TEST for Inherited Retinal Dysplasia/OSD in Labrador Retrievers
and Samoyeds Retinal Dysplasia/OSD Background of Disease:
Retinal Dysplasia-retinal folds (RD) is a common clinical
observation in many dog breeds. Since many retinal folds are
benign and of unknown heritability, veterinary ophthalmologists
will often advise that breeding dogs with RD is an acceptable
option. However in two breeds, the Labrador retriever and the
Samoyed, RD is of much greater concern. RD in Labradors and
Samoyeds will cause a dog to fail a CERF examination, the
recommended annual eye examination that is done in North America
by certified veterinary ophthalmologists, diplomates of the
American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ACVO). In such
cases, breeding is not advised because RD in these breeds can be
an indication that the dog is a carrier of a serious inherited
syndrome called OSD (OculoSkeletal Dysplasia). OSD is a severe
condition in which the dogs show a variety of skeletal
malformations, including shortened limbs (dwa