At-Risk Genetic Testing:​

New DNA tests for genetic diseases are continually being discovered. 

Some of these tests do not determine definitively if a dog has a specific disease, they only determine if a dog has a mildly or moderately increased risk of developing the disease.  These diseases may have other causes so it is important to know that dogs that test clear may still develop the disease while dogs who test mildly or moderately at-risk may never develop the disease.  

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We believe that all Brookhaven Labradors should be tested for these genetic variants/mutations to make informed breeding decisions,

Pandora's test results are as follows:

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Copper Toxicosis (Labrador Retriever Type is the body's inability to excrete excess copper resulting in chronic liver failure.

          - Type A Protective Gene - this gene protects against the genetic predisposition the Type B At-Risk gene. 

                    *Pandora carries two copies of this gene and will pass the protection ability of this gene on to all of her offspring.

          - Type B - this gene mildly or modertely increases the risk of developing the disease.

                    *Pandora carries one copy of the at-risk gene, she and her offspring have a 50% chance of inheriting it, however, as she 

                     will also pass the protection gene to 100% of her offspring, this negates the affect of this gene and her offspring will have

                     a normal risk.

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Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Labrador Retriever Type) is a Tissue Connective Disease, it is estimated that as many as 20 genes may                                                                                                                   carry the mutation for each variant.

          - Variant 1, Classic Symptoms, it is estimated that 1 in 5,000 Labradors are affected.

                    *Pandora does NOT carry the at-risk gene, she & her offspring will not be at an increased risk towards the disease from her DNA.

          -Variant 2, is less severe than variant one but is rare, it is estimated that 1 in 25,000 Labradors are effected.

                    *Pandora does NOT carry the at-risk gene, she & her offspring will not be at an increased risk towards the disease from her DNA.

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Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (Labrador Retriever Type 1)

          - (Labrador Retriever Type 1) is a rare muscle disease in Labradors that appears around 3 to 4 months of age.  It is estimated that 1 in         

             100,000 Labradors are affected.  This disease has two variants, the second variant is a recessive trait so it provides a more definitive

             answer (listed under DNA Genetic Testing above).  Variant 1 is an at-risk trait, so a Labrador who carries one or two of the mutations may

             be affected or might not be affected.  It is possible that Labradors who do not carry this variant can still be affected. 

                    *Pandora does NOT carry the at-risk gene, she & her offspring will not be at an increased risk towards the disease from her DNA.

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