PHPT in the Keeshond has an autosomal dominant mode of   inheritance. The test confirms whether a dog is ‘negative’ for the PHPT gene (clear) or ‘positive’ for the PHPT gene (single affected). There is no carrier state in a dominant mode of inheritance.

If dogs that are positive (single affected) for the PHPT gene are bred from they will pass a defective gene on to approximately 50% of their offspring if one parent only is positive, or approximately 75% of the offspring if both are positive. Research has shown that two positive parents can produce reduced litter sizes because there are some puppies that do not survive to birth. Only one positive parent is needed to pass the gene onto some of their progeny. The disease is known to have ‘age dependant ‘penetrance’’ which means that most or all animals that carry the gene will go onto develop the disease if they live long enough.

The DNA test does not identify the clinical disease but rather indicates the presence of the gene. This indicates the genetic potential to develop the disease later in life.  If both sire and dam are negative (clear) for the defective gene then the progeny will be hereditarily clear (negative by descent) as they cannot inherit what their parents did not have.

There is currently no official Kennel Club DNA testing scheme for this mutation in this breed. The Kennel Club has been notified of the DNA test results for the following dogs by individual owners. 

Tables listing Clears (in PDF format) are available from the following link:-

PHPT  Keeshonds - Clears

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Dog Health and DNA 

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