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All living things, including purebreds, can have innate medical
issues. This is not determined by whether or not a pet comes
from a pet store.
If a private breeder tells you his purebred puppy or kitten
is free of all congenital defects, then beware. The breeder
may not be screening for such defects. Some large dog breeds
are prone to hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip socket.
Other breeds may be prone to respiratory concerns. Like people,
some breeds of pets have increased susceptibility to cancer,
deafness and epilepsy.
One important key to obtaining a healthy pet is veterinary
screening. Please note:
- Petland-associated pet distributors work with established
breeders and veterinarians to screen for health problems.
- At least two and in most cases three veterinarians perform
health checks on Petland puppies and kittens before they
are made available to the public.
- Once housed inside a Petland store, Petland puppies and
kittens are again given a health check, this time by a local
consulting veterinarian.
- On a daily basis, trained kennel technicians also check
the health of Petland puppies and kittens. Weight, temperature,
eating and drinking habits are monitored and results recorded.
Any inconsistencies are noted and reported to the consulting
veterinarian for follow-up care.
- More and more Petland store operators, pet distributors
and breeders are now using pet registries committed to genetics
research.
The American Canine Association, www.acacanines.com,
also known as the ACA, has grown to be the largest veterinary
health tracking canine registry in North America. By tracking
the genetic health of breeding stock and offspring, the ACA's
goal is to reduce and help eliminate most congenital defects
found today. Giving advice on the health tracking policies
of the ACA are the nation's top veterinarians in North, Central
and South America. The ACA is based in Wilmington, Delaware.
The American Kennel Club, also known as the AKC, and its
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation gives generously
each year to canine research. Since being founded by the AKC
in 1995, the AKC's Canine Health Foundation has reportedly
donated millions of dollars for canine health research projects.
According to the AKC website, www.akc.org,
this research has led to several breakthroughs in such conditions
as cystinuria (a common kidney disease in dogs), von Willebrand's
disease (a blood disorder affecting many breeds), and progressive
retinal atrophy (an eye disease). Collaborative projects have
led to the development of the canine genome map, successful
gene therapy, and several genetic tests for dogs. According
to the AKC, the mission of the AKC's Canine Health Foundation
is to develop significant resources for basic and applied
health programs with emphasis on canine genetics and to improve
the quality of life for dogs and their owners.
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