HIP DYSPLASIA

According to the OFA, hip dysplasia occurs as a result of an abnormally developed hip joint. Any laxity or malformation in the hip joint will ultimately lead to arthritis and degeneration of the joint. This is a painful condition for the dog and can significantly impact their quality of life. Some dogs may not display symptoms or lameness, however disease is easily identified via radiographic evaluation. Overall, hip dysplasia is not a common issue in the Eurasier, however it is prudent to test for orthopaedic issues in all medium to large breeds. OFA reports that 96% of x-rays submitted for Eurasiers are passing.

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All Eurasiers should be x-rayed for hip dysplasia prior to breeding. OFA certification may be completed after 2 years of age. Ideally, only dogs with a passing score (OFA excellent, good or fair) should be bred. This is considered a required test for the CHIC program and for the Eurasier Club of Canada Code of Ethics.

✅ Cerasi Eurasiers screens all breeding dogs for hip dysplasia prior to breeding and is committed to only breeding dogs that have passing results. Results can be viewed on each dog's page and verified via OFA.

ELBOW DYSPLASIA

According to the OFA, elbow dysplasia encompasses three main diseases of the elbow joint, all of which lead to degeneration of the joint, arthritis and pain for the dog. Due to the nature of the elbow and that dogs bear more weight on the front end of their body, elbow dysplasia has the potential to be more debilitating for the dog. OFA reports that 95.7% of x-rays submitted for Eurasiers are passing. While still a very high passing rate, it does indicate that elbow dysplasia is potentially more common in the breed.

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All Eurasiers should be x-rayed for elbow dysplasia prior to breeding. OFA certification may be completed after 2 years of age. Ideally, only dogs with a passing score (OFA normal) should be bred. This is considered a recommended test for the CHIC program and required for the Eurasier Club of Canada Code of Ethics.

✅ Cerasi Eurasiers screens all breeding dogs for elbow dysplasia prior to breeding and is committed to only breeding dogs that have passing results. Results can be viewed on each dog's page and verified via OFA.

PATELLAR LUXATION

According to the OFA, patellar luxation is an anatomical deformity that causes the patella (kneecap) to luxate out of place, which can lead to soft tissue injuries to the ligaments, degeneration of the joint and arthritis. Depending on the severity, affected dogs may limp intermittently or the patella may be permanently luxated, causing significant mobility issues and pain. Mild cases are often asymptomatic. OFA reports that 93% of patellar luxation submissions for Eurasiers are passing, however the affected population is likely higher than what is recorded in OFA.

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All Eurasiers should be evaluated for patellar luxation prior to breeding. OFA certification may be completed after 1 year of age. Ideally, only dogs with a passing score (OFA normal) should be bred, however some circumstances may justify the use of a dog with Grade 1 patellar luxation. This is considered a required test for the CHIC program and for the Eurasier Club of Canada Code of Ethics.

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✅ Cerasi Eurasiers screens all breeding dogs for patellar luxation prior to breeding and is committed to only breeding dogs that have passing results. Results can be viewed on each dog's page and verified via OFA.

HYPOTHYROIDISM

The type of hypothyroidism that affects Eurasiers and is considered a heritable disease is autoimmune thyroiditis, which according to the OFA, is a presence of thyroglobulin auto-antibodies (TgAA) that ultimately damage the thyroid tissue and cause the dog to become hypothyroid. Elevated TgAA is often present before the onset of clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism, so it is important to test regularly. The OFA reports that most cases occur by the age of 4, however some dogs may experience a later onset. All Eurasiers should be screened regularly for autoimmune thyroiditis, not just breeding dogs. The OFA reports that only 72.3% of submitted thyroid panels for Eurasiers are considered normal, suggesting a particularly high incidence of this disease in the breed. Equivocal results should be repeated 6-12 months later before making breeding decisions.

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All Eurasiers should be evaluated for autoimmune thyroiditis before breeding. OFA certification may be completed after 1 year of age, and The OFA recommends repeating the panel at the ages of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 years of age. Only dogs with normal thyroid function and negative TgAA levels should be bred. This is a required test for the CHIC program, and the Eurasier Club of Canada Code of Ethics requires proof of negative TgAA within 24 months of a breeding, but does not require recording in OFA.

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✅ Cerasi Eurasiers screens all breeding dogs for autoimmune thyroiditis prior to breeding and at regular intervals thereafter, and is committed to only breeding dogs that have passing results. Results can be viewed on each dog's page verified via OFA. We perform the Idexx Comprehensive Thyroid Panel (Canine) and submit to OFA for recording.

