Health of the Drent
The Drentsche Patrijshond is fortunately a healthy, resilient breed. Drents often live into their teenage years with few complaints. This page is intended to serve as a resource for prospective and current owners, breeders, and enthusiasts to ensure that health is maintained!
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DISCLAIMER: the following is NOT a substitute for qualified veterinary advice, but to spread awareness about health concerns. Please consult your vet if your Drent shows signs of any medical problems, and report their findings to the ZooEasy registry to help further data gathering and research.
​In August 2023, population geneticist Dr. Pieter Oliehoek completed a Population Analysis Report for the Drentsche Patrijshond. This groundbreaking report focused on the breed's current genetic diversity status and strategies to preserve and maintain genetic diversity and long-term health in the Drent population.
The ADPA Breeder Best Practices were based on Dr. Oliehoek's work, and in alignment with the ADPA Pillars, and thus aim to reduce the incidence of diseases and disorders while maintaining as much genetic diversity as possible, to protect the Drent's long-term genetic health and viability. Please refer to those Best Practices for guidance on breeding for health; prospective owners may also use these Best Practices as guidance for what to look for from a breeder to ensure the best possible chance of a genetically healthy puppy.​
Breed-Relevant Health Concerns
Epilepsy
Description
Epilepsy is a disease characterized by the recurrence of unprovoked seizures, which can cause temporary muscle spasms, loss of neurological function, and incontinence, among other symptoms. More info on Canine Epilepsy Here.
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In Drents, idiopathic epilepsy (genetic/inherited epilepsy) usually presents by age 3, but the first seizure may occur as early as 6 months or as late as 6 years old. Fortunately, there have been only 3 reports of seizures among Drents in North America in the past 20 years.
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Testing & Treatment
At this time, there is no predictive genetic test for epilepsy. However, a promising research project is being conducted at Ghent University in the Netherlands to identify the gene(s) associated with epilepsy in the Drent.
A veterinarian can diagnose epilepsy based on a dog's symptoms and tests to rule out environmental or structural causes. It can be managed by medication but is typically incurable.
Hip Dysplasia
Description
Hip dysplasia typically develops because of an abnormally developed hip joint, but can also be caused by cartilage damage from a traumatic fracture. This breakdown of the cartilage may result in pain, lameness, and decreased mobility, depending on the severity of the abnormality. More info on Canine Hip Dysplasia Here.
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Hip Dysplasia is known to have both a genetic (inherited) component and an environmental component, and may also be caused or worsened by injury, overuse, or overweightedness. Hip Dysplasia is uncommon in Drents and has improved with decades of selective breeding.
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Testing & Treatment
Hip Dysplasia is typically diagnosed via radiographic (x-ray) imaging. Depending on the severity, it can be treated with or without medication or surgery.
Eyes
Description
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), causing early progressive blindness, once existed among Drents but has largely disappeared from the population due to selective breeding.
Persistent pupillary membranes (PPM) are occasionally seen in Drents. PPM are strands of remnant tissue that may bridge from iris to iris across the pupil, iris to cornea (may cause corneal opacities), or iris to lens (may cause cataracts), or they may form sheets of tissue in the anterior chamber of the eye. In most dogs, these tissue remnants cause no problems. The inheritance of this abnormality is not well defined at this time. More on PPM Here.
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Testing & Treatment
Eye disorders can be diagnosed by a physical exam from a veterinarian. Genetic risk markers for PRA can be noted via genetic testing such as via Embark Vet.​
Other Genetic Diseases
Description
In Drents, the genetic risk markers for von Willebrand Disease Type 1 (vWD1), Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), and Hyperuricosuria (HUU) occasionally appear on genetic testing reports from companies like Embark Vet. However, there have not been any officially documented reports tying any of those genetic markers to clinical symptoms in Drents.
Due to the breed's rarity, Embark Vet and similar genetic testing companies are working with a tiny data set of purebred Drents, attempting to fill in the "gaps" with genetic analysis from related breeds. Due to the limited data set, errors have been known to occur, such as one copy of the DM marker appearing on the genetic testing report of a dog with two DM-clear parents.
More data and more studies are needed to determine the relevance of these risk markers to the breed population; given current knowledge, the actual risk is considered low to none. If you have concerns about your Drent, please seek advice from your veterinarian and further diagnostic testing if necessary. If a diagnosis tied to a genetic marker is confirmed, please report that information to the ADPA and the ZooEasy registry.​
Elbow Dysplasia
Description
Elbow dysplasia describes an abnormality of the elbow joint. This abnormality may result in pain, lameness, and decreased mobility, depending on the severity. More info on Canine Elbow Dysplasia Here.
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Elbow Dysplasia is known to have both a genetic (inherited) component and an environmental component, and may also be caused or worsened by injury, overuse, or overweightedness. Elbow Dysplasia is uncommon in Drents, but slightly more common than Hip Dysplasia; unilateral (one-sided) dysplasia is more common than bilateral (both-sided).
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Testing & Treatment
Elbow Dysplasia is typically diagnosed via radiographic (x-ray) imaging. Depending on the severity, it can be treated with or without medication or surgery.
Allergies
Description
Allergies are uncommon in Drents, and symptoms are typically mild when they do occur. Allergies can present as itchy skin, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, chronic ear infections, constant licking, or other symptoms. More info on Canine Allergies Here.​
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Testing & Treatment
At this time, there is no predictive genetic test for allergies. A veterinarian can diagnose allergies based on a dog's symptoms and tests to rule out acute environmental, viral, or bacterial causes. Allergies can be managed by diet change and/or medication.
Dentition
Description
Missing teeth and malocclusions (abnormal positioning of the teeth and/or jaw) may be inherited, congenital, or caused by injury. Severe abnormalities of the teeth or jaw may cause pain, difficulty eating, and/or early-onset periodontal disease, but more milder forms may be only aesthetic in nature. More on Canine Malocclusions Here.
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In Drents, of dentition issues, missing P1 premolars are occasionally seen. Mild malocclusions may also be seen to a lesser degree.
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Testing & Treatment
Missing teeth and malocclusions can be diagnosed by a veterinarian based on physical examination, and if severe, may be treated with extractions or surgery.​
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​If caught during the eruption of adult teeth, minor malocclusions can largely be treated or prevented by the application of ball therapy or pressure on the tooth under the guidance of a veterinarian.