I have been impatiently waiting for the results of Stirling’s PennHIP & DNA tests, even though I have anticipated the return of normal results. Patience has never been my strongest suit, so once I have asked those questions I am dying for the answers. That is just me being me.
Now the results are starting to flow back, and I find it odd how the normal results are easily accepted and dismissed as of course they are …well, “Normal”. There seems to be no good reason to think on it further or to celebrate, as after all that is exactly what we expected. Right? Spot on: YES…
The first test to return was CERF: “Normal”. …Of course. Stirling is free of eye disease.
Two of Stirling’s DNA tests have been done through the OFA, and I just figured out how to access those results. Stirling is “Clear” for degenerative myelopathy (DM), which really was not a surprise. The result for Canine Multiple System Degeneration (CMSD, aka PNA) remains pending.
Today I got confirmation from PennHIP that Stirling has tight hips, and no sign of degenerative joint disease. Now that is great news. Although the breed is not especially known for affliction by this multifactoral degenerative disorder, knowing his status adds to my sense of confidence to promote Stirling’s agility career which has proven to be a rather physically demanding sport.
The other two DNA tests to return are Type I von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD I) and Factor XI deficiency, which are both coagulation disorders. No surprise that Stirling tested “clear” for vWD I. But I honestly did not anticipate that he would be a “Carrier” of Factor XI.
To my astonishment Stirling is a carrier; and with this being the genetic disorder that we tend to talk least about, I will certainly press myself to educate.
More to follow; No doubt…
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