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Health

We often get asked why health testing is so important. If you just want a family companion, does it really matter that much? Our answer is a resounding yes! Whether you’re buying for the show or performance ring or simply want a lifelong friend, health screenings are one of the key factors potential owners should consider before choosing a breeder.

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a fairly healthy breed but, as with any breed, some issues do pop up. Buyers should always inquire about the health clearances of the sire and dam when looking for a puppy. Breeders should have no problem discussing health issues that have occurred in their dogs or lines, or answering questions about the health of the breed as a whole. It is important to understand that there are no perfect dogs, but through health testing and careful pedigree research we can do our very best to avoid genetic health issues in the dogs we produce. It is our obligation as responsible breeders to do everything in our power to ensure we are breeding healthy, long-lived examples of our breed. 

Health testing entails much more than simply having our family veterinarian examine our dogs. It includes both genetic screening and examinations by board certified veterinary specialists. These tests look at both “phenotype” — diseases we can test for with X-rays, blood or other physical exam — and “genotype” — those diseases identified by DNA testing. Breeders and puppy buyers should always ask for copies of the test results or look at the OFA website for more detailed information on the results of the tests. You can search the OFA database by going to their website and entering the dog’s registered name in the search bar. 

All of our dogs are fully health tested for Hips, Elbows, Heart, Eyes, Cone Degeneration, as well as, other DNA testable diseases, and must have passing results before being bred. We also have a health guarantee that covers any of these conditions on all of our puppies.

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Common Health Problems Affecting German Shorthaired Pointers

Sources

Info shared from www.VickeryGSP.com/health

  1. German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America. (n.d.). CHIC. Retrieved from https://www.gspca.org/Health/CHIC-Pop.html

  2. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. (n.d.). German Shorthaired Pointer CHIC. Retrieved from https://ofa.org/chic-programs/browse-by-breed/?breed=GSP

  3. Donges, J. (2015, February 27). Pioneering the Diagnosis of Canine Hip Dysplasia. Retrieved from https://www.vet.upenn.edu/about/news-room/bellwether/bellwether-magazine/bellwether-winter-2015/pennhip-article

  4. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. (n.d.). What is Canine Hip Dysplasia? Retrieved from https://ofa.org/diseases/hip-dysplasia/

  5. Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. (n.d.). Canine Hip Dysplasia. Retrieved from https://vethospital.tamu.edu/small-animal/orthopedics/orthopedic-services/canine-hip-dysplasia/

  6. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. (n.d.). The Three Faces of Elbow Dysplasia. Retrieved from https://ofa.org/diseases/elbow-dysplasia/

  7. Meyers, H. (2022, April 20). Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs. Retrieved from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/elbow-dysplasia-dogs/

  8. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. (n.d.). Cardiac Disease. Retrieved from https://ofa.org/diseases/cardiac-disease/

  9. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. (n.d.). Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) Overview. Retrieved from https://ofa.org/diseases/eye-disease/

  10. Carl, C. (2014, May 15). Inherited Diseases of the German Shorthaired Pointer. Retrieved from https://www.pawprintgenetics.com/blog/2014/05/15/inherited-diseases-german-shorthaired-pointer/

  11. Palanova, A. (2016, March 15). The genetics of inherited retinal disorders in dogs: implications for diagnosis and management. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6042528/

  12. Veterinary Cardiology Specialists. (n.d.). Heart Clinics. Retrieved from http://www.vetcardiologist.com/heart-clinic/

  13. UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. (n.d.). Cone Degeneration. Retrieved from https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/cone-degeneration

  14. European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. (n.d.). German Shorthaired Pointer. Retrieved from ECVO Manual: https://www.ecvo.org/media/germanshorthairedpointer.pdf

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