United Labrador Retriever Association

The Labrador Retriever is increasing in popularity in the UKC registry. It has already held the number one position in terms of numbers registered in the AKC registry for some years. One of the questions fanciers and those learning about the breed are likely to ask is “just how healthy is the breed?” And likewise, newcomers or those contemplating coming into the breed may ask, “what sorts of health screenings do conscientious owners perform on their breeding stock?” This article attempts to outline the basic issues in labrador health and highlights some the screening tools available to breeders for use with their dogs.

ULRA is proud to be an association with a Code Of Ethics. That Code is reproduced at the end of this article. It is designed for the individual breeder’s use as a Checklist to assist them in making a reasoned decision about whether or not to produce a litter of puppies, and which two dogs to use in each mating of Labrador retrievers.

You will note that one of the first paragraphs incorporates the UKC Breeder’s Code of Ethics and a pledge to promote good sportsmanship at UKC events. We strongly believe that a the strength of a breed often lies in the network of owners sharing information with each other and working together for the betterment of the breed. This includes the OPEN SHARING of health information as well as sportsmanlike competition at events designed to help breeders assess the qualities of their dogs.

The Code of Ethics also exhorts us to plan each mating with the goal of betterment of the breed. In other words, ULRA members believe in trying to improve each generation of Labradors, in part by carefully planning a breeding program.

ULRA also endorses the concept of openness in sharing health data. We believe it is vitally important for as much data as possible to be available to owners in the selection of potential breeding stock. It is our belief that “the data are always friendly,” meaning that no matter what the result of a health test is, that information helps us broaden our knowledge of the genetics of a particular dog or family of dogs, and that more information helps us make better decisions about creating another generation of dogs, hopefully MORE healthy than their parents and grandparents.

There are two health issues that we consider critical to evaluate in perspective ‘parent dogs.’ Those are hip dysplasia and eye disorders. We consider these two as the most critical since both are so important to the working function of the Labrador. We should stress here that as of now, the health screenings in these two areas are almost totally phenotypic. This means that each individual dog is evaluated for the physical characteristics that it possesses. The dog is NOT evaluated for the genes that it passes to offspring. As breeders, we are INFERRING that the content of the gene is very similar to the physical trait displayed (and tested) by the parent dog. As our science advances, and due in no small part to the success of the mapping of the canine genome, we hope that a day will come when we can genotypically test every dog in our breeding programs. Until that day comes, we do the best we can, which is test phenotypically and PRESUME or INFER the connection to the genotype.

Diligent selection of dogs with OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) rated ‘normal’ hips has moved the Labrador Retriever down on the OFA’s list of breeds with dysplasia. Today’s statistics show the Labrador is 71^st from the top of the list of breeds with dysplasia -- only 12.6% of the tested dogs exhibited dysplasia. It also shows a remarkable 155,924 dogs evaluated in the years 1974 – 2003. However, to put this number in perspective, a whopping 154, 616 Labradors were registered in the AKC in 2002 alone from 45,816 litters. A further 144, 934 were registered in 2003 from 45,747 litters.

So we cannot say that the OFA’s statistics represent the breed as a whole or even that the OFA stats are an accurate reflection of the rate of dysplasia in the breed. We can only say that the OFA findings are representative of the dogs that have been radiographed and whose films have been submitted to the OFA. Unfortunately, many owners who do radiograph their dogs are advised by the attending veterinarian NOT to submit the films to OFA and waste the money on an evaluation if it is clear that the dog will NOT PASS OFA’s screening. These same veterinarians are encouraging owners to submit ONLY those films they believe have a reasonable chance to ‘PASS’ evaluation. While this is an economically viable recommendation for the owner, it serves to undermine the accuracy of data available to compile breed statistics.

As owners and concerned breeders, we therefore must consider the OFA statistics, but realize that they reflect a ‘best case’ scenario for the breed. We cannot generalize from the data and assume the belief that “hip dysplasia is being eliminated from the Labrador breed.” There are simply too many Labradors out there who are not being radiographed for us to have a complete statistical picture of the occurrence of hip dysplasia in the breed. This is all the more reason for us as an Association to advocate for the radiographic screening of ALL potential breeding stock.

