Glossary

Neuroaxonal Disease (NAD) is a condition of the nervous system that gets progressively worse as the dog gets older. Affected dogs typically begin to become unwell between six months and one year. Dogs are often put to sleep within a year of being diagnosed.

Affected dogs may walk in an unusual way, appear dull or nervous, vocalise a lot, not be able to stop themselves from going to the toilet, have problems seeing and could experience muscle loss.

The disease is described as an autosomal recessive condition. This means that a dog must inherit two copies of an abnormal gene (one from its mother and one from its father) before its health is affected. A dog that inherits only one copy of the abnormal gene (from its mother or its father) will have no signs of the disease, but will be a carrier and may pass the gene on to any offspring.

A list of laboratories and DNA tests can be found at the following link www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/for-breeders/dna-testing-simple-inherited-disorders/worldwide-dna-tests/

If, once your dog is DNA tested, you would like to find out what their DNA test results mean, or how to select the right mate to avoid producing affected puppies, then please read our breeding advice and information on the following link http://bit.ly/2oSbtnn.

The Kennel Club’s “Health Test Results Finder” allows you to find the results of DNA tests carried out as part of official Kennel Club DNA testing schemes for any dog on the Kennel Club’s breed register. To access this free health tool, please follow this link http://bit.ly/1jyCFnc.