Photo by Sven and Eva Svendsen
Our Code of Ethics requires that the Health and Genetics Committee provide guidelines for health testing so breeders and owners understand what “responsible” breeding looks like in our breed.
Here they are: Code of Ethics Guidelines for Health Testing
Here is the bottom line:
- Breeders should know the status for both Delayed Post-Operative Hemorrhage (DEPOH) and Factor VII deficiency on all of their breeding stock.
- All breeding stock should have normal bile acid test results.
- All breeding stock should have an echocardiogram before breeding.
All breeders should communicate in writing, to the buyer of every Deerhound (puppy, yearling, or adult) they sell, the following:
- The dog’s DEPOH status (known either by parentage or testing)
- Whether the dog is Factor VII Deficiency affected or not (known either by parentage or testing)
- The dog’s bile acid testing results
- The dog’s cardiac auscultation (where a vet—it can be a general practitioner—listens to the heart with a stethoscope) results.
If the breeder does not provide this information to buyers, then the breeder is not following the SDCA’s Code of Ethics health guidelines.
DEPOH and Factor VII Deficiency are genetic conditions where affected dogs can have potentially fatal bleeding problems during and/or after surgery. Here is more information on these bleeding disorders.
A liver shunt is a defect in the circulation in the liver that is potentially fatal and can require lifelong intensive medical management or surgery. Here is more information on this disorder.
Heart defects are rare in Deerhounds, but they can be potentially fatal. Here is more information on heart defects.
Buyers should know the status of all of these conditions before they buy any Deerhound. Buyers who do not want to be caught unawares should require this information in writing from the breeder before they bring home their new dog. Responsible breeders will be happy to provide it.
If you did not buy your dog from a breeder who does these tests, they can be done at any time and should be done on every Deerhound.
A genetic test for FVIID is widely available (here is a list of labs, many of which offer it), and a genetic test for DEPOH is available from Washington State University*. It is recommended that all Deerhound owners know the genetic status of their dogs for both FVIID and DEPOH so preparations can be made should a dog affected by one or both of these conditions need surgery or suffer from major injuries.
Both the bile-acid test to screen for congenital liver shunts and a heart auscultation to check for heart defects can be done by a regular veterinarian.
More information on health testing Deerhounds: Health Testing Overview and Introduction to Genetic Testing
* As part of the patent agreement between WSU and the SDCA, a small royalty from DEPOHGEN™ test sales will be returned to the SDCA.