Every dog breed has its own particular health issues – responsible breeders will always look to reduce the risk of unhealthy puppies by ensuring their breeding dogs have had the recommended health checks.
If you are planning to buy a puppy of any breed, it is vitally important that you check that your puppy’s mum and dad have both had ALL the health tests recommended by the breed’s officially recognised club – that way you have the best possible chance of ensuring your puppy grows into a happy, healthy, well-adjusted dog.
Here in the EMDCGB, we take health testing very seriously and insist our breeders’ dogs have passed all of the tests required by the Swiss Breed Club, being the club which has overall responsibility for the breed. Any breeder approved by the EMDCGB will be happy to share the results of the tests for their puppies’ parents with you on request.
If you are buying a puppy and the breeder is unable or unwilling to show the results of all of these tests for both parents then we would ask you to think carefully before proceeding or perhaps speak to us for advice.
Summaries of the health conditions for which the Club (following the requirements of the Swiss Breed Club) requires UK breeding dogs to test are shown below. Please click on the health condition for more detailed information about the condition and corresponding tests.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a range of eye conditions in which the retina degenerates leading to blindness. Only one type of PRA is known within Entlebuchers and all our breeding dogs are tested for PRA. An Entlebucher who is shown to have inherited the defective gene from both parents and who will at some point in their life develop the condition will never be used for breeding by EMDCGB members.
Cataracts
It’s unusual for a cataract to be a big problem for a dog and small cataracts are often barely noticeable to either the dog or the owner.
Because it’s thought that at least some forms of cataract found in Entlebuchers are of a hereditary nature, some countries exclude all Entlebuchers with cataracts from the breeding programme. However, we follow those countries (including Switzerland) who allow breeding from a dog with a single small cataract in one eye.
Glaucoma
In simple terms, glaucoma is the build-up of fluid in the eye due to problems of drainage which can lead to painful headaches, blindness and usually the loss of the eye. There is no definitive test which can show if a dog carries the gene(s) for the condition, so the best option is a gonioscopy, a painless eye test providing information that can be a strong indicator of the risk of developing the condition. The UK Club works with other European Clubs to assess the risk of glaucoma for our breeding dogs.
Heart
In order to prevent genetic heart conditions from being passed on, and to protect the health and welfare of a breeding dog, any dogs which show a heart murmur do not go on to breed.
Hips
Entlebuchers can suffer from Hip Dysplasia, like many other breeds. Whilst the condition can be hereditary, it can also be caused by injury, over-exercise/inappropriate exercise at a young age, or diet. The occurrence of hereditary Hip Dysplasia can be reduced with good breeding.
EMDCGB require dogs in the UK breeding programme to be x-rayed for hip dysplasia at around 15 months of age, when they will be given a hip score from A (best) to E (worst). Breeding from a dog whose hips are graded D or E would not be acceptable under the regulations of most countries. At the time of writing, no Entlebucher scored in the UK Club has received any worse than a B2 rating.
Ectopic Ureter
In very simple terms, ectopic ureter (EU) is a condition where the line (ureter) from each kidney to the bladder enters the bladder in the wrong place causing frequent bladder infections, incontinence and ultimately death. In the Entlebucher breed, female puppies born with this condition are unlikely to survive early puppyhood, whilst male puppies are more able to find ways to compensate and it may not show itself until later in life.
The condition can be detected through an ultrasound examination to identify the position in the bladder that the ureters enter.
The UK Club does not breed from affected dogs.