Hopscotch Australian Labradoodles - 2 Year Health Guarantee
Health Testing and Your Hopscotch Puppy’s 2 Year Health Guarantee
The DNA profiling and health screening of our breeding dogs provides you with an accurate and reliable source record which can assure the parentage and genetic health of your new HOPSCOTCH puppy. We DNA screen all of our potential breeding dogs for the below specified hereditary diseases and stipulate that the disease status be CLEAR before they can enter our breeding program.
This testing enables us to offer a limited 2 year health guarantee for all of our Australian Labradoodle Puppies against the below specified genetic diseases. HOPSCOTCH is committed to the battle of eradicating genetically inheritable diseases and by purchasing a healthy and happy Hopscotch Australian Labradoodle puppy - you too are participating in a trend to promote responsible breeding.
Not only this, HOPSCOTCH works hard to prevent the elusive Canine Hip Dysplasia by selective breeding to help obviate the presence of a the debilitating condition as well as educate new owners about the environmental causes. One day we hope to offer a guarantee, as genetic science continues to explore this complex polymorphic affliction.
Health Testing
All of our breeding dogs must report CLEAR status on the below DNA tests:
Achromatopsia (Labrador Type)
Ophthalmologic - Associated with the eyes and associated structures.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Autosomal Hereditary Recessive Nephropathy
Autosomal Hereditary Recessive Nephropathy (Familial Nephropathy) is an inherited disorder of the kidneys. Affected dogs eventually die of chronic kidney failure within a year.
SEVERITY: Moderate-Severe. This is a disease with significant welfare impact on the affected animal, in terms of clinical signs and generally reduced life expectancy.
Centronuclear Myopathy (Labrador Retriever Type)
Centronuclear myopathies (CNM) are inherited congenital disorders characterised by an excessive number of internalised nuclei. This causes insufficient muscle function in Labrador Retrievers
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Cone-Rod Dystrophy I - PRA (crd -4/cord I)
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a collection of inherited diseases affecting the retina that cause blindness. Each breed exhibits a specific age of onset and pattern of inheritance, and the actual mechanism by which the retina loses function can vary. The result of almost all types of PRA is similar - generally an initial night blindness, with a slow deterioration of vision until the dog is completely blind.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (Labrador Retriever Type)
Congenital myasthenic syndrome Labrador retriever type belongs in a group of conditions, known as Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS). CMS is an inherited neuromuscular transmission disorder. It results in structural or functional defects of the neuromuscular junction, the place where nerve and muscle cells meet.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Cystinuria (SLC3A1) Labrador Retriever Type
Cystinuria was one of the first identified inborn defects of metabolism. It is as an inherited defect of renal transport that included malabsorption of cystine and the dibasic amino acids ornithine, lysine and arginine, collectively known as COLA.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Degenerative Myelopathy
This disease is normally seen around middle age, and in general diagnosis can only be confirmed at post mortem examination. The first sign is knuckling of the hind feet, and hind limb ataxia. Once the spinal cord damage progresses past this initial stage (termed proprioceptive deficits), the effectiveness (if any) of treatment is much diminished
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Labrador Type)
Dermatologic - Associated with the skin. This is an autosomal recessive condition that affects Labradors, as well as several other related breeds. The condition is also seen in mixed breeds, mainly Labrador crosses.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Exercise Induced Collapse (Retriever Type)
This is an autosomal recessive condition that affects Labradors, as well as several other related breeds. The condition is also seen in mixed breeds, mainly Labrador crosses
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Gangliosidosis GM2 (Poodle Type)
GM2 gangliosidosis (poodle type) is an inherited Lysosomal Storage Disorder affecting dogs. Symptoms include vision loss, difficulties walking, loss of balance, head tremors and vomiting. Once an affected dog begins to show signs of the disease, the disease progression is rapid and dogs usually die between the ages of 18 and 23 months.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Generalised PRA 1 (Golden Retriever Type)
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a collection of inherited diseases affecting the retina that cause blindness. Each breed exhibits a specific age of onset and pattern of inheritance, and the actual mechanism by which the retina loses function can vary. The result of almost all types of PRA is similar - generally an initial night blindness, with a slow deterioration of vision (often starting with peripheral vision) until the dog is completely blind.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy/Krabbe’s Disease
Globoid cell leukodystrophy, or Krabbe disease, is a severe, autosomal recessive disorder resulting from a deficiency of galactocerebrosidase (GALC) activity. Affected animals are born normal, but changes are normally seen by 11 – 30 weeks of age. The white matter of the cerebrum and cerebellum is affected, and on brain scans appears much reduced in size. This results in muscle weakness and ataxia (incoordination in the gait) which starts in the hind limbs and later moves to the front legs. Muscle tremors are seen, pups have trouble standing or walking, and behavioural changes can also occur. This disease is rapidly progressive, and will be fatal in the breed within a few months.
