Do both parents have a heart check for sub-aortic stenosis (SAS) by a Board-certified cardiologist?
Alaska does not currently have a Board-certified cardiologist. Breeders hold clinics yearly and/or take their breeding stock to the lower-48 for health checks. 12. Ask the Breeder: Have both parents been tested for thyroid disease? Thyroid testing is done at Cornell University and the University of Michigan. The OFA now provides a registry for thyroid screening. Screening for thyroid abnormalities should be done annually from ages one to six. **************************************************************** WARNING: Avoid breeders who say it is too expensive to test for the above clearances! **************************************************************** Ask the Breeder: What kind of congenital defects are present in this breed? What steps are you taking to decrease genetic defects in the breed? Avoid anyone who says none, or not in my dogs! There are genetic problems present in every breed. Ask the Breeder: Are both Golden parents free of epilepsy? Idiopathic epilepsy, which is hard t
