Boxer Testing
Boxer Testing
Heart
Heart testing is very important. There are 2 tests we perform on all of our breeding dogs.
24 Hour Holter Monitoring
This looks for Cardiomyopathy. We monitor the amount of irregular heartbeats within a 24 hour period.
Echocardiogram/Auscultation
When performing the Echo, they check the size of the valves, the flow rates of the heart, as well as if there is a murmur and what the cause of that murmur is.
OFA Hips
We have radiographs done at our vet, and have them sent into The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). OFA then has their specialist examine them, and give them an official scoring. The score is based off the laxation of the hip socket, the shape and size of the hip joint and the function. These are based off the radiographs, so it is important your dog is in correct positioning and not moving when they are initially taken.
Since we are already at the vet, we have the elbows done as well, and sent off to OFA.
Thyroid
Thyroid is tested for Hypothyroidism in Boxers. It is a simple blood test ran from our vet office. Tests are run for TGAA (Thyroglobulin auto antibodies), Total T4AA, Free T4AA (by equilibrium dialysis), cTSH. (Optional tests include T3 and free T3)
DNA
DNA testing is the easiest, and first tests we complete. There is 2 tests, one for Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), and the other for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM).
ARVC affects the heart.
DM affects the spinal cord.