The Kennel Club has approved a new official DNA testing scheme for Degenerative Encephalopathy (DE) in the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, following consultation with the Health Co-ordinator for the breed on behalf of the breed club.
To find out which laboratories the Kennel Club is able to record results from, and which labs will send results direct to the Kennel Club, please refer to our Breeds A to Z.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “Degenerative Encephalopathy in Tollers can cause progressive neurological issues, such as coordination problems, a sleep disorder, anxiety, hypervigilance and even aggression, and it can greatly affect the quality of an affected dog’s life. This DNA testing scheme will help breeders to make informed breeding decisions which could help to reduce the incidence of DE in the breed and give puppy buyers a greater chance of getting a healthy pet, so we are pleased to be able to offer it.
“We continue to work alongside breed clubs and breed health coordinators, in a collaborative effort to improve the health of pedigree dogs and we are happy to accommodate a club's request to add a new DNA test to its lists. We would normally need a formal request from the breed's health coordinator or a majority request from the breed clubs.”
Test results will be added to the dog’s registration details which will trigger the publication of the result in the next available Breed Records Supplement. The result will appear on any new registration certificate issued for the dog and on the registration certificates of any future progeny of the dog, and also on the Health Test Results Finder on the Kennel Club website. Results for dogs already tested can also be recorded, but owners will need to submit copies of the DNA certificates themselves.
If the owner includes the original registration certificate for the dog (not a copy) then a new registration certificate will be issued, with the DNA result on it, free of charge. DNA test certificates should be sent to Health & Breeder Services, The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London, W1J 8AB or scanned and emailed to us.
