April 21st 2009

Xtreme Outdoor Gundogs works closely with a genetics expert advisor to ensure proper genetic cross matching and genetic health.

CNM
Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM) is a grave disease that has been a major concern in Labrador Retrievers globally since the 1970’s.
* When a dog is affected, it is very evident before it is four to five months old. The physical symptoms cause the dog to fall and stumble and have difficulty eating. They never move normally. Click here to see a video of a CNM affected dog

* When a dog is only a carrier, there are no physical symptoms and the Labrador will live a normal, healthy, CNM free life. The only way a carrier can be detected is if the (#1) The dog is tested or (#2) The Dog has produced a litter that has had an affected pup which also means in fact that both parents are definitely carriers. It is OK to breed carrier to clear but not carrier to carrier.
A carrier Labrador bred to a clear Labrador will have a litter with carriers, but no affected pups. It takes two carriers bred together to produce a litter with the potential of affected pups. If a dog produces even one affected pup, it is a carrier for sure. The CNM test is a tool that will enable breeders to avoid ever producing an affected pup. (Genetics are not absolute, variances can occur and are based solely on probability. However, following these standards, we can guarantee that there will be no affected puppies produced.)

CNM Testing Certification Levels:
There are three levels of certification issued by the testing laboratory:
1 - PIV - if the dog has been permanently identified in the form of tattoo or microchip and sampling certified by an independent veterinarian, or if the sample can been permanently identified in the form of a DNA profile to be compared with the DNA profile of the dog, a suffix of PIV is applied; This is the highest level of certification.
2 - PI - if the dog has been permanently identified in the form of tattoo or microchip but the sample was not certified by a veterinarian, a suffix of PI is applied;
3 - NOPI - if the dog lacks permanent identification and therefore the sample could not be certified by a veterinarian, a suffix of NOPI is applied.

You can search the CNM “White List” which lists all dogs that have been tested clear of this disease. www.labradorcnm.com

The CNM DNA mutation was identified, and a DNA test developed for it by Dr's. Laurent Tiret and Stephane Blot research teams, at the Alfort School of Veterinary Medicine, Paris, France.  

EIC
Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)

Click Here To See A Video Of A EIC Affected Dog

The Labrador Retriever world has changed considerably for 2009.  For the first time a commercially available test has been developed for Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) which has been found in both Show and Field Trial retrievers. 

Xtreme Outdoor Gundogs selectively researches and breeds only the best NFC, FC or AFC stud dogs in the country and make sure that all of our Dams have been tested for CNM and EIC to ensure that we only produce NON Affected puppies.

Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) is a disease that has been known to occur in some Labrador Retrievers where the animal loses rear muscle control and sometimes after 5 to 15 minutes of strenuous exercise can also result in collapse. Dogs with EIC are normal at rest and can usually tolerate mild to moderate exercise.

As of late 2008, we are now able to test dogs to completely exclude them from having this disease and are encouraging all Labrador owners/breeders/trainers to test their dogs along with all puppies as well to ensure a long healthy life from Labrador Retrievers.

Dog owners and professional trainers all over the world have recognized affected individuals for at least 20 years but have not had a name for the disorder. Veterinarians have speculated that the episodes might be due to low blood sugar, electrolyte (sodium, potassium or chloride) disturbances, heart rhythm abnormalities, or an inherited muscle disorder. Most owners report that during episodes of collapse their dog’s rear legs are floppy and unable to support weight. It is common for the dogs to continue trying to run while dragging their rear legs. Although rear limb signs are most prominent, during some episodes of collapse dogs will be unable to rise and may actually lose the ability to voluntarily move any of their limbs. Staggering and falling to the side or difficulty maintaining balance is common during recovery from episodes. Most dogs with EIC are mentally normal, but some dogs (25%) have had one or more episodes during which the owners report that they seemed dazed or confused.

Dogs with EIC (even if they are older or neutered) must always be considered to be at risk for an episode of collapse and should be carefully monitored . Owners and handlers of these dogs should make every effort to stop the dog’s activity at the first hint of abnormality. Symptoms typically worsen for 3 to 5 minutes after exercise has been terminated, so dogs with EIC should be closely monitored after exercise, not just put away in the truck or kennel. A few affected dogs have died during exercise or (more commonly) while resting immediately after exercise - these dogs have not always been recognized as severely affected dogs, so all dogs with EIC should be considered at risk for a fatal episode.

Once tested, the dog will be issued a lab identification number and designated as either clear, a carrier, or affected.
* A "Clear" dog does not carry any genes for the EIC disease. 
* A dog designated as "A Carrier" will carry only one gene from only (1) of its parents and is considered 100% healthy in all aspects and will never have the EIC disease. It is also 100% ok to breed these dogs. However, It is advised that these dogs should only be bred to clear mates to avoid affected puppies.
* A dog designated as "Affected" carries two genes, (1) from each parent and at some point in its lifetime it will be affected by the disease.  These dogs must be neutered or spayed and NEVER bred.

Generally, Symptoms of EIC are visible as young as 5 months of age but may also occur later in life.  The average age for symptoms to appear is 14 months of age but may vary.

Carrier dogs: one copy of the mutation
bred to a clear dog: 50% of pups clear, 50% of pups carriers*
bred to a carrier: 25% of pups clear, 50% of pups carriers, 25% of pups affected
bred to an affected: 50% of pups carriers, 50% of pups affected

Affected dogs: two copies of the mutation (You should NOT breed these dogs)
bred to a clear dog: 100% of pups will be carriers
bred to a carrier: 50% of pups carriers, 50% of pups affected
bred to an affected: 100% of pups affected

*puppies from carrier matings can be tested to determine which ones are clear and which ones are carriers

For further information regarding EIC you can look at:
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/VBS/faculty/Mickelson/lab/eic/eic_genetics/home.html

Breeding Concerns:
There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't breed a "Carrier" to a "Clear". There are many reasons that breeders choose to breed "clears" to "carriers" of this disease but should not be misunderstood. National Field Champion Bloodlines that would simply fade away, are preserved through critically studied genetics and "Bred Out" to ensure that all new puppies are completely clear of this disease. 

Xtreme Outdoor Gundogs selectively researches and breeds only the best NFC, FC or AFC stud dogs in the country and make sure that all of our Dams have been tested for CNM and EIC to ensure that we only produce NON Affected puppies.