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The CTCA instituted restrictions against inbreeding almost 30 years ago and today has the only mandatory restrictions against inbreeding in the entire dog fancy. We also have the only mandatory reportage of health issues. The CTCA devised and made mandatory written veterinary health tests for all year old CTCA Cotons before these dogs can be certified as "CTCA Breedable--Health tested Passed" or "Not Breedable, Must Be Neutered." No other Coton club or organization has any mandatory health tests. In fact, no other club even suggests that their breeders perform all these tests.
These are the health tests that the CTCA requires to insure the parents of your puppies are healthy, free of genetic disorders and that they meet the Standard for what a Coton de Tulear should be:
HEALTH TEST CTCA Code of Ethics Breeders Other clubs Eyes (lens, cornea, retina, vision)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. Testing suggested, but optional. Patellas (knee joint)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. Testing suggested, but optional. Hips (dysplasia; Legg-Calves Perthes)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. Testing suggested, but optional. Ears
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Dentition (proper occlusion, number of teeth)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Heart (rhythm, clearance)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Scrotum (normal testes)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Vulva (normal development)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Lungs (normal sounds, clear)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Umbilical development (hernia)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Nose pigmentation
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Eye ring pigmentation, skin
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Forelimb and hindlimb structure
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. (Hindlimb structure optional) Temperament
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Dimensions (length, height); weight
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Comprehensive Blood Chemistry
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Creatine
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Alkaline Phosphatase
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Total Protein
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Albumin
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Bilirubin (total)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. ALT (SGPT)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. GGGT
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. AST (SGOT)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Cholesterol
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Glucose levels
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Calcium
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Phosphorus
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Sodium
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Potassium
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Chloride
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. A/G ratio
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Bun/Creatinine
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Globulin
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Hemoglobin
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Hematocrit
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Blood Cell Structure
WBC
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. RBC
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. MCV
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. MCH
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. MCHC
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Platelet
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Absolute Polys
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Absolute Bands
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Absolute Lymphs
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Absolute Monos
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Absolute EOS
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Absolute Monos
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Physiological & Disease Tests
Brucellosis
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Thyroid series (Free T4 by Dialysis)
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Clotting time
Yes, CTCA mandatory testing. No. Bile Acid Test
Yes, to be CTCA mandatory test as of September, 2004. No. Recently, some breeders not affiliated in any way with the CTCA have been heard to brag that their Cotons are "cerfed" or that their dogs are in an "orthopedic registry" [such as the "OFA"]. That only means that their dogs have had their eyes tested and registered with the company CERF or that they've had their dog's knees or hips checked by a veterinarian and the results registered with the company OFA. This is of course good, but it leaves open to question the vast remainder of the dog's potential health issues (see above) that were not tested nor reported.
Please note that unlike dog show beauty contests, a "health test contest" is one competition in which if everyone were to be declared a winner, everyone--breed, buyers, breeders--would win. So here's a clear challenge to everyone who breeds a Coton anywhere in the world: print out the CTCA's Health Test forms and test your breeding dogs! Work within whatever organization helps sell your puppies to make these tests mandatory for every breedable dog in your dog organization.
For an in depth, understandable explanation of exactly what disorders all these tests are designed to diagnose, please refer to the "The Official Coton de Tulear Book, 2nd Edition" CD ROM, available from the CTCA; to learn more, please click here. To view the actual CTCA Veterinary Health Test forms, please click here.
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