2003 American Belgian Tervuren Club Health Survey

The full text of the 2003 American Belgian Tervuren Club Health Survey is available for download below.

2003 ABTC Health Survey

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IF a dog has an OFA number this means that the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals has reviewed x-rays of the dogs hips and has found them to be clear of hip dysplasia, and assigned them a rating. OFA numbers are good for the lifetime of the dog.

PRA is a progressive disease of the retinas that leads to blindness. It is inherited, and has been diagnosed in Tervuren of a number of litters over the course of the past ten years and more, with new diagnoses made within this past year. Without a blood test, our breed faces a likelihood of increasing numbers of new cases of PRA. We are pleased to announce that we now have a wonderful opportunity before us

Having your beloved Belgian go under anesthesia can be a nerve-wracking experience. Understanding exactly what will take place and what questions to ask may help ensure your dog’s safety and your peace of mind.

The thyroid is considered a "master gland" as it is involved in so many metabolic processes in our dogs. While it may not be obvious when things are going well, if your dog becomes hypo or low thyroid, you can see a number of clinical signs.

Why is the elbow an important joint?

The dog carries about 65% of his weight on his front end. Not only do the front legs bear most of the concussion when a jumping dog lands, they also provide a good deal of the propulsion necessary to launch him into the air. The shoulder and elbow joints absorb most of the impact during movement. Those "turn on a dime" movements our Belgians are so fond of

*Objective*—To determine reference ranges for results of hematologic analyses of healthy Belgian Tervuren, to compare results of hematologic analyses for healthy Belgian Tervuren with results for healthy dogs of other breeds, and to determine prevalence of physiologic leukopenia in Belgian Tervuren.

Epilepsy Study

Idiopathic Epilepsy +

Ideopathic Epilepsy is one of the genetic problems that plagues the well-being of the Belgian Tervuren. It affects nearly 30… Read More
Developing a Genetic Marker +

History of the Study The following article was written by Anita M. Oberbauer, Ph.D. and originally published in the American… Read More
Analogy for a Polygenic Trait +

A simple poker game will be used as an analogy for the polygenic trait with a single locus of large… Read More
Clinical and Genetic Advances +

Inherited canine epilepsy is a major health problem in many breeds because of its high frequency and it potentially serious… Read More
AKC Grant Information +

Grant: Development of a Genetic Marker for Idiopathic Epilepsy in the Belgian Tervuren Principal InvestigatorCo-Principal InvestigatorsCo-Principal Investigators A.M. Oberbauer, PhD.… Read More
Be Part of the Solution +

Have we piqued your interest? Do you want to help us eradicate this disease from the Belgian gene pool? Well… Read More
Glossary of Terms +

Unfamiliar with terminology? Check out the glossary to learn more. Read More