HEALTH TESTING
FOR OUR WHITE SWISS SHEPHERDS
AT NASHA COMANDA, WE STRIVE TO BRING YOU THE MOST HEALTHY WHITE SWISS SHEPHERD DOGS POSSIBLE. TO DO THIS, NOT ONLY ARE WE CAREFULLY SELECTING BREEDING PAIRS FROM HIGH QUALITY LINEAGE, WE ARE ALSO SELECTING DOGS WHO ARE TESTED FOR MAJOR GENETIC DISEASES (SEE BELOW) AS WELL AS HAVING JOINT EVALUATIONS CERTIFIED AS FREE OF DYSPLASIA OR DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE. PLEASE NOTE THAT CARRIERS FOR CERTAIN VARIANTS CAN BE BRED TO DOGS WHO ARE CLEAR FOR THAT SPECIFIC VARIANT DEPENDING ON THE INHERITANCE PATTERN OF THE TRAIT.
HIPS, ELBOWS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES MUST BE CERTIFIED BY A RECOGNIZED ORTHOPEDIC ORGANIZATION SUCH AS THE ORTHOPEDIC FOUNDATION FOR ANIMALS (OFA) FOR DOGS LIVING IN AMERICA OR ORGANIZATIONS WITH GRADING SCHEMES ACCEPTED BY THE FCI ( e.g. BVA, ANKC, JHAD, INCOC, etc) FOR DOGS THAT ARE LIVING ABROAD TO BE CONSIDERED FOR BREEDING IN OUR PROGRAM.
BELOW, I HAVE OUTLINED AND PROVIDED LINKS TO SOME OF THE COMMON ILLNESSES AND STRUCTURAL EVALUATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WSS. ALL OF THESE ILLNESSES ARE IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF WHEN OWNING AND CONSIDERING PURCHASING A WSS DOG. BEING A STUDENT OF BIOLOGY, AT NASHA COMANDA, WE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS MORE TO LEARN. WE ARE CONTINUALLY WORKING TO KEEP UP WITH RESEARCH ABOUT HERITABLE TRAITS (BOTH GOOD AND BAD), THIS LIST MAY GROW OR EVOLVE WITH TIME. SIGNIFICANT TRENDS IN DATA [BOTH STATISTICALLY AND PERCEIVED] ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. MY UNIVERSITY DEGREES AND STUDIES HAVE GREATLY PREPARED ME FOR THIS RESEARCH AND I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE TO USE MY EDUCATION AND RESOURCES THAT I HAVE ACQUIRED IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE ANALYSIS, AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS IN MY WORK TO BUILD A HEALTHY PROGRAM.
* ALL OF OUR BREEDING DOGS AT NASHA COMANDA ARE FREE OF DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASES AND ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THESE CONDITIONS MENTIONED BELOW. CARRIERS FOR GENETIC VARIANTS WILL ALWAYS BE MADE PUBLIC WITH THEIR OTHER HEALTH RESULTS. PLEASE SEE THEIR INDIVIDUAL PAGES TO VIEW THEIR RESULTS OR CLICK ON THE LINKS PROVIDED ON THIS PAGE TO VIEW DIRECTLY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US DIRECTLY WITH ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING HEALTH TESTING WE DO IN OUR PROGRAM, WHAT RESULTS MEAN/HOW TO READ THEM, FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT WE TEST FOR AND WHY...ANYTHING AT ALL. WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS HEALTH AT LENGTH.
* * PHOTOS PROVIDED BELOW ARE SAMPLE IMAGES FROM SOME OF OUR ACTUAL DOGS. WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO SHARE RADIOGRAPHS UPON REQUEST.
NASHA HEALTH
Please click these links to view the health testing of our dogs at NASHA COMANDA. Some dogs may not have all of the same registries or grading scales/schemes used to evaluate hips and elbows as we do in the US.
If you have any questions regarding the results or how to interpret them, I am more than happy to explain.
Please note that some dogs have what are called "preliminary" phenotypic/structural evaluations noted. They must be a certain age before x-rays may be submitted for official evaluation with the OFA. Most evaluations with OFA prior to 24 months are referred to as "preliminary" and are only a consultation.
All certifications and preliminary findings will be included on their pages.
females
stud dogs
MDR1
Multi Drug Resistance Mutation 1
ABCB1
EXPLANATION.
