Cardiovascular Screening
In addition to examining necropsy results for deceased puppies whom we know are affected by Juvenile Cardiomyopathy (JCM), a great deal of useful information can be gained through consistent, repeatable cardiovascular testing. Not only can this type of testing potentially tell us more about JCM, it can also give us a broader picture of Manchester cardiovascular health and potentially lead to identification of a screening tool capable of assisting breeders in making breeding decisions.
In 2009, six individual dogs were tested at the University of Prince Edward Island as the first step toward building a baseline of information on Toy Manchester Terrier cardiovascular function. While the results of those tests are interesting, they cannot be properly interpreted in isolation. In order to fully understand what is normal or abnormal for a Toy Manchester, we must widen the scope of testing to include as many Manchesters as possible. Testing must take place in a consistent, repeatable fashion in order to be scientifically useful in identifying or eliminating testing tools, therefore strict screening guidelines have been identified for the purposes of the study.
The following links provide information on current screening studies, screening guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions.