"Ooooooooooh, sometimes I forget
we have new folks who don't understand
some of our "code." Actually what
XXX is referring to is OptiGen test
results that tell the genetic make-up of
a dog specifically as it relates to prcd/PRA.
You can go onto OptiGen's web site at
www.optigen.com
and read all the information. Basically
prcd/PRA
is an inherited eye disease that can
cause blindness or reduced vision in
dogs. The OptiGen ratings are "Clear" =
Pattern A, "Clear" = Pattern B, and
"Affected" = Pattern C. Only Pattern C
dogs are the ones who MAY become blind or have
reduced vision. Most all the Eskies
within the show community are tested and
the breeders know which are Pattern A,
B, or C's. There are some rules of
thumb:
-
A Pattern "A" dog cannot produce a Pattern
"C"
-
A
Pattern "C" dog cannot produce a Pattern
"A"
-
Only
Pattern C dogs have reduced vision or
blindness from the prcd/PRA.
-
Pattern A and Pattern B dogs have normal
vision as it relates to this disease.
-
It
is a simple recessive. Both parents
would have to be carriers to produce an
affected. If you breed a Pattern A to a
Pattern A, you get all Pattern A's. If
you breed a Pattern A to a Pattern B
you'll get some of both but no Pattern
C's. If you breed two Pattern B's you
can get Pattern A's, Pattern B's, AND
Pattern C's. If you breed a Pattern B to
a Pattern C, you'll get some of both. If
you breed a Pattern A to a Pattern C
you'll get all Pattern B's - remember:
no Pattern A can produce a Pattern C and
no Pattern C can produce a Pattern A. If
you breed a Pattern C to a Pattern C you
get all Pattern C's.
Now, how that relates to your puppy: you
are a very lucky woman! Beam'r is a
Pattern A! Kajin is a Pattern A.
XXX knows that her best bet for a
mate for XXX is to get a Pattern A
female so that they will only produce
A's and B's.
In my kennel I have 23 Eskies: 3 Pattern
A females, 2 Pattern A males, 2 Pattern
C females, 1 Pattern C male, and the
rest are Pattern B's. It's a difficult, difficult situation but
we've only had
this test a couple of years and before
that we had only CERF exams to tell us
if our dogs were showing signs of
blindness. Unfortunately for the
American Eskimo, our breed has a late on
set of the disease, usually past 6 years
of age. That means we were breeding dogs
in their early years only to learn later
that they were affected. And we had NO
way to tell who the carriers were. We
made a lot of educated guesses back
then. Things are much better now that we
have the test.
Was this at all helpful?"
"Keep in mind that Pattern C's are
"genetically" affected. Not all
Pattern C's actually become affected
with blindness or reduced vision. I
have an 8 year old Pattern C girl
who sees just fine and is CERF-ing
normal still. So let's bear in mind
that these "ratings" are for what
the dog is "genetically." Just
because they are a Pattern C does
not mean they will be blind. A lot
of the Pattern C's are only reduced
vision dogs and some are not
bothered by it at all. But I have to
agree that Pattern C's should be
bred when the breeder is very, very
careful to assess other strengths
and balance it with a mate that will
lessen the effect of the disease:
i.e. a Pattern A."
