All dog breeds, including non-pedigree cross breeds, suffer from inherited diseases. The Labrador is no exception.  The control of inherited disease is the responsibility of breeders, breed clubs such as ours, national kennel clubs around the world and the veterinary profession. But the Labrador owner or prospective owner has a part to play by becoming informed and asking the right questions when seeking a new puppy.

As far as inherited disease of the eye is concerned control has been, and for most diseases still is, based upon regular clinical examination, particularly of breeding animals. This is why responsible breeders have their dogs eyes examined every year by a specialist veterinary ophthalmologist.

In recent years veterinary research and study of the Dog Genome has led to the development of DNA based tests which can identify the genetic mutation that leads to a particular disease. This is now the case with one of the most serious of inherited eye diseases seen in Labradors – Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a degeneration of the retina that leads to a progressive diminishing of sight until blindness results – sometimes not until late middle age. Dogs can be quite normal on eye examination for years before the clinical signs appear. A slow decline towards total blindness then follows.

In June 2005, Optigen Corp, a United States company, brought to the market a DNA test for the PRA gene mutation. Labrador breeders in New Zealand were quick to take advantage of this and many sent blood samples to the USA for testing. Listed below are the names of New Zealand based Labradors that have been DNA tested for PRA and found to be Normal/Clear. This means they cannot produce affected dogs and are of great value for future breeding.

