Medical, Genetic and Behavioral Risk Factors of Bernese Mountain Dogs

"This book (Bernese Mountain Dog) provides you with a through description and positive attributes of this breed includingorigin, purpose, history, normal heights and weights, acceptable colors and behavioral traits. Our booksdiff er from most books on dog breeds because this book also provides you with a comprehensive andauthoritative source of all the known predisposed hereditary health syndromes for the breed. You will findextensive references for each problem described. We also provide the breed club address for this breed anda list of laboratories and organizations that can provide professional help and information.As a small animal veterinarian, I have always been intrigued by the way dogs have been bred to filla purpose in life and further impressed that they also tend to love performing that service. Greyhoundsand other sight hounds are built for speed with aerodynamic bodies consisting of small head, deep chest,narrow waist and large leg muscles. On the other hand Dachshunds take their name from German wordsmeaning “badger dog” and they use their long nose, long body and short legs to both track, enter and diginto badger dens.After developing a practice that catered to clients with show dogs, my interest in each breed continuedto grow as I studied and observed more and more about the unique predisposition and incidence of healthproblems in each breed. Breeders of purebred dogs for show were a challenge and inspirational for me toresearch and help them with their unique health problems. Historically references to hereditary problemsare scattered throughout various Veterinary medical texts and journals such as ophthalmology, neurology,gastroenterology, cardiovascular and dermatology. This book, as well as the other books and articles I havewritten, is researched and compiled with the intention to provide both veterinarians and dog owners withcomprehensive and authoritative predisposition information under the breed name.At the date of this publication, The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation and theThe Kennel Club of England reports over 400 known hereditary health syndromes throughout the dogkingdom. At the writing of my fi rst book in 1983, less than 50 hereditary issues are able to be predictedand or diagnosed. Sequencing of the canine genome, DNA tests, metabolic testing including blood testsand urine testing; plus, phenotypic examinations such as radiographs, ultrasound, and CERF or OFA eyeregistry exams by a Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist have advanced the science of breed relatedhealth and behavioral problems.This book will provide veterinarians, researchers, pet owners and breeders with a comprehensiveguide to all the known problems veterinarians and dog owners should consider during pet selection andthroughout each life stage of our canine friends."