A breeder's guide to Beagle health testing
Sturdy and long-lived, this merry hound still carries a handful of inherited diseases that simple tests can catch. This VerifiedStuds guide explains the tests the parent club lists, the DNA tests worth adding, and what we require for the Verified Health badge.
The National Beagle Club of America is the AKC parent club. Its list, as published by the AKC, has five items:
Clearance
Who does it
Earliest final result
Hips
X-rays sent to OFA, or PennHIP
24 months (OFA)
Heart
Cardiac exam, registered with OFA
12 months
Eyes
Board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist
Any age; valid 12 months
Thyroid
Blood panel sent to an OFA-approved lab
12 months
MLS
DNA test for Musladin-Lueke syndrome
Any age
MLS is specific to the breed. Affected puppies have tight skin, stiff joints and an odd, tiptoe walk. Because it is recessive, a carrier bred to a clear dog produces no affected puppies.
NCCD: neonatal cerebellar cortical degeneration, which affects balance from a few weeks old.
Factor VII deficiency: a mild bleeding disorder that matters before surgery.
IGS: a fault in vitamin B12 absorption.
Lafora disease: a late-onset epilepsy found in some lines.
Hypothyroidism is common in Beagles. It usually appears in middle age and causes weight gain, a poor coat and low energy. Therefore, the club asks for a thyroid panel that includes autoantibodies, which can warn of trouble before signs appear.
Eye problems include glaucoma, cherry eye and several retinal conditions. As a result, the club asks for an exam by an ophthalmologist, and careful breeders repeat it yearly.
Brucellosis spreads through mating and has no reliable cure. Therefore, the AKC advises testing stud dogs every six months and females before each breeding. In addition, VerifiedStuds asks for a negative test before every booking. Read brucellosis in dogs for the details.
Ask for his registered name, then look up his results in the public OFA database.
Request the MLS result on a lab report, and compare it with your female's.
Check for epilepsy in his family, since most forms have no test.
Confirm his size. Beagles are shown in two varieties, up to 13 inches and 13 to 15 inches.
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What health tests should a Beagle have before breeding?
Hips, a cardiac exam, an eye exam, a thyroid panel and the MLS DNA test, plus a negative brucellosis test.
What is MLS in Beagles?
Musladin-Lueke syndrome is an inherited connective tissue disease. A DNA test shows whether a dog is clear, a carrier or affected.
Can an MLS carrier be bred?
Yes, to a clear mate. That pairing produces no affected puppies.
Do Beagles get hip dysplasia?
Yes, although less often than large breeds. That is why hips are on the parent club's list.
What does VerifiedStuds require for Beagle studs?
The five items on the parent club list, with a negative brucellosis test, for the Verified Health badge.
Sources: National Beagle Club of America, AKC Hound Group health testing requirements, OFA CHIC program.
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