SEVERITY: Moderate-Severe. This is a disease with significant welfare impact on the affected animal, in terms of clinical signs and generally reduced life expectancy.
Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis/Dry Nose (Labrador Retriever Type)
Also referred to as Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK). They develop dry, rough crusts on the tip of the nose. Lesions can occur on the area around the nose. The noses of these affected dogs are prone to bacterial infections and can lose pigment over time.
SEVERITY: Low. This disease generally causes mild signs of disease, or can be quite easily treated/managed.
Hyperuricosuria
Dogs with variations in both copies of the SLC2A9 gene are predisposed to have elevated levels of uric acid in the urine, which can form crystals and/or stones in the urinary tract causing urinary tract infections or blockage of the Urethra.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Ivermectin Sensitivity MDR1 (Multi Drug Resistance)
In certain breeds a mutation on the MDR1 gene (which stands for Multi Drug Resistance 1) makes affected animals sensitive to certain drugs. The first drug that this defect was found to be present for was Ivermectin, used to treat mange and prevent heart-worm. Affected dogs suffer seizures when given this drug.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Malignant Hyperthermia
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an inherited disorder of skeletal muscle characterised by hypercarbia, rhabdomyolysis, generalised skeletal muscle contracture, cardiac dysrhythmia, and renal failure, that develops on exposure to succinylcholine or volatile anaesthetic agents.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Mild Disproportionate Dwarfism (Labrador Type)
This is an autosomal recessive condition that affects Labradors Musculoskeletal development - Associated with muscles, bones and associated structures.
SEVERITY: Low. This disease generally causes mild signs of disease, or can be quite easily treated/managed.
Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (Poodle Type)
Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS-VI) is also known as Maroteaux-Lamy disease, and is a type of lysosomal storage disease where large sugar molecules are unable to be broken down by the body as they normally would. There are a large number of adverse affects throughout the body, with some of the most striking being on development of the skeleton.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Mild Disproportionate Dwarfism (Labrador Type)
This is an autosomal recessive condition that affects Labradors Musculoskeletal development - Associated with muscles, bones and associated structures.
SEVERITY: Low. This disease generally causes mild signs of disease, or can be quite easily treated/managed.
Myotubular Myopathy X-Linked (Labrador Retriever Type)
X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) is a well-defined subgroup of the centronuclear myopathies (CNMs) characterised by early onset and the presence of uniformly small muscle fibres with centrally placed nuclei resembling foetal myotubes.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Narcolepsy (Labrador)
Narcolepsy is an inherited disorder affecting Labrador retrievers. Dogs with the inherited form of narcolepsy typically present between one to six months of age with an inability to stay awake for extended periods of time and episodes of collapse and sleep following positive stimulation such as play or food.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Neonatal Encephalopathy (Poodle Type)
Neonatal Encephalopathy's an inherited neurologic disease. The disease quickly progresses to severe seizures that become non-responsive to treatment. Affected dogs typically die or are euthanised by 7 weeks of age.
SEVERITY: Moderate-Severe. This is a disease with significant welfare impact on the affected animal, in terms of clinical signs and generally reduced life expectancy.
