Shiloh Health
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One of the elements that sets the ISSR Shiloh apart in dog world is the emphasis placed on health testing and rigorous assessment of planned breedings. Our breeders are expected to submit a breeding proposal for each suggested pair, this requires investigation of the lines, what we hope to achieve with the breeding, the possible outcomes good and bad.
An emphasis is placed on assessing genetic factors to ensure that our breedings more us ever closer to the breed standard and further away from inherited health issues which are common in many breeds today. Shiloh owners can play a huge part in protecting the breed they love by ensuring their dogs are tested at the appropriate age for a number of conditions. As Tina's LMX program proved the more information we have about our dogs, the easier it is to ensure their future by breeding only those that will give us the healthiest of puppies for future generations to enjoy. |
Stack your deck!
Though Tina recognised that breeding is never a sure thing she would encourage people to gather as much information as possible about potential breedings and make the best choice of pairings - stack your deck. Tina's LMX program and her concept of the shadow dog make breeding healthy dogs that much more attainable for our breeders. |
REDUCING HIP DYSPLASIA - LMX at work
Our initiative to reduce hip dysplasia began with our Breed Founder, Tina Barber, and her LMX (Litter Mate X-ray) program. 40 years ago, Tina realized that x-raying a breeding dog's litter mates in addition to the dog itself could give her an idea of how likely that animal was to produce good or bad hips. By using primarily the dogs with a large percentage of passing litter mates, Tina was able to substantially reduce hip dysplasia in the Shiloh.
Decades later, the LMX program has been an incredible success for the Shiloh Shepherd. In the database of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), looking at data collected over the most recent four year period, the Shiloh has only an 8.3% rate of dysplasia compared to 17.9% for the German shepherd dog, and the rate of excellent hips in the Shiloh is an impressive 13.4%--one in every seven dogs.
Our initiative to reduce hip dysplasia began with our Breed Founder, Tina Barber, and her LMX (Litter Mate X-ray) program. 40 years ago, Tina realized that x-raying a breeding dog's litter mates in addition to the dog itself could give her an idea of how likely that animal was to produce good or bad hips. By using primarily the dogs with a large percentage of passing litter mates, Tina was able to substantially reduce hip dysplasia in the Shiloh.
Decades later, the LMX program has been an incredible success for the Shiloh Shepherd. In the database of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), looking at data collected over the most recent four year period, the Shiloh has only an 8.3% rate of dysplasia compared to 17.9% for the German shepherd dog, and the rate of excellent hips in the Shiloh is an impressive 13.4%--one in every seven dogs.
IDENTIFYING GSDIVA - The Gracie Initiative
GSDIVA is a disease that causes potentially lethal arrhythmias in young dogs. It is invisible unless the pups are tested by having them wear a Holter monitor—an EKG that monitors the heart's impulses. GSDIVA tends to disappear as the pups age, making it impossible to detect after a certain point. Last year the Gracie Initiative, named for a young pup who had died as a result of a lethal arrhythmia, went live and rules went into effect to monitor ALL ISSR breeding dogs under two years old, and all potential breeding pups born after this point. Because all of our ISSR breeders work together under the direction of our Breed Warden, we are able to achieve 100% compliance with this vitally important program.
Over 80 dogs between the ages of 6 months and two years were monitored in just the first year of the initiative, data collected, and any affected pups removed from our breeding program.
GSDIVA is a disease that causes potentially lethal arrhythmias in young dogs. It is invisible unless the pups are tested by having them wear a Holter monitor—an EKG that monitors the heart's impulses. GSDIVA tends to disappear as the pups age, making it impossible to detect after a certain point. Last year the Gracie Initiative, named for a young pup who had died as a result of a lethal arrhythmia, went live and rules went into effect to monitor ALL ISSR breeding dogs under two years old, and all potential breeding pups born after this point. Because all of our ISSR breeders work together under the direction of our Breed Warden, we are able to achieve 100% compliance with this vitally important program.
Over 80 dogs between the ages of 6 months and two years were monitored in just the first year of the initiative, data collected, and any affected pups removed from our breeding program.
ELIMINATING DEGENERATIVE MYELOPATHY
Degenerative Myelopathy, or "DM", is a horrible disease that attacks the spine. It causes loss of coordination leading to paralysis and eventual death.
In 2010 a group of researchers isolated a main gene for DM and a DNA test was made available. All ISSR breeders began testing their dogs, and it was found that only a handful of carriers still exist in our gene pool. We anticipate completely eliminating DM from the ISSR Shiloh within a handful of years. In the meantime, our breeders now have the knowledge to avoid producing any pups with this disease.
Degenerative Myelopathy, or "DM", is a horrible disease that attacks the spine. It causes loss of coordination leading to paralysis and eventual death.
In 2010 a group of researchers isolated a main gene for DM and a DNA test was made available. All ISSR breeders began testing their dogs, and it was found that only a handful of carriers still exist in our gene pool. We anticipate completely eliminating DM from the ISSR Shiloh within a handful of years. In the meantime, our breeders now have the knowledge to avoid producing any pups with this disease.
THE GENETIC TASK FORCE
In addition to the programs above, the SSDCA has a Genetic Task Force (GTF) whose job is to track and assess the state of genetic disease in the breed, to keep up with current research, and to suggest possible future health initiatives.
To learn more about the GTF visit the web site - if you have a Shiloh please remember to fill out the health survey whilst your there!
In addition to the programs above, the SSDCA has a Genetic Task Force (GTF) whose job is to track and assess the state of genetic disease in the breed, to keep up with current research, and to suggest possible future health initiatives.
To learn more about the GTF visit the web site - if you have a Shiloh please remember to fill out the health survey whilst your there!