At-Risk Genetic Testing:​

New DNA tests for genetic diseases are continually being discovered. 

Some of these tests do not determine definitively if a dog has a specific disease, they only determine if a dog has a mildly or moderately increased risk of developing the disease.  These diseases may have other causes so it is important to know that dogs that test clear may still develop the disease while dogs who test mildly or moderately at-risk may never develop the disease.  

​

We believe that all Brookhaven Labradors should be tested for these genetic variants/mutations to make informed breeding decisions,

Mayhem's test results are as follows:

​

Copper Toxicosis (Labrador Retriever Type is the body's inability to excrete excess copper resulting in chronic liver failure.

          - Type A Protective Gene - this gene protects against the genetic predisposition the Type B At-Risk gene. 

                    *Mayhem carries one of this gene and will pass the protection ability of this gene on to 50% of her offspring.

          - Type B - this gene mildly or modertely increases the risk of developing the disease.

                    *Mayhem carries one copy of the at-risk gene, her offspring will have a 50% chance of inheriting it.  Mayhem does not

                     carry an increased risk of developing this disease as she carries one A gene and one B gene, which negate each other.

​

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Labrador Retriever Type) is a Tissue Connective Disease, it is estimated that as many as 20 genes may                                                                                                                   carry the mutation for each variant.

          - Variant 1, Classic Symptoms, it is estimated that 1 in 5,000 Labradors are affected.

                    *Mayhem does NOT carry the at-risk gene, she & her offspring will not be at an increased risk towards the disease from her DNA.

          -Variant 2, is less severe than variant one but is rare, it is estimated that 1 in 25,000 Labradors are effected.

                    *Mayhem does NOT carry the at-risk gene, she & her offspring will not be at an increased risk towards the disease from her DNA.

​

Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (Labrador Retriever Type 1)

          - (Labrador Retriever Type 1) is a rare muscle disease in Labradors that appears around 3 to 4 months of age.  It is estimated that 1 in         

             100,000 Labradors are affected.  This disease has two variants, the second variant is a recessive trait so it provides a more definitive

             answer (listed under DNA Genetic Testing above).  Variant 1 is an at-risk trait, so a Labrador who carries one or two of the mutations may

             be affected or might not be affected.  It is possible that Labradors who do not carry this variant can still be affected. 

                    *Mayhem does NOT carry the at-risk gene, she & her offspring will not be at an increased risk towards the disease from her DNA.

​