Health test results for Galena

When the pups went in for spay/neutering back in January, Galena also visited the vet to get her hips and elbows x-rayed to assess their soundness. This is one of the essential health screening tests we do for breeding dogs, as hip dysplasia is a relatively common problem among both Labs and Poodles. By breeding only dogs with “Good” or “Excellent” ratings the goal is to reduce the incidence of hip and elbow dysplasia in the Labradoodle population. 

I am thrilled to report that Galena rated an “Excellent” for her hips on the official Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) assessment report!! (And “normal” for elbows, which are rated a bit differently.) As she is not yet two years old, this is a preliminary grade, but for pups aged 10 months and over the preliminary grade is a quite reliable indication of the soundness of the hips and elbows. The test will be repeated after she turns two, when she can receive a “final” grade.

The day after the hip x-rays were done, Galena went to a veterinary ophthalmologist for a CERF exam. This is an eye exam where the vet looks for any anomalies, problems, or issues with the eyes, similar to visiting a human eye-doctor. Galena’s eyes checked out as normal on all fronts – great news!!

 

The final required test is a thyroid check and full blood panel. These will be done in mid-March after she turns one, as that is the earliest point at which the OFA will certify the results. 

Assuming all goes well, 

we can expect Galena pups 

in summer or fall 2012!