Schnauzer Health
Miniature Schnauzers are one of the healthier breeds of dogs but, as is the case with all living things, Schnauzers do get illnesses and some suffer from genetic and/or congenital health disorders.
If your Schnauzer is ill, or acting abnormally, take him or her to the vet promptly before the condition gets worse or, sadly, your pet dies. DON'T waste valuable time during which your Schnauzer may get sicker while you read the Internet.
Be aware that there is a lot of poor quality and outright incorrect veterinary advice on the Internet, often written by pet owners with no veterinary training. The following two Internet websites have veterinary health information prepared by veterinarians. Use them to learn more, AFTER having your Schnauzer seen by a qualified veterinarian.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx
Health Research and Genetic Tests
The MSCNC has long supported the efforts of the American Miniature Schnauzer Club to help eliminate genetic diseases in Miniature Schnauzers and to help find effective treatments for disorders found in the breed. MSCNC and its members have been—by far—the most generous contributors to the AMSC's Health Research Fund.
Information on Canine Melanoma
Information on Myotonia Congenita
Myotonia Congenita DNA Test
A DNA test for Myotonia Congenita became available from the Josephine Deubler Genetic Disease Testing Laboratory of the University of Pennsylvania on March 2, 2000. It was the first DNA test available for a disorder in Miniature Schnauzers. It gives Miniature Schnauzers the ability to completely eliminate Myotonia Congenita from the breed.
MSCNC recommends that ALL Miniature Schnauzers be tested for Myotonia Congenita before they are bred.
Each animal needs be tested only once during its lifetime. The cost of the test is $75 per animal, much less than laboratories are charging for DNA tests for disorders in other breeds.
On October 11, 2001, Dr. Urs Giger of the University of Pennsylvania reported that the Josephine Deubler Genetic Testing Laboratory had tested about 400 Miniature Schnauzers, and that more than 10% had proved to be carriers of Myotonia Congenita. He further reported that pedigree analyses suggest that most of the carriers are related to Ch. Blythewood Shooting Sparks, and that the test results provide evidence of this genetic mutation in Australia and Europe, as well as in the U.S. and Canada. As of April 2002, another affected and several more carriers had been found. As of October 2002, Dr. Giger reports that there are several carriers as to whom the lab does not have sufficient pedigree information to determine if they are descended from Shooting Sparks, but still none definitively established not be be descendants of Shooting Sparks.
Information on the DNA Test For Myotonia Congenita, including instructions on how to submit blood samples.
Type A Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
A DNA test for Type A Miniature Schnauzer PRA was developed by the Baker Institute of Cornell University and became available to breeders beginning in late October 2000. The test is offered through Cornell's affiliated testing laboratory, OptiGen.
OptiGen has reported that, through December 31, 2009, it had tested 136 Miniature Schnauzers for Type A PRA since the test became available to the public and that all had tested Type A normal, including 4 who had been diagnosed as affected with PRA.
We also know of a few animals who were clinically affected with PRA whose blood was tested while the test was being developed. All of them tested normal for Type A PRA. Cornell has advised us that the animals that tested as Type A affecteds or carriers (while the test was being developed) included both animals from its genetic bank and one or more animals presented at Cornell's eye clinics. However, we have no information as to the identity or pedigrees of any such dogs. Also, the research leading to the development of the test has not yet been published.
MSCNC has never believed that it was cost effective to test all Miniature Schnauzers for Type A PRA. MSCNC originally recommended testing only stud dogs who were expected to be used frequently and dogs with known PRA carriers close up in their pedigrees. In view of the fact that all of the 100+ dogs who have been tested since the test became commercially available have tested as clear of Type A PRA, MSCNC no longer recommneds testings, except as may be recommended by a veterinary opthalmologist.
Check the OptiGen web site for all the details on how to obtain the test, www.optigen.com.
Home | Meetings/Activities | Dog Shows | Officers/Board | Breed Information | Buying a Schnauzer
Puppies/Rescue | Rescue Dogs Gallery | Publications | Links | Legislation | Schnauzer Humor