Petite Frenchies 

All of our dogs will be health tested before they will be scheduled to breed.

Health testing and color DNA testing will will help us determine the Sires they will be mated with.

The studs we choose for breeding will also have their DNA health testing done prior to breeding.

These are a few of the DNA health concerns that we test for.

We test for these through Paw Print Genetics and Animal Genetics.

CMR1 - Canine Multifocal Retinopathy 

  The mutation causes raised lesions to form on the retina which alters the appearance of the eye but usually does not affect sight. 

The lesions may disappear, or may result in minor retinal folding. 

Symptoms of the mutation usually appear when a puppy is only a few months old,and generally do not worsen over time. 

HUU - Hyperuricosuria 

  Dogs with this genetic mutation metabolize waste products as uric acid in their urine. 

The uric acid forms into hard stones in the bladder, causing pain and inflammation as the stone moves through the urinary tract.

JHC - Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts (HSF4) 

  Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts (JHC) are a clouding of the lens of the eye caused by a breakdown of tissue in the eye. 

This condition generally results in an inability to see clearly and can cause total blindness. 

In canines, cataracts are often familial; this type is known as Hereditary Cataracts.

 A mutation in the HSF4 gene causes this type of cataracts in several breeds of dogs. 

In this case, the dog is typically affected bilaterally, in that both eyes are affected by the cataracts. 

The cataracts associated with HSF4 also occur in the posterior region of the lens. 

They usually start by being small and grow progressively, though the speed of growth is highly variable. 

Some cataracts will grow so slowly that the dog's vision remains relatively clear, 

while others will grow such a way that the dog will quickly go blind. Corrective surgery is possible, 

though it is costly and is not always effective.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord of dogs. 

Dogs that have inherited two defective copies can experience a breakdown of the cells responsible for sending

 and receiving signals from the brain, resulting in neurological symptoms.

The disease often begins with an unsteady gait, and the dog may wobble when they attempt to walk.

 As the disease progresses, the dog's hind legs will weaken and eventually the dog will be unable to walk at all. 

Degenerative Myelopathy moves up the body, so if the disease is allowed to progress, the dog will 

eventually be unable to hold his bladder and will lose normal function in its front legs. Fortunately, there 

is no direct pain associated with Degenerative Myelopathy.

The onset of Degenerative Myelopathy generally occurs later in life starting at an average age of about 10-12 years. 

However, some dogs may begin experiencing symptoms much earlier. A percentage of dogs that have

 inherited two copies of the mutation will not experience symptoms at all. Thus, 

this disease is NOT completely penetrant, meaning

 that while a dog with the mutation can develop Degenerative Myelopathy,

 the disease does not affect every dog that has the genotype.