Health
Reporting & Testing
Report a Health Condition or Cause of Death
Cause of Death Register
Register the death of a Flatcoated Retriever
Upcoming events
Health Testing
BVA Canine Health Schemes - Recommendations for Flatcoated Retrievers, for further information please follow this link: Breed Health Testing Requirements.
Please click on the links below to read about specific schemes, if you have any queries regarding health testing please contact Liz Branscombe.
Elbows
Elbow scheme information: BVA Elbow Scheme
Eyes
Information on hereditary eye diseases in dogs. BVA Eye Leaflet
Eye scheme BVA Eye Scheme
Primary Glaucoma and Goniodysgenesis : BVA Primary Glaucoma Leaflet
PLA Grading Scheme: Click here
PLA grades and breeding advice: Click here
Subsidised Eye Testing of Older Flatcoats
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) advise that gonioscopy screening for Pectinate Ligament Abnormality (PLA) be carried out every three years. As evidence has shown that PLA can progress with age in some dogs, the Flatcoated Retriever Society will support the re-testing of older dogs by offering to subsidise the gonioscopy fee. Members can claim a reimbursement of £20 for gonioscopy examination of their Flatcoats aged 8 years and over.
To claim the reimbursement please email Liz Branscombe - [email protected] for a claim form.
Hips
BVA/KC Hip Scheme Information: BVA Hip Scheme
Hip dysplasia in dogs BVA leaflet: Click here
Patellar Luxation
The Health Sub-Committee are gathering information on Flatcoats that have been diagnosed with patellar luxation, including those that have received surgery, with a view to sending to an orthopaedic specialist for their evaluation.
If you have been in the unfortunate position of having your dogs diagnosed with this condition past or present, it would be appreciated if you could send us a 5 generation pedigree and complete the Health Report form:
The Flatcoated Retriever Society's Screening Scheme for Patellar Luxation
Health Testing of Imported Dogs
Please refer to Point 16 of the Society's Code of Ethics
Research Projects
Cancer Research
The Flatcoated Retriever Tumour Survey, 25 years on. An article by Dr Jane Dobson, Tess Hoather and Fernando Constantino-Casas from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge summarising their breed specific work has been published in the Veterinary Times (volume 46 No 27 p14- 18).
Please follow the links to view the article and the figures referenced within the text (in a separate document).
Cancer Research Reports
Jane Dobson's Cancer Research Report 2016
Jane Dobson's Cancer Research Report 2017
Jane Dobson's Cancer Research Report 2018
Jane Dobson's Cancer Research Report 2019
Jane Dobson's Cancer Research Report 2020
Jane Dobson's Cancer Research Report 2021
Jane Dobson's Cancer Research / Cause of Death Register Report 2022
Jane Dobson's Cancer Research / Cause of Death Register Report 2023
Flatcoated Retriever Histiocytic Sarcoma Research projects
There are two Breed specific projects being undertaken at Cambridge University.
The first is research to develop a blood test to diagnose Histiocytic Sarcoma in Flatcoated Retrievers. More information can be found on the link below:
Flatcoated Retriever Histiocytic Sarcoma research project
The second research project is aiming to understand the genetic basis of Histiocytic Sarcoma in the Flatcoated Retriever. More information can be found on the link below:
March 2023 Canine Genetics Centre Histiocytic Sarcoma project update from Cathryn Mellersh
DNA Research
AHT Glaucoma Research
Click here for the 2018 project report
Click here for the 2017 project report
Click here for the 2016 project report
Click here for the 2015 project report
Click here for the link to the 2016 publication
Click here for the Goniodysgenesis Publication 2013
DNA Archive at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre (KCGC), University of Cambridge (formerly at the AHT)
Cathryn Mellersh and her team at the KCGC are now located at the University of Cambridge. We have received confirmation that all samples previously archived at the AHT will be preserved for future use. The team at the Canine Genetics Centre are once again able to archive DNA samples from Flatcoated Retrievers for breed specific research. Please follow this link for further information about the archiving process.
The team would be grateful to receive updates to the health information for dogs whose DNA is already archived at the KCGC, this can be submitted can by completing and returning this form.
The Animal Health Trust (AHT)/Kennel Club (KC) Give a Dog a Genome Project
The AHT and the KC genetics centre launched a research project called ‘Give a Dog a Genome’ (GDG) the aim is to sequence the entire genome (2.4 billion letters of DNA) of 50 dog breeds. The resulting information will increase the ability to identify mutations which cause inherited diseases.
It costs approximately £2000 to sequence a genome however the 50 breed clubs who agree to join the project will be asked to contribute £1000 as the GDG work will be part funded by the KC Charitable trust. In 2016 the Flatcoated Retriever Society’s General Committee agreed to support the participation of our breed in this initiative by making a donation to the research project.