In addition to the well-known OFA scheme of evaluation for hip dysplasia, some owners are now choosing to have their Labradors evaluated by the Penn-Hip scheme. Penn-Hip has been the subject of an earlier article in this magazine by another club, and readers are referred to that article for a complete discussion of its method and results. As of now, OFA will share normal data with the AKC so that it appears on registration documents and certified pedigrees, and Penn-Hip does not share its information with AKC.

Regardless of the method of evaluation – Penn-Hip or OFA – the statistics clearly show that all Labradors need to be evaluated for hip dysplasia prior to being used as breeding stock.

Eye disorders in Labradors can include any of the following: retinal dysplasia, corneal dystrophy, eyelid disorders, cataracts, or progressive retinal atrophy – all of which critically impair the dog’s ability to perform the work for which the breed was developed. ULRA therefore strongly urges all owners to complete an eye exam at least bi-annually on all breeding stock AND to utilize an AVCO (American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists) certified veterinarian. The Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) will record that information and with the owner’s permission, share normal results with the OFA and the AKC. CERF also offers statistical reports (for a fee) regarding each breed and eye diagnosis.

One of the few truly ‘genetic’ tests that exists today for Labradors is the genetic marker test for the prcd form of PRA. It is quite pricey ($260 each test) and is offered by the Optigen company. Understanding the difference between a gene test perse and a genetic marker test is scientifically complicated, but the ‘simple understanding’ is this: a genetic marker test is statistically somewhat less reliable than a test of the actual gene itself.

Optigen reports indicate that a total of 228 Labradors were tested in the quarter ending September 30 , 2004. Of those, 7 were diagnosed as “Pattern C1” or probable affected dogs, who will transmit prcdPRA to their offspring. 51 were found to be “Pattern B1” or unaffected dogs who are probable carriers of the gene to produce prcdPRA. 170 were found to be “Pattern A1” or normal (unaffected dogs) who are not carriers of prcdPRA and not expected to produce PRA in their offspring NOR to develop it themselves. A list of the Labrador Optigen results is maintained and accessible via the Optigen web site. Owners must voluntarily submit results. Owners may also pay a nominal fee to OFA ($7.50) who will then list the Optigen results on the OFA data base.

The value of this expensive test for the Labrador owner is that the type of PRA with which Labradors can be affected – the prcd form – is a relatively late onset disease, often not appearing until the dog is past 3 years of age. By that time, many dogs both male and female have been used in a breeding program. Optigen testing for PRA allows owners to mate dogs of the B1 and C1 patterns to dogs only from the A1 pattern, thereby assuring that no affected offspring are ever born, and also to minimize the incidence of carriers in the population. The Optigen test had several ‘glitches’ in the early years of existence but through diligent work and lots of input and sample from concerned breeders and AVCO Diplomates, the test has been refined, and the labrador community in general is embracing this tool with open arms (if not seriously depleted pocketbooks).

Paragraph 3.d. of the ULRA Code of Ethics addresses some other health concerns in Labradors today and recommends further screening of dogs who come from extended families that have ever experienced any of these issues. Those health issues are: elbow dysplasia, heart disease, abnormal thyroid levels.

According to the elbow dysplasia statistics published by the OFA, Labradors fall 17^th in the prevalence of elbow dysplasia. Roughly 24,000 dogs have been evaluated. The percentage of affected dogs, again from among those whose x-rays were submitted to the OFA for evaluation, is about 12%. Most, 8%, of those affected are classified as Grade I dysplasia. When we compare the number of hip x-rays submitted – 156,000 for hips versus 24,000 for elbows – we see that only a fraction -- about one-sixth – as many are being evaluated for elbows are for hips.

