23/03/2023
👀 POAG & genetic testing 👀
One of the most freqently asked questions is about genetic testing, and I am truly happy when the question comes up because it means people are researching about the breed specifics instead of just falling for the adorable, always smiling look of the PBGV.
Nowadays genetic testing is the phenomenal tool for breeders, it gives possibility to avoid diseases, especially the ones that are fatal for the dog. But not all diseases are the same, some do not cause any harm to the dog like ischtiosis to golden retrievers, but some, like POAG (Primary Open Angle Glaucoma) in PBGV can and it will cause loose of sight, very painful intraocular preassure that often leads to eye removal surgery.
Once you take the swab or blood sample results will come back as:
1. Clear N/N (not carrying copy of the gene), which means dog is healthy and cannot develop the disease nor produce it further
2.CARRIER N/n (carrying one copy of the gene), which means dog is healthy and cannot develop the disease. However, these dogs must be mated to Clear dogs only in order to produce healthy offspring because otherwise some puppies will have both copies of the gene like Affected ones
3.Affected n/n (dog will develop symptoms of disease at some point in life), they are carrying both copies of the gene.
When it comes to breeding, it is important to keep Clear tested dogs just like Carriers too, especially in the breed that has rather small genepool like PBGV. And why is that?
Simply because once you exclude all Carriers, you might exclude POAG as a problem, but for sure you are loosing a very valuable other set of genetic traits and the new problem will most likely come up!
Dogs are living beings just like us, they are not and cannot be genetical perfection, but what it can be done is to test genetically and clinically and follow all the available pedigrees in database so we can have them as healthy as possible.