WHEATEN HEALTH INITIATIVE
'The Look' with thanks to Darcie Olson
 
"To provide a platform for the
reception and transmission of
information about the health
and well-being of the
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier."
Related Pages
Puppy Testing
Testing for Adults
Vet Testing protocols
Owner Testing with AHT
Vets Testing with AHT
Post Mortem with AHT
 

Health>Testing Protocols>Prior to Breeding

 

also on this page: Kennel Club Mate Select

Health Testing prior to Breeding

There is, at the present time, no definitive test for any of the hereditary diseases that affect the breed. However, many owners health test their Wheatens annually to provide a 'snap-shot' of the dogs health.

The recommendation is that the sire and dam should have the following tests prior to mating:

  • Blood and Urinalysis performed ‘in-house’ by your vet, or if you prefer:

  • 1Blood and Urinalysis in accordance with the 'Animal Health Trust Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier Profile’
  • 2Eye tested (eye certificate - issued annually).

  • 2Hip scored (this need only be undertaken once in a dogs lifetime).

  • Hearing Test – this is recommended for dogs from ‘high risk lines’. For more information read the section on Other Conditions>Deafness

1 WHI, along with the Animal Health Trust (AHT), have produced a specific profile for Wheaten blood and urinalysis testing. Also available is DNA storage for an individual dog, and DNA storage for a litter of puppies. Please refer to Publications>AHT Testing Pack to download a copy.

2 These are part of the British Veterinary Association Health Schemes and details can be found by phoning or visiting the BVA web site. See also Health>Other Conditions>Hip Dysplasia  

 

The UK Kennel Club offer a facility to check the health tests which the sire and dam have recorded with them.

This scheme, called Mate Select, offers: " steps to gain a better idea of the health of potential parents and the likelihood that they will not pass defective genes to their offspring, increasing the chances that any puppies born will have the best chance of living a healthy life.

Mate Select has a number of services that will help breeders manage loss of diversity and benefit the breed as a whole."

The downloadable pack includes the following information:

  • A Health Test Pedigree for both the Dam and the Sire

  • Descriptions of all health tests that are recommended or have been recorded for both the Dam and the Sire.

  • Inbreeding values for both the Dam and the Sire.

  • The average inbreeding coefficient for their breed.

  • The results of a predicted inbreeding coefficient calculation for the mating.
Click this  mateselect link to take you to the start of the Kennel Club web page.

 

See also Testing Puppies for further relevant information.

     
©Wheaten Health Initiative 2009-12
Revised: June 2011