dna

Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive degenerative disorder of the spinal cord. It affects the nerves and causes gradual loss of mobility and feeling in the limbs. 

Von Willebrand Disease is a clotting disorder. It can cause prolonged or excessive bleeding after minor injuries and result in complications or even death. 

Exercise Induced Collapse is a genetic neuromuscular disorder characterized by muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and life threatening collapse. Dogs affected can tolerate mild to moderate exercise, but strenuous exercise can cause collapse within 20 minutes. 

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a group of degenerative diseases that affect photoreceptor cells in the eyes. This disease can affect a dogs vision. 

X-Linked Severe Combined Immunodeficiency occurs when there is a mutation in the cells that affects the bodies ability to build up immunity. Dogs effected are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. 

The traits coat length, color dilution, and merle color are characteristics or features that we test for. For example, testing coat length will help us to determine whether the dog is a standard coat or a fluffy coat. We can also determine if the dog has the DNA to produce fluffy coat puppies or bluie colored puppies. We test for merle traits to make sure we are not breeding merle to merle. Breeding merle to merle is referred to as a "double merle" and is lethal. Breeding double merles can cause the puppies to be deaf and/or blind.