Toomevara English Jack Russell Terriers

Health and Genetic Testing is paramount for our English Jack Russell Terriers.

The only way one can be absolutely sure that their foundation stock is healthy and free of genetic disease is to run a gauntlet of tests. We have noted all testing and screenings that all of our terriers must undergo, before they are even considered for breeding.

DNA Profiling: This testing was done by InGen, Inc.

DNA Fingerprinting
A DNA fingerprint is literally a pet’s genetic serial number. The chances of another animal having the same DNA fingerprint is almost impossible (billions to one). Having this information gives pet owners the ability to absolutely identify their pet.

Disease Screening
Through the use of DNA SNiP technology and the VERISNP™universal screening procedure, Pawsitive ID™ can screen for dozens of inherent, genetic diseases. Some are breed specific but some can be detected in many pure breeds and mixed breeds.

Dog Diseases: Our English Jack Russell Terriers have tested negative for all of the following:

•Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRCD)
•Myotonia Congenita (MC)
•Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
•Hypothyroidism with Goiter  (HTG) (Congenital Hypothyroidism)
•Canine Leucocyte Adhesion Deficiency (CLAD)
•Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL)
•Cystinuria (CYST)
•Narcolepsy (NARC)
•Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
•Globoid Cell Leucodystrophy (GCL)
•von Willebrand Disease (vWD)
•GMI Gangliosidosis (GMID)
•Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII (GUSB)
•Hemophilia B (HmB)
•Phosphofructosokinase Deficiency (PFK)
•Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease (SCID)
•Thrombasthenic Thrombopathia (THROM)
•Cone degeneration (CD)
•Retinal Dystrophy (PRAD)
•Neonatal Encephalopathy (NEWS)
•Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD)
•L-2 Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria (L2H)
•Canine Multidrug Sensitivity (MDR1)
•Neuronla Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses (NCLs)
•Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Phosphate Deficiency (PDH)
•Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
•Canine Multifocal Retinopathy (CMR)
•Canine Retinopathy (CR)
•Autosomal Recessive Hereditary Nephropathy (ARHN)
•Type I Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia (GT)


Orthopedic Foundation for Animals Certifications www.offa.org

PATELLAR LUXATION
The OFA has certified that our English Jack Russells are free of patellar luxation.

What is patellar luxation?
The patella, or kneecap, is part of the stifle joint (knee). In patellar luxation, the kneecap luxates, or pops out of place, either in a medial or lateral position.

Bilateral involvement is most common, but unilateral is not uncommon. Animals can be affected by the time they are 8 weeks of age. The most notable finding is a knock-knee (genu valgum) stance. The patella is usually reducible, and laxity of the medial collateral ligament may be evident. The medial retinacular tissues of the stifle joint are often thickened, and the foot can be seen to twist laterally as weight is placed on the limb.

THYROID
The OFA has certified that our English Jack Russell Terriers are free of hypothyroidism.

Autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in dogs. The disease has variable onset, but tends to clinically manifest itself at 2 to 5 years of age. Dogs may be clinically normal for years, only to become hypothyroid at a later date. The marker for autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroglobulin autoantibody formation, usually occurs prior to the occurrence of clinical signs. Therefore, periodic retesting is recommended.

The majority of dogs that develop autoantibodies have them by 3 to 4 years of age. Development of autoantibodies to any time in the dog’s life is an indication that the dog, most likely, has the genetic form of the disease. Using today's technology only a small fraction of false positive tests occur.

As a result of the variable onset of the presence of autoantibodies, periodic testing will be necessary. Dogs that are negative at 1 year of age may become positive at 6 years of age. Dogs should be tested every year or two in order to be certain they have not developed the condition. Since the majority of affected dogs will have autoantibodies by 4 years of age, annual testing for the first 4 years is recommended. After that, testing every other year should suffice. Unfortunately, a negative at any one time will not guarantee that the dog will not develop thyroiditis.


BAER HEARING CERTIFICATION

The Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) test is the only accepted method of diagnosis for deafness. Bone stimulation transducer may be used in addition when conduction deafness is suspected.

The OFA recommends this test be performed by board certified veterinary neurologists, but will accept test results from experienced veterinarians/audiologists. One test suffices for the lifetime of the animal.

Bilateral hearing passes the test. Unilateral or bilateral deafness fails.


BLOOD CHEMISTRIES AND COMPLETE PANELS

CBC (Complete Blood Count)
Blood work is a very important diagnostic tool that provides vital information about our English Jack Russell Terriers health. A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test used to measure and evaluate cells that circulate in the blood. The test includes an actual counting of red and white blood cells as well as an analysis of cells viewed on a blood smear. A CBC may be useful as a screening test for underlying infection, anemia and illness. Sometimes, the CBC can help determine the underlying cause of an anemia or infection. Drugs that affect the bone marrow change the CBC. Certain types of cancers, especially leukemia, may be evident on a blood smear. Blood parasites and some microorganisms are found by careful inspection of the blood cells during the CBC.

BLOOD CHEMISTRIES
A physical examination of our English Jack Russell Terriers does not tell us much about metabolic function. Our vet can palpate kidneys and feel that they have a normal texture, size, and consistency, but this does not tell her if the kidneys are leaking protein or glucose into the urine. She can detect an irregular heart rate, but she cannot tell if it is due to high potassium, low calcium, low magnesium, or a primary heart disease. Blood chemistries help determine the cause of physical examination abnormalities and detect problems that may not have early symptoms, as well as give a much more thorough evaluation of how our dogs systems are functioning overall. The blood chemistry consists of the following.

General Metabolism:
GLU  (Glucose)
LDH  (Lactate dehydrogenase)
CPK  (Creatine phosphokinase)

Kidney function:
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
CREAT (Creatinine)

Electrolytes:
Na  (Sodium)
K  (Potassium)
Cl  (Chloride)
CA (Calcium)
PHOS (Phosphorus)

Liver Function:
ALP  (Alkaline phosphatase)
ALB  (Albumin)
GGT  (Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase)
SGPT   (Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase
TP  (Total Protein)
CHOL  (Cholesterol)
GLOB  (Globulin)
TBILI  (Total Bilirubin)

Thyroid:
T3 (Triiodothyronine)
T4  (Thyroxine)

Pancreas:
AMY (Amylase)
LIP  (Lipase)

BRUCELLOSIS TESTING

All of our English Jack Russell Terriers have tested negative for Brucellosis prior to breeding.

What is Brucellosis?  Canine brucellosis, caused by Brucella canis, is an important cause of reproductive failure, particularly in kennels. B. abortus causes abortions, stillbirths, epididymitis, orchitis and sperm abnormalities in dogs. Canine brucellosis can end the reproductive career of a breeding animal. B. canis is zoonotic, although disease appears to be rare in humans.

TEMPERAMENT TESTING/COMPREHENSIVE PERSONALITY PROFILES

Temperament testing is done with each of our potential breeding candidates at 7 weeks of age. This ensures we are raising a pup who is of the temperament we desire to see in our breeding program. Usually, this is a very middle-of-the-road, happy-go-lucky pup, scoring 3 to 4 on the Volhard Scale.

As our English Jack Russell Terriers reach physical maturity at around one to two years of age, we will then complete a comprehensive personality profile, which will give us a clear picture of our dogs objectively, their drives, their pack orientation. This again ensures that we have very even keeled temperaments in all of our English Jack Russell Terriers - neither too soft nor too hard.