Phosphofructokinase Deficiency (Spaniel Type)
Phosphofructokinase (PFK) is an important enzyme that is found in cells of the body and is involved in the use and regulation of glucose as an energy source. A deficiency of the PFK enzyme in cells interferes with the metabolism of glucose, and the main signs seen in affected dogs relates to the muscles and the blood cells.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Progressive Rod Cone Degeneration (prcd) - PRA
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a collection of inherited diseases affecting the retina that cause blindness.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (Canine)
Pyruvate kinase (PK) is an enzyme critical to the anaerobic glycolytic pathway of energy production in the erythrocyte. If red blood cells are deficient in PK they are unable to sustain normal cell metabolism and hence are destroyed prematurely.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (Labrador Type)
Symptoms of pyruvate kinase deficiency usually begin to show around four months to one year. The symptoms can include weakness, lack of energy, rapid heart rate, heart murmurs, pale gums, and stunted growth. As the disease progresses, bones and the liver can be affected. The disease is ultimately fatal.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
rcd4-PRA (Late Onset)
An inherited eye disease affecting dogs. PRA-crd4 occurs as a result of degeneration of both rod and cone type Photoreceptor Cells of the Retina, which are important for vision in dim and bright light, respectively.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
Skeletal Dysplasia 2 (Mild Disproportionate Dwarfism)
Skeletal Dysplasia 2 is a form a dwarfism an inherited Musculoskeletal disease affecting Labrador Retrievers. Affected dogs develop a mild form of “disproportionate dwarfism” consisting of short legs with normal body length and width. The leg bones are shorter, thicker, and slightly curved and the front legs are frequently more affected than rear legs.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Stargardt Disease (Retinal Degeneration)
Also referred to as Juvenile Macular Degeneration. It is a progressive disease and symptoms include blurred vision and a difficulty trying to adapt from bright light to dark (dim) light.
SEVERITY: Low-Moderate. This disease can cause some discomfort and/or dysfunction in the affected animal. It does not generally affect life expectancy.
von Willebrand's Disease Type I
Von Willebrand’s disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in dogs and occurs when there is a lack of functional von Willebrand factor.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
Useful Genetic Information
Orivet Australian Labradoodle Breed Profile
A Note on Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
Despite almost a century of research, the complex aetiology and optimal treatment paradigm for Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) remains elusive. As originally proposed by Schnelle at a meeting of the Veterinary Medical Society of New York City in the 1930s, CHD is not likely a single affliction but an array of heritable and environmentally induced degenerative disorders that differentially affect the morphology and function of the canine hip. The variable phenotypic expression of CHD makes development and implementation of standard identification procedures difficult. At present, prevention by selective breeding will help obviate the presence of a debilitating condition in canine companions
Hip dysplasia is a very common skeletal disease in dogs and is a debilitating condition where hip joints fail due to abnormal development and gradual deterioration leading to loss of function of the hip joints all together and mobility. Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a polygenic and multifactorial developmental disorder characterised by coxofemoral (hip) joint laxity, degeneration, and osteoarthritis (OA).
The causes may be genetic and/or environmental making it a tricky condition to eradicate. Thus it is important for new owners to be educated in the likely environmental components of the disease and discourage new puppies from jumping and climbing excessively to prevent hip problems, especially during early growth periods (14 weeks to 6 months) and ensure the puppy remains a healthy weight.
Some breeds like Labradoodles are more likely to have a genetic predisposition for hip dysplasia than other breeds. In an effort to eradicate a genetic predisposition, HOPSCOTCH have ALL of our prospective breeding dogs’ hips and elbows X-rayed and scored when the dog reaches 1 year of age. Using the British Veterinary Association (BVA) system, any dog whose score is greater than the 5 year rolling average is desexed and retired from our breeding program.
SEVERITY: Moderate. This disease can cause significant signs of discomfort and/or dysfunction in affected animals. It may involve relatively high treatment/management costs, surgery and can sometimes reduce life expectancy.
British Veterinary Association (BVA) system of Canine Hip and Elbow Scoring
The British Veterinary Association/Kennel Club maintains a “pass/fail” evaluation system that was instituted in 1965 and updated in 1984. For scoring, dogs must be at least 1 year of age, microchipped (or tattooed), and, if registered with the Kennel Club, the registration number must be included on the radiograph. Each dog has one opportunity to be scored by the system. Joints are individually scored on nine criteria from 0 to 5 or from 0 to 6 on hip-extended radiographs by two qualified radiologists on a British Veterinary Association/Kennel Club panel, with 0 being the best score and 106 the worst (53 possible points for each hip). The nine criteria include the Norberg angle and subjective assessments including subluxation, dorsal acetabular edge, cranial acetabular edge, cranial effective acetabular rim, acetabular fossa, femoral head recontouring, and femoral head and neck exostosis. An average score for each individual dog breed is published, ie, the breed mean score, and it is recommended that only animals with total scores well below the breed mean be used for breeding purposes.