier,
Degenerative Mylepothy A/N Carrier WCC-DM47/20F-VPI-CAR
Cardiac NORMAL WCC-CA40/22F/P-VPI
Patellas NORMAL WCC-PA23/22F/P-VPI
OFA Hips - FAIR WCC-1416F24F-VPI
OFA Elbows - NORMAL WCC-EL153F24-VPI
Ell -
CERF NORMAL 2009 -WCC-1145
Thyroid NORMAL - WCC-TH32/12F-VPI,
PRA CLEAR through DNA test (also line clear through parentage)
Degenerative Mylepothy A/N Carrier WCC-DM48/14F-VPI-CAR
OFA Prelim Hips - GOOD
OFA Prelim Elbows - NORMAL
Cardiac NORMAL - WCC-CA41/16F/P-VPI
Patellas NORMAL - WCC-PA24/16F/P-VPI
Mitcham -
CSNB CLEAR through lineage
CERF NORMAL BR-916
Too young for other testing
Daisy - CHIC
PRA CLEAR through DNA test (also line clear through parentage)
CERF NORMAL 2009 WCC-1144
Cardiac NORMAL - WCC-CA44/23F/C-PI
OFA Hips FAIR - WCC1481F29F-PI
OFA Elbows NORMAL - WCC-EL185F29-PI
Thyroid NORMAL - WCC-TH39/30F-VPI
Degenerative Mylopethy - NORMAL WCC-DM226/31F-VPI