Clearly, the Labrador community has not readily embraced the idea of testing for elbow dysplasia. This is due in part to the nature of elbow dysplasia – radiographic anomalies can exist as Grade I dysplasia without clinical signs being present. This leads owners to doubt the efficacy or usefulness of diagnosis. Additionally, many other countries health screening bodies endorse the judicious use of Grade I dogs in breeding programs. Notable among these is The Kennel Club in London. Therefore, getting owners to radiograph their Labradors for elbow dysplasia is often a ‘tough sell.’ However, ULRA does advocate the routine screening of all Labradors in breeding programs, especially where there are dogs with diagnosed problems or a history of problems in a particular bloodline. Our position is based on the function of the Labrador as a working gun dog. We simply believe it is the responsible thing to do to ensure that our working breed maintains it workability by creating new generations that are as healthy and sound as possible. The reader is referred to the OFA for a full discussion of elbow dysplasia.

Heart disease, notably Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia (TVD), is present in small numbers of dogs in our breed. The AKC Parent Club -- The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. – has sponsored continuing research into the incidence and heritability of TVD in Labradors. Their latest report contained in their Summer 2004 Newsletter states that there is a probable founder effect for this devastating disease, and that only one carrier parent is required to pass TVD to offspring. ULRA therefore urges any Labrador owner who even suspects that a dog is affected with a heart murmur to have a complete evaluation for that dog performed by a canine cardiologist prior to using or continuing to use that dog in a breeding program. Screening of pups by veterinarians prior to placement in the new homes can help to screen those pups who may have this devastating syndrome.

Last among the heritable conditions we consider is thyroid functioning. Owners are urged to have complete thyroid levels checked in any dog they or their veterinarian suspect may have compromised thyroid functioning. The ‘free T4’ analysis is the ‘gold standard’ for thyroid evaluation and is available via a simple blood test from laboratories serving veterinarians. The reason ULRA supports thyroid testing is that the effects of any malfunctioning can cause systemic reactions in a dog – from weight gain to skin difficulties to reproductive issues – and testing to eliminate dogs with thyroid dysfunction from a breeding program is so simple. Many of the problems associated with thyroid problems would interfere with the dog’s ability to function as a working dog.

In summary, ULRA believes that not every Labrador is suited as a candidate for breeding. All Labradors should be evaluated in several areas prior to using the dog in a breeding program. There are guidelines available to the Labrador owner when screening dogs, and ULRA is pleased to share its guidelines with any Labrador owner who wants to utilize them. They appear in the Code Of Ethics printed below.

The UKC Breeder’s Code of Ethics is hereby incorporated into the ULRA Code of Ethics.

The UKC Requirements for Breeders of UKC Registered Dogs is hereby incorporated into the ULRA Code of Ethics.

As a responsible Breeder of UKC Registered Labrador Retrievers, I will become familiar with the following checklist and use it as a guide to assist me in my breeding decisions:

2. The ideal is for every mating to improve the next generation. I will keep the Mission of ULRA – to preserve the Labrador as a Working Gun Dog -- in mind when planning matings.

3. Selection of mates should be based in part on the health status of each dog, using the following questions as a guide to help me decide which dogs are to be mated:

a. Is each dog a good specimen of the Labrador breed? This includes temperament.

c. Have both dogs been evaluated for commonly occurring diseases heritable in this breed?

d. Is it appropriate (because of family history or characteristics of this particular dog) to evaluate either dog for the less common heritable diseases in this breed?

4. Do I, as a breeder, have time to devote to this litter, remembering the following points?

5. Placement of puppies is important for the puppies and the future of the breed.

b. Will I have requirements, such as a fenced yard, for homes to meet before they can have one of my pups?

c. Will I place restrictions such as spay or neuter on the pups who are evaluated as pet quality or NOT of show or breeding quality?

d. Will I be available to assist in re-homing pups should that become necessary in the future?

The author is the President of ULRA. Membership information may be obtained from the club web site at www.ulra.net OR by contacting the Membership Secretary, Jim Scott at 738 Herbertsville Road, Brick, NJ 98724.