Regardless of where you purchase your PRT from, there are several things all new owners should be aware of, and some health test results that you must ask to see to ensure you are getting a healthy puppy.

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Currently in Parson Russell Terriers we conduct DNA tests for LOA, SCA and PLL - you must ask to see documentation showing the status of the parents. On this page I will try to give you as much information about these conditions, as well as the definition and implication of clear, carrier and affected dogs. 

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My personal belief is that all puppies should also be BAER hearing tested - this is a readily available test that any puppy can undergo from 5 weeks of age. All Riosset puppies leave with paperwork from the Animal Health Trust having had a BAER hearing test. 

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Late Onset Ataxia (LOA)

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Late onset ataxia (LOA) in the Parson Russell terrier (PRT) and Jack Russell terrier (JRT) is a disease of incoordination of gait and lack of balance. The onset age for the disease is usually between 6 months and 1 year of age, when owners may start to notice that their dog is showing changes in gait pattern (often weaving of the hind limbs) and some difficulty balancing. The disease is progressive and affected dogs become increasingly uncoordinated with difficulty balancing, which makes moving around and everyday tasks such as going up and down stairs difficult. There is no treatment or cure for LOA and affected dogs are often euthanized, typically around two years after onset, on humane grounds as their quality of life diminishes. The Animal Health Trust canine genetics research group has identified the mutation causing LOA. (Source Animal Health Trust)

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Spino Cerebellar Ataxia (SCA)

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The mutation for Spinocerebellar Ataxia with or without Myokymia and Seizures (SCA) was identified by the University of Missouri and a DNA test is available both through the Animal Health Trust and the University of Missouri. Affected dogs show signs of cerebellar ataxia as early as 2-6 months of age. At post-mortem examinations, degeneration can be found in the areas of the spinal cord that carry information to the cerebellum, hence the term spino-cerebellar ataxia. The coordination difficulties progress, but in addition other signs can develop. The majority of cases also develop myokymia, an involuntary twitching of the muscles. The myokymia also becomes progressively worse with age and can result in episodes of generalized muscle spasms and over-heating. In addition, a small percentage of dogs with SCA have true epileptic seizures, some as young as 10 weeks of age. Most dogs with SCA are also euthanized young due to poor quality of life. (Source Animal Health Trust)

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Primary Lens Luxation (PLL)

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Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) is a well-recognised, painful and blinding inherited eye condition that affects many breeds of dog, particularly terrier and terrier-type breeds including (but not restricted to) Jack and Parson Russell terriers. In affected dogs the zonular fibres which support the lens breakdown or disintegrate, causing the lens to fall into the wrong position within the eye. If the lens falls into the anterior chamber of the eye glaucoma and loss of vision can quickly result. (Source Animal Health Trust)

 

DNA Testing - Clear, Carrier or Affected

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CLEAR: These dogs have two normal copies of DNA and are likely to be clear of the disease.

 

CARRIER: These dogs have one copy of the disease associated mutation and one normal copy of DNA. These dogs will not develop the disease themselves as a result of the mutation but they will pass the mutation on to approximately 50% of their offspring. 

 

AFFECTED: These dogs have two copies of the disease associated mutation and have a very high chance of developing the disease.

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BAER Hearing Test

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Congenital deafness (deafness at birth) is recognised as a problem in many breeds of dog that carry the extreme piebald gene, demonstrated by a predominantly white coat. Deafness in these breeds can occur due to degeneration of structures in the cochlea. BAER testing can provide an instantaneous yes-or-no result through the assessment of the waveforms generated through the test.

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There is a lot more information about the BAER test here; 

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There is currently no DNA test to identify potential carriers of genetic deafness, so the only way to monitor is by having every litter of puppies individually tested. 

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