Knowledge is Key to Prevention
At Front Porch Animal Clinic, our comprehensive health screening tests help identify genetic and developing conditions before they become serious problems. From blood disorders to joint issues, our early detection programs provide valuable information for both pet owners and breeders, allowing for timely interventions and informed breeding decisions that promote healthier generations of pets.
Identifying Issues Before They Develop
Front Porch Animal Clinic offers screening for certain conditions and diseases, as well as for breeding purposes.
Von Willebrand’s Disease is a canine version of hemophilia, and it’s important you know if your dog has this condition before an emergency arises. Since it is genetic, many owners aren’t aware their pet has the disease until a minor injury occurs or their pet has surgery and there’s significant blood loss. Certain breeds are more prone to this condition than others, including German shepherds, German shorthair/wirehair pointers, Chesapeake Bay retrievers, Golden retrievers, Pembroke Welsh corgis, Poodles, Scottish/Manchester terriers, and Shetland sheepdogs. If you have one of these at-risk breeds, we highly recommend you have your dog tested.
Renal Dysplasia is a genetic disease that prevents the kidneys from developing normally, and dogs usually become ill before they’re a year old. Breeds most affected by this condition are Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers. Sadly, this disease has no cure and some dogs who don’t develop the condition are still carriers and can pass it to their puppies. Before breeding, we highly recommend you test high-risk dogs for renal dysplasia.
Hip Dysplasia occurs when the hip joint of a young dog becomes loose or unstable in some way. If this health issue isn’t identified and treated, it causes a wearing down of the hip cartilage and progresses until the dog has significant arthritis or degenerative joint disease. At Front Porch Animal Clinic, we can identify developing hip dysplasia and ensure your dog gets proper exercise as he or she ages. The earlier we diagnose the problem, the better it is for your dog’s future mobility and quality of life.
For breeding purposes, we offer OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Certification. We X-ray a dog’s hips for hip dysplasia and then forward the results to the OFA, where board-certified radiologists evaluate and grade your dog’s hips for certification. We also provide the PennHIP Method, which can be done at 16 weeks of age—much earlier than the OFA certification.
If you have questions about these screening tests or would like to schedule your pet for an appointment, call us at 970-702-2306.