EYE CONDITIONS

The most relevant eye diseases that are known to occur and be hereditary in the Eurasier breed are distichiasis, entropion, ectropion and glaucoma, however Eurasiers can be affected by some of the other conditions screened for in the OFA CAER exam. Generally speaking, if a condition is present, but does not affect quality of life for the animal or affect vision, these findings will be noted on the dog's exam, but the dog will still pass the exam under the "breeder option" notation. While the OFA recommends annual re-certification for breeding dogs, the most relevant conditions in Eurasiers are usually apparent if the dog is affected, so annual testing may not be necessary. However it is advisable to recheck the eyes periodically as the dog ages. 

The most frequent condition seen in Eurasiers is distichiasis, where eyelashes grow in irregular positions around the eye. Most case are mild and the dog does not experience symptoms, but occasionally it may be severe and sometimes require surgery. Distichiasis is considered acceptable for breeding as long as it is mild (1-5 lashes) or moderate (6-11 lashes). Moderately affected dogs should be bred to unaffected dogs and should be without clinical symptoms. This is considered a required test for the CHIC program and for the Eurasier Club of Canada Code of Ethics.

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✅ Cerasi Eurasiers screens all breeding dogs with the CAER prior to breeding and periodically thereafter, and is committed to only breeding dogs that have passing results. Results can be viewed on each dog's page and verified via OFA.

CEREBELLAR HYPOPLASIA

Cerebellar Hypoplasia caused by the VLDLR gene deletion, colloquially known as Dandy Walker-Like Malformation Syndrome (DWLM), is a recessive genetic condition first discovered in the Eurasier. It is a non-progressive disease that causes affected dogs to have mobility and balance issues, ranging from mild to severe. After a few affected litters were born in Germany, a genetic test was developed to screen breeding dogs and prevent affected litters in the future. As it is caused by a single recessive gene, it is easy to screen for and guarantee that no affected puppies will be born. Healthy carriers with one copy of the gene are acceptable for breeding, but only with a clear partner.

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This is considered a required test for the CHIC program and for the Eurasier Club of Canada Code of Ethics.

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✅ Cerasi Eurasiers screens all breeding dogs for Cerebellar Hypoplasia (DWLM) prior to breeding and is committed to only pairing dogs that will not produce affected puppies (clear to clear, or carrier to clear only). Results can be viewed on each dog's page and verified via OFA.

OTHER CONDITIONS

Some other conditions exist in the Eurasier breed that appear to have a degree of heritability, however there are no pre-breeding screening exams for these diseases. Pedigree analysis is the main tool for minimizing the risk of producing these issues, however sometimes these conditions may skip generations as the inheritance pattern is not known, and only clinical diagnosis can confirm if a dog is affected. Unfortunately, these issues generally happen later in life, after a dog may have already had offspring.

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• Bloat: This occurs when the stomach fills with gas and ultimately turns over on itself. This is a life-threatening condition. While the exact cause is unknown and many factors may contribute to its occurrence, scientific research has shown a potential genetic contribution. Dogs with first degree relatives affected by bloat should be bred with caution, and dogs that have bloated should be removed from breeding.

• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: This is an autoimmune condition that results in diminished pancreatic function in the dog, leading to digestive problems and weight loss. It can be managed with medication and digestive enzymes, but can be difficult to stabilize. Dogs affected by EPI should be removed from breeding.

• Other autoimmune conditions: While rare, the Eurasier can be affected by several other autoimmune conditions. These include diabetes, Addison's disease and irritable bowel disease. Dogs affected by any autoimmune condition should be removed from breeding.

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✅ Cerasi Eurasiers is committed to only breeding dogs that are clinically healthy, without any symptoms or prior history of significant or chronic diseases, including but not limited to those listed above. Cerasi Eurasiers is also committed to transparency in regards to the overall health of breeding dogs and will happily provide detailed medical histories to interested parties.

DENTITION

While not strictly a "health condition", Eurasiers can occasionally be missing teeth, and this is considered a heritable defect. The Breed Standard requires complete, normal dentition, and heavily faults or disqualifies a dog from competition, depending on which teeth are absent. Therefore, the dentition and bite should be checked carefully. Dogs that are missing "faulted" teeth may be bred with dogs with complete dentition, and dogs that are missing "disqualifying" teeth should proceed with caution. Dogs that are missing teeth due to accidental damage should not be faulted.

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This is considered a recommended test for the CHIC program.

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✅ Cerasi Eurasiers screens all breeding dogs for complete dentition prior to breeding and is committed to only breeding dogs with acceptable results. Additionally, our dogs are shown in conformation where their dentition and bite is evaluated by trained judges. Results can be viewed on each dog's page and verified via OFA.