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| HEALTH TESTING Where to begin?? I lost Zeus at age 4. I could NEVER put weight on the boy and I had kept taking him to the vet, adding food, changing food, adding supplements, and still…he was skinny minny. Yes, he was active, but every bone was visible for the most part-not like it should be on a male. When I look at his past medical history and his sudden death, I have no doubt that he died from DCM. When I started searching for my show dane, I thought….now I will be spending more $ and NOW I will get more health testing than just an OFA. Well, WRONG….yes, every kennel I emailed had danes from $1000-$5000( Harlequins) …and most of them did the hips….and a handful did other health tests….. Then there was the breeder who said in an email…. ”Yes, I do sale show dogs to new show homes…When she turns 2, I require that you do all 4 health tests. IF SHE PASSES ALL 4, ( Hips, Heart, Thyroid, CERF) then you can breed her to a quality stud……etc….” I thought to myself…hmmm……I bet that throws off most people….but to me, it screamed out that this person CARES about her lines that she has worked soo hard on. Since her name is also going on the papers, she doesn't want her lines dragged through the mud on a dane that didn't have the potential to produce the best of the best. So, that was what made me go back! It shouldn't be difficult to find breeders that are consistent and adamant on health testing, but it is. I can say this from first hand experience….I looked for months from Texas to California, to Ohio…. I will continue to health test all my danes, as I feel this is one of the most important aspects of being an exceptional breeder. More links on health testing: WHAT IS THE OFA? Breeding, do you really want to? What is Bloat? Why you need to have your Dane on Heart Worm preventive. DCM, what is it? MORE HEALTH LINKS |
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