A cardiac examination is an evaluation of the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Many elements of a cardiac exam are usually performed (to some extent) during a routine physical examination in pets of all ages. These happen at 6 weeks for most of our puppies.

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects older dogs. The average age of onset for dogs with degenerative myelopathy is approximately nine years of age. The disease affects the White Matter tissue of the spinal cord and is considered the canine equivalent to Lou Gehrig’s disease found in humans.

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is associated with a variant of the SOD1 gene. It is inherited in a recessive manner, so a dog with one or no copies of the variant is very unlikely to develop the disease. This variant is also incompletely penetrant, meaning dogs carrying two copies of the variant are at a much greater risk of developing clinical DM than dogs with one or no copies. However, not all dogs with two copies of the variant will go on to develop symptoms.

Two different mutations in the SOD1 gene have been shown to be associated with DM; the SOD1(A) variant has been found in many breeds and is the only variant on the Embark panel at this time. The SOD1(B) variant has only so far been found in the Bernese Mountain Dog. We don’t yet know how the SOD1(B) variant will affect Bernedoodles or other Bernese Mountain Dog hybrids. Both the A and B variants are in the same gene, meaning a dog cannot have more than two copies of the variant (either A, B, or a combination of the two). Possible genotypes for a Bernese Mountain Dog would be clear of either variant, carrier for either the SOD1(A) or SOD1(B) variant, at-risk with two copies of SOD1(A), at-risk with two copies of SOD1(B), or compound heterozygote/at-risk with one copy of SOD1(A) and one copy of SOD1(B).

The reason behind consideration for testing for this variant if not already done so is because of the currently unknown impact with Bernese Mountain Dog mixed ancestry. Standard Poodles have shown to be penetrant for the SOD1(A) so until more is known, this would be a consideration to consider testing the dam or sires in your breeding program that are Bernese Mountain Dogs. Testing can be done directly through the OFA.

Progressive retinal Atrophy, golden retriever 1 (GR-PRA1) is a late-onset inherited eye disease affecting dogs. Affected dogs begin showing clinical symptoms related to retinal degeneration between 6 to 7 years of age on average, though age of onset can vary.

Progressive retinal Atrophy, golden retriever 2 (GR-PRA2) is a late-onset inherited eye disease affecting dogs. Affected dogs begin showing clinical symptoms related to retinal degeneration at around 4 to 5 years of age on average, though age of onset can vary.

Ich, Ichthyosis (golden retriever type) is an inherited condition of the skin affecting dogs. The age of onset and severity of disease are highly variable, however, most affected dogs present before one year of age with flaky skin and dull hair. Over time the skin develops a grayish color and appears thick and scaly, especially over the abdomen.

is a mutation of the dystrophin gene that causes a deficiency of dystrophin proteins in Golden Retrievers. The lack of dystrophin proteins leads to the progressive degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscles. The disease is similar to the human form of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms appear relatively quickly, at about six weeks to two months of age. An affected dog will exhibit muscle weakness, difficulty standing or walking normally, and difficulty swallowing, Symptoms can range from relatively mild to severe, but GRMD is generally fatal at about 6 months of age.

Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures is an inherited neurologic disease known to affect dogs. Affected puppies are smaller than littermates at birth, have difficulty nursing after a few days of life, and often die by 1 week of age.

Von Willebrand’s disease I (VWD) is an inherited bleeding disorder affecting mini poodles, poodles & goldendoodles. Affected dogs may bruise easily, have frequent nosebleeds, bleed from the mouth when juvenile teeth are lost, and experience prolonged bleeding after surgery, trauma, or estrus. Dogs may show signs of lameness or stiffness if bleeding occurs in the joints or muscles. Less often, the bleeding may be severe enough to cause death.

traits, some doodles, even poodles are IC affected and can pass this on to their offspring causing an undesirable coat.

There are three variables involved in canine coat types: the length of the coat, the presence of furnishings, and the presence of curly hair. Hair curl or wavy coat is a dominant characteristic caused by 2 separate known mutations in the KRT71 gene. This gene codes for keratin, a protein that determines the type of hair a dog will have.

These mutations are fixed in some breeds such as C2 in Curly-coat Retrievers. However, the mutation is variable in other breeds, such as the Kuvasz. The hair curl mutations can also be accompanied by the other mutations that can change coat length and type. For example, the Airedale Terrier has both the curly coat and furnishings that are responsible for their trademark eyelashes and mustaches. Other breeds, such as the Standard Poodle, can have all three mutations, creating a long-haired curly coat with furnishings.

The C2 variant causes a slightly different type of curl or wavy coat than the first described curl variant. In addition to hair curl the C2/C2 allele is also believed to be a genetic risk factor for follicular dysplasia in some breeds

Because the hair curl gene is dominant, a dog only needs to have single copy of either curl variant to express that phenotype. This can appear as either n/C , C/C, n/C2, C2/C2 or C/C2. Hair curl would not appear in dogs whose gene codes as recessive (n/n). A dog can carry the allele responsible for non-curly hair, and could pass the recessive allele on to any offspring. If two dogs that are both carriers of the non-curl gene are bred (n/C) or N/C2, there is a 25% chance per puppy that they will inherit the recessive alleles (n/n), resulting in a dog with non-curly hair.

Coat traits, some poodles can also carry the high shed gene and could pass it on to their offspring. The MC5R-gene has been identified as a gene that can impact the degree of shedding in certain dog breeds. The MC5R-gene is expressed in the hair follicle glands that produce the oily, waxy substance called sebum. The variants of MCR5-gene disrupt the structure of sebum and result in increased shedding.

Quality doodle breeders also genetically test their lines for coat colors.

Elbow Dysplasia

Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)

Eye Certification (OFA CAER)

Hereditary (Juvenile) Cataracts (HC; JC)

Hip Dysplasia

Histiocytic Sarcoma Pre-Test DNA (from Antagene)

Ichthyosis, Golden Retriever Type

Multiple Drug Sensitivity (MDR1)

Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (NEwS)

Patellar Luxation (OFA)

PRA, Golden Retriever 1

PRA, Golden Retriever 2

PRA, Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd)

Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)

Thyroid (Autoimmune Thyroiditis) (OFA)

von Willebrand Disease I (vWD I)

PATELLAS: (hind leg knees) Permanent clear rating for mini & moyen Poodles, also mini/medium Goldendoodles. PennHip with a score of 50% or above completed any time after 4 mos. of age. Or an OFA x-ray.

OFA Elbows and/or Pennhip: Either of these x-ray tests will detect elbow dysplasia in breeding stock.

OFA Hips and/or PennHip: Either of these x-ray tests will detect hip dysplasia in breeding stock.

CARDIAC: OFA Permanent heart clearance (Golden Retrievers and Goldendoodles only)

CERF Eye Exam: This is a minimum of a bi-annual exam performed by a professional veterinarian ophthalmologist.

*** Each one of these tests will be done per the recommendation of our personal local veterinarian.