Health Clinic in PA

Good point, Ginger.

The Portuguese have no certification for health issues - not that I can find...There's a place on the, FCI, foreign pedigrees labeled HD, which means hip dysplasia. Note: none of the anscestors have certification marked on their pedigrees. Obviously, the Portuguese do not use this or do not consider HD an important issue. Interesting.

All FCI registation papers have this area (HD). The German SV for German shepherd dogs -HD and Elbow ratings are included on the pedigrees. However, In Germany, the German shepherd dog is evaluated at 12 months of age (not at 2 years of age).The protocal for having HD and Elbows evaluated at 12 months of age was scientifically determined by the actual (finished) structural development of a German shepherd dog. The SV certification is an open data base, so the results are placed on the SV (FCI) papers.

Certification from OFA is at 2 years of age. This is to incompus multiple breeds..very large late developers (Irish Wolf Hounds etc), whose skeletal developent continues to 2 years of age. Various breeds reach maturity at different ages, this is not a consideration for the OFA. Smaller breeds mature earlier, too...So if we were to follow the FCI protocal for certification, we evaluate our dogs at 12 months of age.

In addition, the SV in Germany, does not recognized the OFA hip and elbow certification.

We have always done required tests on our dogs. We always will. It is a necessity! We have opted to keep our dogs' information (including German shepherd dogs) closed and not made public by certification agencies.

We also keep our own records and films of our dogs for reference. I might suggest to others new to this breed to take their digital cameras with them, when they have x-rays and tests.

For the novice out there: testing and certificatin will NOT guarantee the progeny will be free of HD, Elbow,Legg Pethes, or Patellar Lusation. Testing determines. if the subject being tested is free. Our Pequenos have been screened, evaluated and recorded, but that does NOT mean that the progeny will be free. Bare in mind: Not all certifying agencies are respected around the world - mistakes are made, so make sure you have an excellent vet specialist to discuss findings and a knowledgabe breeder to assist you.
Joanne

Screening dogs for conditions that do not show up in a breed or are not an issue in small breeds is a waste of time and money.

Since hip dysplasia also causes hip problems the conditions could be confused, although clinically evident hip dysplasia is not a major problem in dogs of this size.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

The Portuguese are always held up as "master breeders" and "experts" on the Podengo....however they DO NOT TEST FOR ANYTHING, routinely breed their animals under a year of age and do severe inbreeding that is not acceptable in most recognized breeds.
People eagerly buy imports that lack any testing then readily point fingers at others in the US as being "unethical" if OFA numbers are not available.
All breeders screen their breeding stock. One should never assume otherwise just because they chose not to pay for a number to be issued.

No studies have been conducted to determine what is "normal" for a Podengo.
The Podengo is a healthy breed because they have not been subjected to unnecessary wasteful testing to remove fit for purpose animals. Only animals Unfit for purpose have been removed over time.

If health is a major concern, then maybe Portugual should be mandated to perform various tests on their breeding stock before any more puppies are exported.
More can be learned if the source of the breed is tested and evaluated rather than an individual or two in a foreign land.

The Delaware Valley Havanese Club is sponsoring an all breed health clinich in Malvern, PA on 9/20/2009. They offer CERF, BAER, Cardiac, Hips, Elbows and Patellas. I've attended this clinic in the past and intend to go with Carla.

The flier is here: http://dvhc.homestead.com/2009-Health-Clinic-Reservation-Form.html

If you would like to have your dog tested, but are unable to get to PA, give me a holler, I'm happy to help you get your dog down here and to the clinic.

Cheers,
MB