Before breeding from your bitch, the Utonagan Club advises that you check with your veterinary surgeon, the Club and/or your dog's breeder to find out whether there are any possible inherited conditions that may affect your breed, for which there is an available test (e.g. hip dysplasia, eye conditions, blood disorders). There are several health schemes currently in operation to assist in the prevention or control of some diseases (including DNA tests), and where they exist, the Utonagan Club strongly recommends that both sire and dam are tested.

Before breeding from a dog or bitch, the Utonagan Club advises breeders to investigate whether there are any possible inherited conditions that may affect the breed.  Breeders can do this by discussing the matter with the breeder of their dog, or the Club.

Screening Schemes

There are several different types of screening schemes that can aid breeders in the detection of some inherited diseases or, in the case of DNA testing schemes, the presence or absence of disease genes. 

The Kennel Club runs clinical veterinary screening schemes together with the British Veterinary Association (BVA/KC Health Schemes) which aim to detect the presence of signs of the inherited diseases of hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and eye diseases and therefore help breeders to choose breeding stocks that are free of disease.

The Utonagan current breed average for hip scores is :-

 27

The genetic eye problem known to have occurred within the breed so far is:-

cataracts

DNA Profiling

The DNA Profiling Service that the Kennel Club offers is for identification and parentage analysis! The Utonagan Club recommend DNA profiling all breed stock.

Dog to DNA

If the terminology surrounding DNA testing or its application to dog breeding mystifies you, the Kennel Club article entitled Dog to DNA – A beginner’s guide to the molecular genetics of the dog may be helpful.

Blood Banking

The Animal Health Trust have been kind enough to offer Utonagan a blood banking service, this service is free and will aid in the future research of any genetic disorders within the breed.  Please feel free to request a form.