Overview of Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
Health Issues
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 an autosomal recessive painful inherited eye
disorder where the lens of the eye moves from its normal position causing inflammation
and glaucoma. PLL results from a single base change mutation in the gene ADAMST17.
If untreated, the condition can rapidly lead to blindness. The disease is inherited in an
autosomal recessive fashion thus both sexes are equally affected. PLL appears spontaneously,
typically between 4-8 years, although both eyes are not necessarily affected at the same
time. PLL affects many breeds of dog but particularly terrier and terrier-type breeds. A
cheek swab submitted for examination will reveal the status of the individual. We do have
carrier dogs in our breed and we have had affected dogs in our past. Ensure your
selecting a breeder that is breeding away from mutation.
Chondrodystrophy (CDDY-IVDD) is a severe form of IVDD and is associated with a genetic
mutation in the FGF4 gene on canine chromosome 12. Dogs affected with IVDD have
premature degeneration and calcification of the cartilage discs that connect
the vertebrae and function as shock absorbers for the spine. In some cases,
these degenerative changes result in cartilage weakness and subsequent
herniation of the discs into the spinal cord, causing hemorrhage and inflammation.
Affected dogs present with a variety of neurological clinical signs including severe
back pain, abnormal gait, loss of balance, and limb weakness or paralysis, which often
requires surgical intervention. It is common for dogs which have been surgically treated
for disc herniation to experience a herniation in another location of the spine later
in life. Intervertebral disc disease associated with the CFA12 FGF4 mutation is
inherited in an Autosomal Dominant manner meaning that a dog only needs to inherit
one copy of the mutated gene to be at an increased risk of developing the disease.
Reliable genetic testing is important for determining breeding practices. Because
symptoms of IVDD do not appear until adulthood and because the mutation
shows Incomplete Penetrance, genetic testing should be performed before breeding.
In order to eliminate this mutation from breeding lines and to avoid the potential of
producing affected pups, breeding of dogs known to have the mutation is not recommended.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a spinal cord disorder that affects dogs. Symptomatic
dogs progressively lose control of their rear 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. Although this
marker is found in Teddy Roosevelt Terriers, to date, there has never been an identified
"affected" dog. Breeders should still, over time, breed away from this marker.
Cardiac Exams should be performed by Veterinarians especially trained in this specialty
after the dog has reached 1 year of age. The examiner listens to the valves of the
heart listening for any arrhythmias which may be present. If an anomaly
is discovered, additional testing is required.
Patella Luxation occurs when the patella (kneecap), which normally sits on the groove
of the femur (thighbone), shifts out of alignment. It can occur in one, or both, of the
hind legs. This movement occurs medially or toward the inside of the limb. 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.
All small breed dogs should be checked over 1 year of age and be graded prior to breeding.
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 an autosomal recessive painful inherited eye
disorder where the lens of the eye moves from its normal position causing inflammation
and glaucoma. PLL results from a single base change mutation in the gene ADAMST17.
If untreated, the condition can rapidly lead to blindness. The disease is inherited in an
autosomal recessive fashion thus both sexes are equally affected. PLL appears spontaneously,
typically between 4-8 years, although both eyes are not necessarily affected at the same
time. PLL affects many breeds of dog but particularly terrier and terrier-type breeds. A
cheek swab submitted for examination will reveal the status of the individual. We do have
carrier dogs in our breed and we have had affected dogs in our past. Ensure your
selecting a breeder that is breeding away from mutation.
Chondrodystrophy (CDDY-IVDD) is a severe form of IVDD and is associated with a genetic
mutation in the FGF4 gene on canine chromosome 12. Dogs affected with IVDD have
premature degeneration and calcification of the cartilage discs that connect
the vertebrae and function as shock absorbers for the spine. In some cases,
these degenerative changes result in cartilage weakness and subsequent
herniation of the discs into the spinal cord, causing hemorrhage and inflammation.
Affected dogs present with a variety of neurological clinical signs including severe
back pain, abnormal gait, loss of balance, and limb weakness or paralysis, which often
requires surgical intervention. It is common for dogs which have been surgically treated
for disc herniation to experience a herniation in another location of the spine later
in life. Intervertebral disc disease associated with the CFA12 FGF4 mutation is
inherited in an Autosomal Dominant manner meaning that a dog only needs to inherit
one copy of the mutated gene to be at an increased risk of developing the disease.
Reliable genetic testing is important for determining breeding practices. Because
symptoms of IVDD do not appear until adulthood and because the mutation
shows Incomplete Penetrance, genetic testing should be performed before breeding.
In order to eliminate this mutation from breeding lines and to avoid the potential of
producing affected pups, breeding of dogs known to have the mutation is not recommended.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a spinal cord disorder that affects dogs. Symptomatic
dogs progressively lose control of their rear 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. Although this
marker is found in Teddy Roosevelt Terriers, to date, there has never been an identified
"affected" dog. Breeders should still, over time, breed away from this marker.
Cardiac Exams should be performed by Veterinarians especially trained in this specialty
after the dog has reached 1 year of age. The examiner listens to the valves of the
heart listening for any arrhythmias which may be present. If an anomaly
is discovered, additional testing is required.
Patella Luxation occurs when the patella (kneecap), which normally sits on the groove
of the femur (thighbone), shifts out of alignment. It can occur in one, or both, of the
hind legs. This movement occurs medially or toward the inside of the limb. 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.
All small breed dogs should be checked over 1 year of age and be graded prior to breeding.
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.
