I'm getting irritated.  I've been looking for a while for a long-haired chi breeder or a toy poodle breeder who do all the health tests they should, and can't find any.

My research indicates toy poodles should be tested for both types of PRA, Von Willebrands disease, patella luxation, and blood tested for thyroid function.  All I can find are breeders who DNA test for one form of PRA (and don't eye test for the other).  None of the ones I can find test for any of the other things.

The other dog I would like is a long-haired chihuahua.  Finding breeders who health test at all is darn near impossible.  Best I've found is one who tests for heart problems, but not for eyes.  The three big tests in chi's, I believe, are luxating patella, eyes, and heart.

Am I being over-zealous?

Can anyone help me?

Have you contacted breed clubs?

I was just wondering whether the info you have on required health tests is UK or US based?

Obviously a breed is a breed, but there are sometimes problems in specific populations not seen in other countries and if the bloodlines do not contain any common stock, say through imports then a specific problem may not be relevant.

Also re Patellas here in the UK there is no scheme or registry that lists patella results, but a GP vet can check a dogs patella's if there is concern, so there won't be any certification, but the breeder is likely to have had this aspect checked when they had the breeding stock at the Vets for their vaccinations etc.

Again with Thyroid we do not have a database or scheme for testing and ti is largely only tested for if an individual shows a problem that indicates thyroid trouble,a nd t hen of course the results would figure in a breeders breeding plans.

A bitch I bred that is now in the USA has recently just had all her OFA certs and they included Hips Patellas(which are not a breed problem), and Kidney function (which our breed in UK have decided to keep and eye on as other countries think there may be a problem).

Thyroid again is considered an Issue in the USA (I wonder if they see more of it because of the extra chemicals used on dogs for heartworm etc etc and the prevalence of early neutering).

So in USA they want Hips eyes, thyroid and Kidneys tested, in UK we are looking at hips and Eyes compulsory for club members with it suggested we check kidneys for monitoring reasons.  We have not had enough thyroid problems to suggest it is a problem.

What health testing do the British breed clubs advise?  If for all those above problems then maybe the club secretaries can find you the breeders that so them all.

I've tried the chihuahua breed club, they make no mention at all of any health problems on their website, and the toy poodle breed club doesn't have a website.

The information on health issues I got from here: http://www.napoleon.org.uk/health/poodlehealth.htm for toy poodles, which is a UK site.  I can't remember now where I got chi information from.

Does anyone know any good breeders of either then?  People you would recommend?

We have some Poodle owning regulars so hopefully someone can steer you.

Have you spoken to the club secretaries with you concerns.

Would there be anything on the Code of Ethics thread on the Breeding page?   Just a long shot!

Agree that is where the health testing is mentioned in my breeds website.

I dont have a toy poodle but have looked at toys and miniatures. They dont test for patellas and thyroid problems in this country and von willebrands is only really done is standards, where it is recommended.  As far as I can see. Its proving difficult to find a code of ethics, I might email the min club to ask them to put one on, I dont think toys have a website though. I admit I was surprised at the little tests done in the smaller varieties when standards have about four. And there isn't an SA test for mins and toys, is it not a problem in them? Soon one of our breeders will be here to reply with much more knowledge than me.

The KC pages have this -DNA Screening - prcd-GPRA Poodle (Toy) which may be of use to you

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=1492&d=pg_dtl_art_news&h=242&f=0