Health and English Cocker Spaniels
Every prospective ECS owner should be familiar with the health concerns of the breed. Although basically a healthy breed, just like in any breed or mixed breed, there are issues to watch for. Though there are no guarantees in life, responsible and reputable breeders will test their studs and dams for hereditary illnesses, and stand behind their puppies after they are in their new homes.
FN - Familial nephropathy. Dr. Lees at Texas A&M announced the fabulous news in May, 2006 that the gene for FN had been located.
OptiGen now offers genetic testing for FN - be sure to ask if your puppy or its parents have been tested. Only an affected (two copies of the FN gene) puppy will develop the disease - Clear and Carriers can never develop FN.
OFA - Orthopedic Foundation of America. Certifies x-rays of a dog's hips, elbows, etc. for normal structure. In ECS it is common to certify hips as being free of dysplasia (OFA fair, good, excellent). Many of us now also test for normal elbows.
CERF - Canine Eye Registry Foundation. Upon examination by a board certified veterinarian opthalmologist, a dog can be certified CERF normal for one year (free of cataracts, etc.).
OPTIGEN PRCD- A genetic test for the risk of a dog developing the recessive disease PRCD (progressive retinal degeneration, eventually causing blindness). ECS can carry a late onset variety. Optigen A1 or Normal means the dog does not carry even one gene for the disease; Optigen B1 or Carrier means the dog carries one gene but will not develop PRCD; Optigen C1 or Affected means the dog carries two genes and will in all probability develop PRCD, though it may be very late onset (ten years old or more). If the dog's parents were optigen tested and all their offspring have to be one status, the dog is labeled "presumed" (for instance, the offspring of an A1 to A1 breeding would be "presumed A1s).
BAER - BAER testing reveals a dog's hearing status. In many parti color breeds there is the risk of deafness. BAER testing will show whether a dog hears normally from both ears, is unilaterally deaf (in one ear only) or is bilaterally deaf (both ears).
