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PLL ( Primary Lens Luxation) - The lens of the eye normally lies immediately behind the iris and the pupil, and is suspended in place by a series of fibers, called zonular ligaments. It functions to focus light rays on the retina, in the back of the eye. When partial or complete breakdown of the zonular ligaments occurs, the lens may become partially dislocated (Lens Subluxation) or fully dislocated (Lens Luxation) from the lens' normal position. Lens Luxation can lead to inflammation (Uveitis) and Glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure). This can result in painful, teary, red eyes that may look hazy or cloudy. Both Uveitis and Glaucoma are painful and potentially blinding diseases if not identified and treated early. PLL testing requires a DNA sample.

SCA (Spinocerebellar Ataxia) -The cerebellum is the part of the brain responsible for coordinating movements. Ataxia comes from a Greek term meaning "without order". When the cerebellum cannot coordinate movement, the dog can move, but the movement is poorly coordinated. They are not weak, in fact, often the movements a dog with ataxia makes are too strong. They have a goose-stepping gait and when excited or running, their legs may appear to be going every which-way. Sometimes they have problems with their balance and will fall frequently. SCA testing requires a DNA sample.

DM ( Degenerative Myelopathy) -Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. It begins with a loss of coordination (ataxia) in the hind limbs. The affected dog will wobble when walking, knuckle over or drag the feet. This can first occur in one hind limb and then affect the other. As the disease progresses, the limbs become weak and the dog begins to buckle and has difficulty standing. The weakness gets progressively worse until the dog is unable to walk. Tests results are: Normal, Carrier and At Risk. DM testing requires a DNA sample.

 CERF ( Canine Eye Registry Foundation)-The Canine Eye Registration Foundation was formed by breeders that were concerned about heritable eye diseases. The foundation worked with veterinary ophthalmologists to devise a yearly evaluation of breeding dogs, known as a CERF exam. The phenotypic appearance of each eye is evaluated during the exam and this does not imply that an ocular disorder will not subsequently develop. Therefore, dogs with phenotypically healthy eyes are cleared for one year of breeding, but there is no genotypic clearance. Breeding dogs may show phenotypic characteristics of an ocular disorder during a future CERF exam. CERF testing requires a physical exam. The major goal of a CERF exam is to stop breeding any dogs that display potentially blinding diseases including microphthalmia, cataracts, colobomas, progressive retinal atrophy, and retinal dysplasia. Breeding and potentially-breeding dogs are typically subject to a yearly CERF exam as the dog ages from about 4 months to 9 years.

BAER Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response -The hearing test known as the brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) or brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) detects electrical activity in the cochlea and auditory pathways in the brain in much the same way that an antenna detects radio or TV signals or an EKG detects electrical activity of the heart. The response from an ear that is deaf is an essentially flat line. Each ear is tested individually, and the test usually is complete in 10-15 minutes. BAER testing requires a physical exam and a hearing test.

NNA (Neonatal Ataxia) is a progressive, neonatal onset, cerebellar ataxia described in Jack Russell Terriers. Similar to other ataxias, clinical signs consist of intention tremors, loss of coordination, and inability to stand and move in a forward direction.

Clear/Normal - Indicates that testing found no indicators that the dog is a carrier or affected by the disease/condition being tested for.

  • Carrier - A dog that has only one copy of an abnormal gene for a recessive disease. Carriers are not typically expected to have any features of the disease but are at risk of passing on the disease to offspring if bred with another Carrier of the same condition.

  • Affected - the dog has two mutated copies of the gene and is at risk for developing the disease.

  • Normal By Descent (NBD) - means that either both the dam (mother) and sire (father) are both non-carriers or one parent and an ancestor of the other parent are both non-carriers. In the case of NBD, no actual test was performed.

Please not the following are not diseases but colors that can't be registered. Just as any testing its ok to breed a carrier to a normal and the offspring can be no worse than carriers and not affected.

B-Locus ( Liver Color)Phenotype: Black pigment (if present) is diluted to brown; red/yellow dogs have brown noses and brown foot pads.

B-Locus (Liver Color)

   Explanation of Results:

  • Dogs with B/B genotype are expected to express undiluted black pigment. They cannot transmit this brown variant to any of their offspring.

  • Dogs with B/b genotype are expected to express undiluted black pigment and are carriers of brown. They will transmit the brown allele to 50% of their offspring.

  • Dogs with b/b genotype are expected to express diluted black pigment. Black pigment (if present) is diluted to brown; red/yellow dogs have brown noses and foot pads. These dogs will transmit the brown allele to all of their offspring.

 D-Locus ( Grey/Blue Color)Phenotype: Base coat colors are lightened (diluted) to paler shades. For example, black becomes a gray-blue color (often called "blue" by breeders) and chocolate brown becomes a pale silvery red (often called "lilac" or "isabella").

D-Locus (Grey/Blue Color)

 Explanation of Results:

  • Dogs with D/D genotype are not expected to display dilute coat colors; they have no known dilution variants. They cannot produce dilute offspring or transmit any of the known dilution variants to their offspring.

  • Dogs with D/d1, D/d2, or D/d3 genotype are not expected to display dilute coat colors, but they are carriers of dilution variants. They will transmit the dilution variant they carry to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers of dilute variants are expected to produce 25% puppies with dilute coat colors.

  • Dogs with d1/d1, d2/d2, d3/d3, d1/d2, d1/d3, or d2/d3 genotype are expected to display dilute coat colors. They will transmit a dilution variant to all of their offspring.

Chart to explain Clear/Normal, Carrier, Affected

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