What crucial step must responsible breeders take regarding Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)?
Answer
Utilize the existing genetic test to identify carriers
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a debilitating, progressive neurological disorder, and understanding its genetic basis is key for responsible breeding practices. Fortunately, a specific genetic test is available for DM. Ethical breeders must rigorously employ this screening tool to accurately identify dogs that are carriers of the genetic markers for the disease. By using this information during selection, they can actively choose breeding pairs that minimize the probability of passing this cruel condition on to subsequent generations, thereby working toward eliminating it from the lineage.
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