Like many breeds, Poodles and Bichons have a number of genetically transmitted health conditions to which they may be susceptible. To reduce the incidence of these genetic conditions in litters, conscientious breeders have their breeding stock health screened to determine whether their animals are affected.
The most common of these are:
HD - Hip Dysplasia : affects hip joints, resulting in pain, lameness and degenerative joint changes. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
(OFA) tracks results of veterinary examinations for hip dysplasia; you can search at
http://www.offa.org/search.html
for results for a particular dog.
SA - Sebaceous Adenitis : a skin condition in which sebaceous glands become inflamed, resulting in scaling, odor and hair loss. Affliction can vary from extremely mild to severe; poodles with subclinical cases look completely normal, even though they have SA and can pass it on to offspring. You can search at
http://www.offa.org/search.html
for results for a particular dog.
PRA - Progressive Retinal Atrophy : a condition which results in retinal degeneration and blindness in the affected dog. The Canine Eye Registration Foundation
(CERF) records examination findings by board-certified veterinary opthalmologists on examined dogs, which also include any other eye disease. You can verify current annual certification at
http://www.vmdb.org/cerf2.html. In addition, toys and miniatures can utilize Optigen DNA testing for the PRCD form of PRA, which most commonly afflicts these varieties. Results for Optigen testing are also available at
http://www.offa.org/search.html
.
vWd - von Willebrand's disease : a bleeding disorder resulting in unabated bleeding, either spontaneous (from the membranes of nose, mouth or GI tract) or resulting from wounds or surgery. von Willebrand's disease is detectable by DNA testing performed by
VetGen, so a potential breeding dog can be certified as clear, or determined to be a carrier or affected. You can search at
http://www.offa.org/search.html
for results for a particular dog.
PL - Patellar Luxation : "slipped stifles" are a common problem in small breeds. In toy and miniature poodles, this is an inherited structural difference in the stifle (knee joint) that can lead to abnormal gait, lameness, and degenerative joint disease. You can search at
http://www.offa.org/search.html
for results for a particular dog.
Poodles' testing results may also be registered at the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), cross-reported on OFA's database. You can search CHIC's online database at
http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/search.html
