When a person embarks on the road to breeding Japanese Chin, or anything for that matter, many things should come into thought. The most important thing for Pure-Bred ANYTHING is health. Then temperament and type. Whether a breeder shows their dogs or not, it is still their responsibility to produce the healthiest animals they possibly can. The first defense of this is testing breeding stock for aliments, diseases and syndromes, hereditary or otherwise.
Those who know me and those who do not find that I am very forthright in conveying to anyone who wants to buy one of our dogs, breed to one of our dogs, male or female. I do this for one reason, to allow that person the choice of being able to make a knowledgeable decision on adding one of our dogs to their breeding program.
We test our dogs and bitches for eye diseases, heart problem, immune problems and any testable hereditary problems.
Here you will find what tests we do and what any other responsible breeders SHOULD be doing.
Gangiosidosis in the Japanese Chin
Since 1985, gangliosidosis (GM2) has been found in the Japanese Chin. GM2 is a so-called storage disorder and occurs in two different forms. The GM1 gangliosidosis is caused by an inherited deficiency of the beta-galactosidase enzyme. In this form the neurological symptoms begin approximately at four months and proceed more slowly. With GM2 gangliosidosis the beta-hexosainidase enzyme is completely missing. The disease pattern normally appears earlier and aggravates quicker. Both forms of gangliosidosis have similar symptoms, they are evoked by completely different defects of the two specific lysosomal enzymes. These genetic defects are mutations and modify in the genetic code.
Now the important part, both of these diseases are autosomal recessive. The disease only breaks out when both formations of a critical gene are defective. The hereditary course of gangliosidosis follows the classic laws of genetics. An individual always inherits a gene from the Dam and one from the Sire. So a clinically healthy dog or bitch may be carriers. The month of November 2010, DNA samples were recruited from over 100 Chins from all over and tested for the presence of this mutation. Researchers from the University of Missouri found the mutation responsible for GM2 in the Chins. Carriers were found in this foundation survey and they were able to develop a DNA test for the Japanese Chin. It is important then and now to test your breeding dogs and bitches for this GM2 disease which is easily done through this DNA test. DNA test kits are available through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
Since symptoms can appear as late as two years old in the Japanese Chin and mimic other neurological or metabolic diseases such as canine distemper, liver shunt or low blood sugar it should be diagnosed by a neurological veterinarian who can aid in the diagnosis.
Symptoms start with mentally dull, they may not respond when called. They may develop a high stepping unstable gait. Their head my wobble especially when they try to drink or eat. As this disease progresses they become weaker and more uncoordinated. They become totally unaware of their surroundings and their quality of life deteriorates. This disease is not curable and always ends with death or euthanasia. But with simple testing it can be avoided.
As with all testing it allows the breeder to make an educated decision on breeding and with those informed choices avoid producing puppies with this inherited disease. It is only by using these tests available to breeders can Japanese Chin fanciers work together toward eliminating problems and diseases from the breed and maintain a genetic diversity with the many positive traits that endear these dogs to their devoted owners.
It is imperative that responsible breeders test their breeding stock and start advertising that they do test for GM2, patellas, thyroid, heart, eyes to help push other breeders less likely to do so.
CERF Eyes and OFA heart, patellas and hips. Thyroid and Von Willebrandt's Disease.