Overview of Canine Health Issues
We are fortunate in that Teddy Roosevelt Terriers are a very healthy breed overall. Some breeders have taken on the expense of making these results public by having them certified by The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Some have chosen to simply make copies of their health testing and examinations available upon request. Either way you will want to purchase your puppy from a breeder that can give you copies of the health examinations and testing for structural and genetic diseases.
The ATRTC promotes and encourages health testing as a means of protecting the health and future of our breed.
Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) is a painful and blinding inherited eye condition that affects many breeds of dog, particularly terrier and terrier-type breeds including the Rat Terriers family. A cheek swab submitted for examination will reveal the status of the individual. There have been affected TRTs, this testing is strongly recommended.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a spinal cord disorder that affects dogs. Symptomatic dogs progressively lose control of their hind end. DM, on its own, is not a painful disease. However, compensatory movements for a weak hind end can cause the dog to develop pain in other areas of his body such as his neck, shoulders, and front limbs. A cheek swab submitted for examination will reveal the status of the individual.
Cardio examinations should be performed by Veterinarians especially trained in this specialty. The examiner listens to the valves of the heart listening for any arrhythmias which may be present.
Patella luxation is a condition in which the patella, or knee cap is not properly held in place as the stifle joint moves. A veterinarian can examine the knees and grade the rate of luxation, if any. Patella luxation is treated as an inheritable condition, although it is multi-symptomatic and suspected to be poly-genetic.
Many clubs host Health Screening Clinics in which one or more health exams are offered at a "group rate".
To find a show near you go to http://akc.org and enter an event search.
The ATRTC promotes and encourages health testing as a means of protecting the health and future of our breed.
Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) is a painful and blinding inherited eye condition that affects many breeds of dog, particularly terrier and terrier-type breeds including the Rat Terriers family. A cheek swab submitted for examination will reveal the status of the individual. There have been affected TRTs, this testing is strongly recommended.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a spinal cord disorder that affects dogs. Symptomatic dogs progressively lose control of their hind end. DM, on its own, is not a painful disease. However, compensatory movements for a weak hind end can cause the dog to develop pain in other areas of his body such as his neck, shoulders, and front limbs. A cheek swab submitted for examination will reveal the status of the individual.
Cardio examinations should be performed by Veterinarians especially trained in this specialty. The examiner listens to the valves of the heart listening for any arrhythmias which may be present.
Patella luxation is a condition in which the patella, or knee cap is not properly held in place as the stifle joint moves. A veterinarian can examine the knees and grade the rate of luxation, if any. Patella luxation is treated as an inheritable condition, although it is multi-symptomatic and suspected to be poly-genetic.
Many clubs host Health Screening Clinics in which one or more health exams are offered at a "group rate".
To find a show near you go to http://akc.org and enter an event search.
