Health
Because health is essential:
Hip dysplasia:
All our breeders are free from dysplasia.
But, what is dysplasia, how do we test breeding animals? We tell you everything!
The Barbet is a heavy dog, but fast growing. He is likely to be affected, like all large dogs, by dysplasia.
The latter results in a congruence of the joint surfaces leading to premature osteoarthritis and therefore pain.
Therefore, all breeding animals must be x-rayed after the age of one year, before breeding. This radio is sent to an official “reader” who gives him a letter.
Hip A: No sign of dysplasia, congruence and perfect coaptation, NORBERG-OLSSON angle >105°
Hip B: Either the NORBERG-OLSSON angle is between 105° and 100° and the coaptation and congruence are perfect or almost normal. Either the NORBERG-OLSSON angle is greater than 105° with more or less good congruence.
Hip C: Mild dysplasia. Angle between 100° and 105° and average congruence.
Hip D: Medium dysplasia. Angle between 100° and 90° and the congruence is really bad.
Hip E: Severe dysplasia. There is (sub)luxation of the head of the femur and the angle is less than 90°. This stage is often accompanied, in addition to the manifestations of stage D, by an abnormality in the conformation of the head of the femur.
Certainly, heredity plays a role in hip dysplasia, but the environment is just as important. Thus, a dog "genetically programmed" to have "C" hips can evolve towards "B" or "D" hips, depending on whether the environmental conditions are favorable or unfavorable.
Here are some little tips to help your dog maintain good hips.
Certainly, heredity plays a role in hip dysplasia, but the environment is just as important. Thus, a dog "genetically programmed" to have "C" hips can evolve towards "B" or "D" hips, depending on whether the environmental conditions are favorable or unfavorable. And now it's up to you!
For the hips, everything happens before the age of 15 months. It is therefore advisable to prevent the puppy from any joint trauma. In practice :
- the puppy must never stand on its hind legs. Be careful when he's partying with you, or getting into the trunk of the car.
- no stairs before the age of one year minimum.
- No jumping: avoid games like “frisby”, no agility before the dog is 15 months old.
- no sustained exercise: no long walks, and even less in the mountains! It is said that a puppy can walk 5 minutes per month of life. So, a 3 month old puppy can walk for a maximum of 15 minutes.
Do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian for advice.
When genetics gets involved:
Today, thanks to scientific advances, we can also makegenetic testing to determine whether potential breeders are carriers or not
of certain specific genes: color etc.
But above all, these tests allow us to have the guarantee that the puppies will not be
suffering from certain genetic diseases: Willebrand type 1 and prcd-PRA.
The genetic disease prcd-PRA causes cells in the retina at the back of the eye to degenerate and die. Gradually but irremediably, the dog becomes blind...
Willebrand type 1:
Von Willebrand disease in dogs is the most common hereditary blood clotting disorder. It is the consequence of a deficiency in a coagulation factor.