Some dogs and cats have a mutation in the MDR1 (multidrug resistance 1) gene also known as the ABCB1 gene, which plays an important role in limiting drug distribution to the brain and in enhancing the excretion of many drugs. Animals with the mutation may have severe adverse reactions – including tremors, disorientation, blindness, severe muscle weakness, and death – to some common medications.
MDR1 is most commonly seen in herding breeds including White Swiss Shepherds which is why we feel it is important to test for in our breeding dogs. -EMBARK DNA
DM
Degenerative Myelopathy
SOD1A
EXPLANATION.
DM is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the spinal cord.
The dog equivalent of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, DM is a progressive degenerative disorder of the spinal cord. Because the nerves that control the hind limbs are the first to degenerate, the most common clinical signs are back muscle wasting and gait abnormalities. - EMBARK DNA
RYR-1
MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA
EXPLANATION.
Monica C. Roberts, James R. Mickelson, Edward E. Patterson, Thomas E. Nelson, P. Jane Armstrong, David B. Brunson, Kirk Hogan; Autosomal Dominant Canine Malignant Hyperthermia Is Caused by a Mutation in the Gene Encoding the Skeletal Muscle Calcium Release Channel (RYR1 ). Anesthesiology 2001; 95:716–725 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-200109000-00026
Shoulder Osteochondrosis (OCD)
While the exact mode of inheritance is unknown, Osteochondrosis is considered to be an inherited disease. In affected individuals there is a disruption in ossification of the cartilage mold beneath the articular cartilage of the joint. This results in aseptic necrosis and when the weakened area collapses, the articular cartilage fractures resulting in lameness.
-Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
Cardiac Examination
congenital heart disease
The heart defect is present at birth. Signs of congenital disease are often seen at a young age, but in some cases, it can go undetected for many years. Congenital heart disease may be caused by a developmental problem that causes malformation of the heart as the embryo develops. This type of congenital heart disease may affect only a single pup in the litter. It may also involve a genetic or hereditary disorder, in which case the problem may develop in more than one pup in the litter.
*Note* ALL puppies produced at NASHA COMANDA have a cardiac examination performed by auscultation prior to going home with notes provided by our veterinarian.
adult-onset heart disease
Most occurs due to degeneration of the mitral valves over time, resulting in abnormal function. Some adult-onset heart disease can be due to a hereditary condition that progresses as the dog ages, eventually causing problems. The cause of most types of adult-onset heart disease is unknown, although genetics and lifestyle (weight, physical activity, and diet) may play an important role.
- VHA Animal Hospitals
STATISTICS
All calculations made using the total number of dogs tested for that criteria and not the total number of dogs produced. We can only use the data that is available. Unofficial data and opinions for orthopedic phenotypes provided by general practitioners are not included in these calculations (e.g. "family vet says the hips/elbows look normal"). Unofficial data may be noted under puppy names listed on the litter tabs but not in these calculations. OFA preliminary data is included in these calculations unless finals return failed results.
-Last updated September 2025.
Please see the tabs for each litter to see individual puppy and parent health data. Results will be updated with the addition of new data. The numbers below are derived from certified results only (unless noted) and are intended to facilitate transparency of our program as well as helping us track our accuracy in our goal to "always strive for perfection."
As a lover of numbers and the scientific method, I have many many spreadsheets filled with data analysis and notes...please feel free to reach out with any questions if you are left wanting more! To view certificates, please see the links above to our owned and co-owned dogs' health testing or ask us directly for more information. Some information may be redacted for privacy.
Total Number of Puppies Produced - 19
-
8 males • 11 females
Hips - 100% Free of dysplasia (OFA fair or better, FCI B or better)
Elbows - 100% Free of dysplasia (OFA normal or FCI 0/0)
Shoulders - 100% free of OCD
Dentition - 100% complete
Bite* - 100% normal scissor occlusion
Cardiac - 100% free from abnormalities - via echocardiogram and/or auscultation
Testicles* - 87% males free from cryptorchidism (currently 7/8 males)
PennHIP Average Greater Value DI = 0.41
-
(WSS breed average DI = 0.35 as of Sept 2025)
PennHIP Average Lower Value DI = 0.35
Hip with osteoarthritis (OA) noted on PennHIP radiographs - 0%
* This number comes from breeder examination, vet examination at the time of the health check (7-9wk), and/or from owner reports/updates to the breeder after they go home. This is the only data above that is not derived from officially certified results.