Labrador genetic testing

[TeachMakan]

A friends Labrador had (surprise) puppies recently, after spending some time with a family member’s Labrador! We are considering taking one on. We are dog owners already and know the breed a little, but aren’t very familiar with the health issues.
Would you insist on genetic testing? They haven’t tested any of the family dogs and are not aware of issues.
Any thoughts welcome

Labradors have huge health problems, and having seen the heartbreak of a family members lab developing devastating problems at an early age due to poor breeding I wouldn't touch this 'surprise' litter with a bargepole

I would not touch a labrador without looking at health testing. I would also look at grandparents and great grandparents too but I need working dogs.

It may feel convienent to have a puppy from a litter of people that you know but could lead to heartbreak and a lot of expensive.

The Minimum tests that are required by both parents are :-

Hip dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)

Elbow dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)

Eye screening scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS)

From the KC website:

Priority health schemes and tests

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeders must use the following(or equivalent)schemes, tests and advice. All other breeders are strongly advised to also use these.

• Hip dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
• Elbow dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
• Eye screening scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS)- Find results for the pre 2020MRD open register.This only lists dogs that were diagnosed as 'affected by MRD'. MRD results published after 31 Dec 2019 can be found in theirHealth Test Results FinderentryImportant health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following(or equivalent)schemes, tests and advice.

• DNA test - prcd-PRA-part of The Kennel Club's CombiBreed package* (see below).Find a list oftested dogsor find a list of dogs tested with theprcd-PRA linkage testthat is no longer available
• Check inbreeding calculators

Surely no one believes the 'surprise litter' line anymore?

Anyway no, I wouldn't for a Labrador.

You could see what you can find out about relatives' test results. If all the grandparents of the litter were hip scored and the scores were low, you have fair odds of decent scores in the parents. If you can find out more about the health and longevity of other close relations, you can use that to inform your decision.

My older dog's parents (not labs) were not hip scored. I was willing to take the punt as her mother was about 6 and in work with no problems, and her sire was 10 and still working. I had her hip scored with a view to breeding and she was a whisker over the breed average, but still with a decent score.

Buying any puppy is a risk, and I'd want hip scores or good health info to minimise that.

I agree with everyone else - I wouldn't take on a Labrador whose parents hadn't had eye, hip and elbow tests.

I see so many labradors (and similar breeds) with bad joints and it's just miserable for them - I met one the other day that I thought was a doddery old boy - he was three!

He wasn't overweight either, he just had severe dysplasia in his hips and elbows. His owners were gutted as the poor thing couldn't run about or play and was basically stuck on a lead so he didn't make it worse.

Please don't risk it, you'll just be signing yourself up for a world of heartbreak. Young dogs with joint issues are not happy dogs.

Thank you all so much for your posts.
We wouldn’t have considered the breed but for the “surprise”. Thinking about it properly, if we were actively looking, then we would research properly and buy a dog which had passed the tests. Why should it be different in this case?
We won’t risk it.

Labs also have a tendency towards cancer.

See also the current “should I get a stud fee” thread. Someone needs to get these lab bitches in a room and talk to them about having unprotected sex while their owners aren’t looking!!!!!

Nope, I wouldn’t want a surprise lab. The owner of the bitch shouldn’t have let hers near an intact male whilst in season and in the event of accidental mating and pregnancy, they could have opted for a ‘mismate’ injection to terminate the pregnancy. It did not have to continue this is highly unlikely to be a mistake but intentional backyard breeding. Avoid.

As others have said labs (both parents) should be hip & elbow scored, annual eye tests and ideally DNA tested for EIC & PRA-prcd. Plus, the inbreeding coefficient should be considered.

No way on earth.

Litters should be planned because of inherited diseases. Accidental my arse!

As everyone said, no, because of all the inherited conditions that we are trying avoid in labs.
We would be classed as backyard breeders, as we decided to let our lab bitch have a litter, but we researched the sire and his line meticulously - and ensured our dam was in top condition beforehand.

(We're not having any more and we managed to con the lab puppy we kept into thinking that she was our Beauceron pup's mother a few years later)