Goals of the Breed Health Committee

To assist in developing the Italian Spinone as a breed in the United States, to identify potential hereditary problems in the breed, to assess disease propensity in the breed, and to educate breeders and owners in understanding screening and treatment modalities for identified or potential health problems.

Why is breed health information important?

The Italian Spinone is considered a rare breed in the United States. The population of dogs in the U. S. in 1996 was estimated to be approximately 600 dogs. Although SCOA members continue to import bloodlines from the UK and Italy, genetic diversity remains problematic.

Good health information including incidence or prevalence of hip dysplasia, eye problems, disease predilection, temperament, etc. is not available. In order to keep the Italian Spinone an active, working, hunter and companion the health of the breed as a whole is critical to safeguard. Health must include such broad issues as proper conformation, temperament, desirable hunting traits, and hereditary diseases.

How will this information be used?

All information collected by the BHC will be considered confidential. Statistics based on the reported information will be provided annually in the SCOA newsletter. No information will be reported on an individual dog, owner, breeder, or regional basis. Information will be analyzed by age, sex, spay/neuter status, litter size, and health issue.

Currently the SCOA reports on OFA status of individual dogs. Other public registry information such as CERF reports will be reported by the SCOA as the Executive Board deems fit.

Issues and Concerns

Due to the small sample size of the current pool of Spinoni in the US, the data collected in the initial survey may not be indicative of any disease process or trend in the breed. It would be irresponsible to think that this initial survey could be used to include or exclude any one dog as a potential sire or dam without an extensive pedigree survey that would go back four to five generations and include similar health information. Nevertheless, in order to establish that quality of knowledge about the breed in the US, a survey such as this should be initiated. A successful health survey needs the full support of all members. With accurate input from each owner a late appearing disease such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy, epilepsy, or chronic hip dysplasia may be identified successfully.