Health and Health Testing

Although our breed's genetics were intertwined with the GSD for decades, we have approximately 25% tighter hips on average than the German Shepherd Dog as per PennHip data (PennHip 50th percentile being ~.35 and .45 respectively in the WSSD and GSD). Our breed standard calls for a very balanced structure, with no topline slope desired.

At Moro we always test our breedstock for joint issues; hips and elbows and often patellas. We test through both OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) as well as PennHip. OFA assesses overall hip formation but cannot assess laxity. PennHip gathers information from three views and measures actual joint laxity.

The more laxity, the looser the joint, and the more likely that injury, arthritis, or dysplasia will present. In our opinion, any WSSD with a .50 or above should not be bred. We do not recommend purchasing a puppy from a breeder that does not PennHip their dogs.

For buyers evaluating breeders: ask to SEE the test results and ask for both OFA as well as PennHip.

Testing for elbow joint issues is done only through OFA. There is no PennHip equivalent test for elbows. Elbows can develop dysplasia just like hips, and our breedstock is tested prior to being bred.

Elbow issues can arise from injury (especially before 6–7 months when joints are still soft), improper nutrition causing too-rapid bone growth, or genetics. A large breed puppy diet prevents joint issues from overnutrition.

All of our breedstock has OFA elbow rating of "normal", which is the best rating given by OFA.

Multi-drug Resistance 1 is a gene mutation found in many herding breeds. The gene is responsible for producing P-glycoprotein, which transports certain drugs out of the brain. Dogs with a mutation in MDR1 may have severe adverse reactions to some common drugs, including seizures, tremors, disorientation, blindness, or even death.

A dog with two copies of the mutation will always be "affected." We will not have a dog with two copies in our breeding program. We will only breed a mutant/normal to a normal/normal, for eventual removal of this trait from the breed.

If you are not sure whether your dog carries the mutation, have your dog tested, or notify your vet to avoid affected drugs.

Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs, with onset typically between 8 and 14 years of age. It begins with loss of coordination in the hind limbs — the affected dog will wobble when walking, knuckle over, or drag the feet.

In our breed, the current test for DM is not necessarily accurate in determining whether a dog will actually get DM. We will not have a mutant/mutant dog in our breeding program, and any mutant/normal will only be bred to a normal/normal.

Von Willebrand's disease is a common and usually mild inherited bleeding disorder. Dogs with vWD bleed excessively when injured. Due to our breed's genetic history being tied to the German Shepherd Dog (who has a higher than normal instance of this disease), Moro tests for the vWD factor.

As President of the Berger Blanc Suisse Club of America, I am happy to report that Genoscoper has yet to come across a single case of vWD mutation in the White Swiss Shepherd Dog.

Moro tests for Hemophilia A due to the Swiss Shepherd's common ancestry with the German Shepherd Dog. This disease causes a tendency to uncontrollable bleeding from a deficiency of blood clotting Factor 8 (FV111). The FV111 gene lies on the X chromosome — any male with a defective X chromosome will be affected.

All confirmed published data on GSDs suffering from hemophilia in Europe traces back to one dog: Canto von der Wienerau (born 1968). At this time Genoscoper has no reported cases of White Swiss carrying any Hemophilia A mutations.

We also test for thyroid, patella, cardiac, and eyes as we deem necessary, to ensure those anomalies do not creep into our lines.

All of our current breedstock, over the age of 24 months, have had all listed health clearances performed to earn a certificate from the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC). As of October 2019, our Moro/Parsons stock are the only White Swiss Shepherds to have ever earned CHIC: Lucky, Natus, Lilith, Nova, Pallas, San, and Sif.

Forms for submission of health tests to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) — where you will submit all test results. All health tests performed will automatically be tabulated by the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC).

Oregon recommendation: Stayton Animal Hospital for OFA & PennHIP hip and elbow radiographs, basic cardiac, patella, dentition, and blood draw for OFA thyroid.

DNA testing: Wisdom Health's Genoscoper/Optimal Selection — formerly My Dog DNA, partnered with Genoscoper of Finland, offering ALL relevant genetic testing in one kit plus genetic diversity and worldwide breeding tools.

Eye testing: Must be done by a certified veterinary ophthalmologist. We use Dr. Sarah Maxwell in Corvallis, Oregon.