GENETIC HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS FOR WEIMARANERS:
IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION AS THE WEIMARANER KLUB OF GAUTENG THAT THERE ARE
CERTAIN RISK FACTORS THAT THIS BREED IS GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED TO.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BREEDERS IN EUROPE , AUSTRALIA AND THE USA IS CURRENTLY TO
TEST FOR THESE CONDITIONS. DOGS MAY BE CLINICALLY HEALTHY, BUT CARRIERS OF THE GENETIC
MATERIAL. IF ONE OF THE BREEDING PAIR IS A CARRIER AND THE OTHER ONE NOT, IT IS SAFE TO
BREED. IF BOTH ARE CARRIERS, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND BREEDING WITH THAT SPECIFIC PAIR.
THESE CONDITIONS ARE:
1) HYM: (SPS) ALSO CALLED SHAKING PUPPY SYNDROME. IT IS HYPOMYELATION OF THE
NERVES THAT LEADS TO TREMORS IN PUPS FROM 2 WEEKS OF AGE, CAN RESOLVE BY 3-4
MONTHS OF AGE, BUT SOMETIMES PERSIST FOR LIFE. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS UNDESIRABLE IN
ANY WORKING BREED, AND CAN CAUSE DISTRESS TO BOTH ANIMAL AND OWNER.
2) HUU: PREDISPOSE TO ACCUMILATION OF URIC ACID IN THE BODY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO
URATE CRYSTALS FORMING IN THE URINS AND CAUSES KIDNEY AND BLADDER STONES. A
PAINFUL CONDITION AND CAN EVEN CAUSE RENAL FAILURE.
3) SD (NTD): SPINAL DYSRAPHISM: THE SPINAL CORD OR VERTEBRAE DON’T CLOSE PROPERLY
DURING DEVELOPMENT. THIS CAN LEAD TO ABNORMAL GAIT, HINDLIMB WEAKNESS,
URNARY OR FECAL IMCONTINENCE CURVATIURE OF THE SPINE, KINKED TAILS AND
DEPRESSED AWARENESS OF LIMB POSITION.
AS A CLUB THAT CALL OURSELVES CUSTODIANS OF THE BREED, WE STRONGLY ADVISE OUR
BREEDERS TO TEST FOR AND BREED AWAY FROM THESE GENETIC TRAITS.
IT INVOLVBES A SIMPLE BLOOD SAMPLE DRAWN FROM THE DOG AND SEND TO A TESTING LAB IN
PRETORIA, THE RESULTS WILL BE AVAILABLE WITHIN 5-10 DAYS.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND PROSPECTIVE DOG OWNERS TO ENQUIRE ABOUT WEATHER THE BREEDING
PAIR THAT THAT THEY PURCHASE PUPPIES FROM HAS BEEN TESTED FOR THESE CONDIONS.
