Health Screening
Breed specific concerns for English Shepherds include: MDR1, PRA, CEA, DM, Hip Dysplasia. Tracking information on digestive health and allergies is also important, but frequently overlooked.
DNA Testing: There are many labs that provide genetic health screening. Many ES folks use Embark, for their ability to recognize the breed and also their match tool for breeders.
Hip Screening: Hip Dysplasia predisposes a dog to degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis. There are two options for screening hips. Either method is fine, but PennHip may be more useful in predicting heritability of hip quality.
PennHip - An objective measure of the laxity in hip joints. Scoring from 0 to 1, with 1 being the most laxity (most concerning). The current breed average for ES is 0.46. Can be performed as young as 16 weeks. The results are not publicly available in a database. This screening method is more expensive and fewer vets are able to offer it due to necessary training.
OFA - A subjective measure based on ‘coverage’ (how well the ball fits into the socket), graded by three different veterinarians for an overall score. Scoring ranges Excellent, Good, Fair, Mild, Moderate, Severe. Can be performed beginning at 2 years of age. Results are available in a public database, however owners can choose not to report abnormal results. This screening method is less expensive than PennHip and more widely available.
The aim of this project is to gather data on as many members of the family as possible, even the dogs who are not going to be bred. Our plan is to assist owners in data collection efforts to make the process easier. Want to learn more about why having data on all of the family is so important? Please see our Why Collect Data? page.