Pat said I gave INACCURATE information. Pat implied I said it was a genetic test. Both are incorrect. Had she suggested I simply say it isn't perfect, that would be fine. She didn't.
And flawed doesn't mean "you can't put ANY faith in the test." Anyone stretching "flawed" to that extreme is simply looking for an excuse.
But it is flawed in that it has not fully found which markers actually indicate for sure. It is flawed in that there are sometimes mess ups with the handling and hence done incorrectly (as is with ANY test). It is flawed in that it is a best we have but far from perfect and still being refined.
However, I absolutely believe that it is the best tool we have, a darned good one, and not using it is simply irresponsible for breeders. But it is also irresponsible to not say do the test, keep on strip testing, because it is not perfect.
As for Dr Gonto and when to begin, I can almost guarantee you he'd agree that while you should begin at LEAST by 3, the earlier the better. His protocol, 2003, says earliest is 3 yrs. But the Basenji health says 1.5 yrs old.
Cara is only a year, already doing them. I'd hate for her to have it and me wait many many months til she turns 3 to catch it, or catch it because symptoms occur. Yeah I know… if it happens it usually happens to my dogs so I just feel better testing earlier, not later.
