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       Even the most stoic Australian Cattle Dog appreciates a cuddle with the owner he loves.

      Some dogs are deaf in both ears, some in only one. Puppy ear canals do not open until the puppies are around two weeks of age, so evaluating them should not be done until the puppies are five to eight weeks of age. BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) testing is an electrodiagnostic test that can be performed on puppies younger than this age, but limited availability of testing sites make this prohibitive in many cases.

      In the case of total deafness, there is a poor probability that the dog will enjoy a full and rewarding life. Most breeders will euthanize puppies that are totally deaf. Partial deafness, however, does not tend to be as devastating to the dog once he reaches maturity since the dog learns to compensate for his disability.

      Hip dysplasia (HD) is another area of concern. In this condition, the hip joint is misaligned so that the ball of the thigh bone does not sit correctly into the socket of the hip. Each time the joint is moved, bone rubs on bone, creating a painful and debilitating condition. In some severe cases, surgery can alleviate the dog’s discomfort, but it cannot create a new joint.

      Frequently seen in many dog breeds, HD must be identified via radiographic diagnosis by a veterinary expert. Sending the resulting film to an evaluating organization will result in getting the dog’s hips graded and his grades registered with that organization. The OFA, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, certifies various levels of HD and allots a grade of involvement to each case. There are other certifying organizations for HD in other countries. Since HD is hereditary, dogs with HD should not be bred, as the puppies will probably carry the problem as well. In short, only dogs who obtain hip scores that certify them as free of HD should be bred.

      Luxating patella is another name for dislocated knee joints. As with HD, the problem can be severe and is hereditary. Passing on this painful condition to the dog’s puppies is cruel. Therefore, dogs affected with patellar luxation problems should never be bred.

      Finally, we need to mention the degenerative eye disease known as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Sometimes referred to as night blindness, PRA causes the retinal cells to deteriorate so that the back of the eye no longer is capable of sending electrical signals to the brain. The nerves atrophy and the dog becomes blind.

      The onset of this condition is often observed when the dog stumbles into things at night and seems unable to get his bearings. During bright daylight, however, the dog seems to be fine. Unfortunately, there is no cure for PRA and the condition usually reaches its peak when the dog is between the age of four and eight years.

      A veterinary ophthalmologist is the only person qualified to test for PRA and can detect it in very young puppies. Both parents must carry the gene for PRA, but when only one parent carries the gene, it is considered autosomal. In that case, some of the puppies will show signs of PRA, some will merely carry the gene and a few will be clear of PRA. Therefore, buying a puppy from certified clear parents is the only way to assure yourself of having a dog with no potential for PRA.

      Despite these physical problems seen in Australian Cattle Dogs, they are a far cry from some breeds in which the reported health problems are counted in the dozens. The way to avoid these conditions to the best of your ability is to purchase your AuCaDo puppy from a reputable breeder who tests the parents and puppies for known health and hereditary problems.

      DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA?

       X-ray of a dog with “Good” hips.

       X-ray of a dog with “Moderate” dysplastic hips.

      Hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition found in pure-bred dogs. When a dog has hip dysplasia, his hind leg has an incorrectly formed hip joint. By constant use of the hip joint, it becomes

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