Health
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are essentially a healthy breed and with proper care will live a long and active life.
All breeds, however, are susceptible to inherited disease and the wheaten is no exception. The pedigree histories associated with pure bred dog breeding enables the identification of several heritable health issues.
The Club currently has a Health subcommittee that continues to work on approaches to health issues best suited to the Australian situation and these will be published on the website following membership approval.
Health Committee Report and Recommendation
The following report was approved by the Club at a Club Meeting on 20 August 2018.
In August 2018, the Health sub Committee of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Breed Club of NSW Inc published the following report.
Over the past several years the Health Committee has examined the recommendations and health reports from other countries with regard to our breed. These include but not limited to SCWTUK, Wheaten Health Initiative, SCWTCA and the Finnish Breed Health report.
From this and further discussions with breeders, vets, geneticists and research scientists, a number of recommendations have been agreed to by the Committee to present to the Club members for discussion, consideration and if satisfactory then approval.
As members of the ANKC and SCWTB Club of NSW Inc, breeders are expected to be breeding SCWT with the intention of maintaining and improving the breed. With this in mind the following recommendations are for consideration when breeding a litter:
1. The quality of the dog: temperament, structure and conformation;
2. That inbreeding is avoided (A sufficiently low COI is sought);
3. The dog and bitch have been health tested including but not limited to Hips, Elbows, Renal Ultrasound, Vet examination of eyes, Gene test status known for PLN and DM, Blood and Urine testing as appropriate;
4. These are recommendations and are limited as such for consideration by breeders.
End Report.
Other international groups also provide a good source of information on health.
In the UK
Wheaten Health Initiative
http://www.wheatenhealthinitiative.com
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Great Britain
http://www.wheaten.org.uk/index.php/owning-wheaten/health-well-being
In Finland
Look under the Breeding section
http://www.kerryvehna.net/index.php?page=215
In the United States of America
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America
http://www.scwtca.org/health/index.htm
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