Balrion Living Image (IMP UK)	Sh Ch Balrion Black and Tan X Lymelyn Loose Living at Balrion
NZ Ch Blackboy Treacle Tart (Imp Aust)	Aust Ch Kadnook He’s a Huntz Man X Bagadash Shadow Dancer (Imp UK)
NZ Ch Charing Play Sweet Music	Suttonpark Playful at Rocheby (Imp UK) X Darrygine Hondoq (Imp UK)
Aust Gr Ch Charing Sail Away (Imp NZ)	NZ Ch Rocheby Sailing Along at Follytower (Imp UK) X Charing Fancy Me
Charing Whale Rider	NZ Ch Rocheby Sailing Along at Follytower (Imp UK) X Ch Charing Royal Request
Aust Ch Coningsburgh Celebrity (Imp Aust)	Aust Gr Ch Charing Sail Away (Imp NZ) X Coningsburgh Caylas Gold
Cornerstone Pg Abigail	NZ CH Strangways Ink Spot (IMP-AUST) X Northcape Go Petronella
Croftsway Dance With Me	Can.Ch Driftway Dare To Dance (Imp Aust) X Driftway Gold Locket (Imp Aust)
Int Ch Croftsway G’s Beulhaland	Ch Carpenny’s Burning Bush X Ch Croftsway Oprah the Star
NZ Grand Ch Croftsway First Knight	Ch Croftsway Komic Book X Roughfield Jacaranda
NZ Ch Croftsway Hot Pants	NZ Ch Driftway Royal Salute (Aust) X Croftsway Teeny Bopper
NZ Int Ch Croftsway Old Man River	Eng Ch Cambremer Tom Cobbley at Charway X Croftsway Xpress Bug
CH Croftsway  Oprah the Star	Eng CH Cambremmer Tom Cobbley of Charway X Croftsway Express Bug
Croftsway Quoting Miss Brown	Roughfield I Do I Do I Do X Costello Old Mama Brown
Croftsway Time for Jazz	Croftsway Xpectation X Croftsway Jazz Dancer (AI)
NZ Ch Croftsway Tis Tilly	Croftsway Xpectation X Croftsway Jazz Dancer (AI)
Isabella of Curragh	Estuary Gunnar X Southerly Quail Ridge
CH Driftway All Black	AUST CH Cambewarra Classic Gold X AUST CH Driftway Storm Cloud
NZ Ch Driftway Export Gold (Imp Aust)	Aust Ch Cambewarra Classic Gold X Aust Ch Driftway Camparri
Eastonpark Arwen	Ch Driftway All Black(Imp Aust) X Ch Lanmardic Maroochy
Estuary Gunnar	Guideline's Double Or Quits (Imp Swe) X Guideline's Wannabee Me (Imp Swe)
Gallybob Flapjack (UK)	Rocheby Old Smokey X Gallybob Adel
Gamefield Elendil	Fin Ch Loresho Ozzie (Fin) X Gamefield Spring Song
Gamefield Elessar	Fin Ch Loresho Ozzie (Fin) X Gamefield Spring Song
Glenstar Never Give Up	Croftsway Old Man River X Kupros Genievieve (Imp UK)
Glenstar Xtra Special	Poolstead Picture Book X Kupros Genievieve (Imp UK
Lymington Brambles Dream	Ch Croftsway Komic Book X Lymington Kosta Penni
Lymington Jenni Brown Bear	Lymington Purekireki Dudley X Lymington Claire-bear
Mistybrook Make Mine Mink	Balrion Ring Round the World X Southerly Wishes
Mistybrook Mad About Harry	Balrion Ring Round the World X Southerly Wishes
Mistybrook Miss Money Penny of Southerly	Balrion Ring Round the World X Southerly Wishes
Northcape Cr Black Diamond	Roughfield I Do I Do I Do X Northcape St Crystl Countess
Northcape GF Petronella	Highview Double O Seven X Baroness SJ Of Northcape
Ohakuri Silver Fern at Sandford	NZ CH Driftway All Black (Imp Aust) X CH Vittorina Of Ohakuri
Phenwick Port Royal (Imp Aust)	Aust Gr Ch Driftway Regal Oak X Croftsway Kiss & Tell (Imp NZ)
Poolstead Picture Book (Imp UK)	Eng Sh Ch Poolstead Pipe Smoker X Poolstead Palm Sunday
NZ Ch Portshellen Total Eclipse	FTCH & CH Sandford El Mirante X Roughfield Kiss Me Kate
NZ Ch Rosearl Prince William	NZ Ch Driftway Royal Salute (Imp Aust) X Kingsway Crystal
CH Roshana Strutt Ya Stuff......	CH Lissara Man In Black X CH Lissara Heaven help Us
Roughfield Hint of Spicza	Ch Roughfield Jack Be Nimble X Ch Roughfield Belle of the Ball
Roughfield I Do I Do I Do	Ludszka Cobbler (UK) X Aust NZ Ch Strangways Quick Step (Aust)
Roughfield I Have A Dream	Ludszka Cobbler (UK) X Aust NZ Ch Strangways Quick Step (Aust)
Roughfield Mac's Light at Kowhaipark	Ch Cambremer Royal Monarch (Imp UK) X Ch Blackboy Treacle Tart (Imp Aust)
NZ Ch Roughfield Jack Be Nimble	Aust Ch Gunnislake Tippler Jack X Ch Roughfield Kiss Me Quick
NZ Ch Roughfield Jumpin Jack Flash	Aust Ch Gunnislake Tippler Jack X Ch Roughfield Kiss Me Quick
Aust/NZ Ch Roughfield Kiss Me Quick	Cambremer Thatcher X NZ & Aust Ch Strangways Quick Step (Imp Aust)
NZ Ch Roughfield Mamma Mia	Ludzska Cobbler (Imp UK) X NZ & Aust Ch Strangways Quick Step (Imp Aust)
Roughfield Truffle-Spicza	CH Roughfield Jack Be Nimble X CH Roughfield Belle Of The Ball
Southerly Kings Go Forth	Am Ch Weathertop El Nino (USA) X Ch Southerly Alcyone
NZ Ch Southerly Midwinter	Aust & NZ Ch Sarasota Bad to the Bone X Ch Southerly Expat
Southerly Gift Me A Dream	Chocorua’s Southerly Seafarer (Imp USA) X Ch Southerly Midwinter
Am/Can Ch Southerly Outward Bound JH WC CGC	NZ Gr Ch Southerly ShadowX Ch Southerly Expat
Southerly Quail Ridge	Am Ch Chablais Barnswallow Rudolph X Ch Southerly Expat
NZ Gr Ch Southerly Undercover Agent	Ch Sarasota Second to None X Ch Southerly Midwinter
Tokoeka Northern Rata	CH Driftsway Woodsman (Imp Aust) X Tokoeka Instant Kiwi
Veralea Razzle Dazzle	Ch Roughfield Jumpin Jack Flash X Veralea Sorceress
Zenchel The Weatherman (AI) (Imp Aust)	Am Ch Weathertop El Nino (USA) X Aust Ch Charway Ballyclover   (UK)