660News Pet Talk – Genetic Diseases
Posted Jun 18, 2013 2:02 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Veterinarians are learning more about genetic diseases in cats and dogs.
Scientists have mapped the canine genome… and are now on the road to determining the causes of genetic diseases in dogs.
One of the problems with purebred dogs and cats is that they all start from a very small gene pool.
C.A.R.E. Centre Medical Director, Dr. Danny Joffe tells 660News, developing a breed typically starts with three or four foundation animals, which makes genetic diseases very common.
As the science progresses, he says, there will be more screening tests developed to determine a pet’s risk for a certain disease. However, there are some available right now.
“A good example is a bleeding problem that’s common in Doberman Pinschers. We have a very good genetic test now to rule whether they have the disease, are they a carrier or are they free of the disease,” says Joffe.
Dr. Joffe says, breeders should check with their veterinarians to see what kind of risk their animals carry before making a decision.
