Health Guarantee

Duck Creek Kennels is proud to say we are one of the few kennels in the country to test more than what is recommended in testing the health of our labs. Current recommendations from the Labrador Retriever Club are OFA hip, OFA elbow, OFA eye exams, EIC testing (exercise induced collapse), and testing for the dilute gene (D Locus DNA test).

Duck Creek Kennels goes above and beyond these recommendations by completing a FULL genetic panel from Paw Print Genetics (26 separate tests). Color Coat genetic testing, genetic testing for dilute gene, OFA hips, OFA elbows, OFA eye exam, and OFA cardiac exam for every lab that Duck Creek Kennels owns. By health testing our labs so thoroughly we can soundly say our labs are healthy.  

Duck Creek Kennels puppies will carry a 30-month health guarantee for the following Hip, elbows, and specific genetic diseases.

HIPS AND ELBOWS:

Hips will be certifiable through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) with a passing score of EXCELLENT, GOOD, or FAIR.

Elbows will be certifiable through OFA with a passing score of NORMAL.

Due to our efforts, we are confident offering the warranty that our puppies will be free of genetic hip and elbow dysplasia.

Research indicates dysplasia and other joint issues have three main causes: genetics, over feeding (and poor-quality food) and too much exercise at a young age (excessive stress on joints). Therefore, Duck Creek Kennels will not cover hip and elbow dysplasia or other joint issues due to but not limited to over-feeding, over-exertion on joints and bones, accidents/trauma, injuries, neglect, poor nutrition, etc.

·       The puppy/dog must currently be owned by the person/persons that made the original purchase.

·       For females, radiographs must not be taken within 30 days before or after her heat cycle or if pregnant.(we highly recommend testing your female 2 months before or after her heat cycle.)

·       The dog cannot have been bred intentionally or accidentally before testing occurs and between the times of testing and results of testing.

·       The puppy/dog must NOT have whelped or sired a litter.

·       The dog must not have been spayed/neutered prior to 18- months of age.

·       From the time puppy left Duck Creek Kennels to the time of exam; the dog must not be overweight (more than 5/9 on a 1-9 body condition scale, underweight (less than 3/9 on a 1-9 body condition scale).

·       The dog must be fed an appropriate large breed puppy or other growth-appropriate commercial dog food diet for the first 24 months of age. (The label on dog food should state “animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that provides complete and balance nutrition for a) growth, or b) all life stages of dogs.” Appropriate diets for growing large breed puppies contain calcium and phosphorous levels in the range of 0.8% to 1.2% by dry weight.

. Additionally, the Puppy/Dog should not be fed a Grain Free Diet. There also seems to be a connection between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

·       The pup/dog cannot have been treated with medications known to cause cartilage damage. Examples include enrofloxacin (Baytril), tetracyclines, TMS/SMZs.

·       All dogs must have exams done by a board-certified veterinarian with proper positioning and meet OFA standards.

·       The puppy/dog must not exceed 30 months of age at the time of the X-ray.  The OFA will accept X-rays for the evaluation of animals 6 months of age or older.  Only dogs 24 months of age or older, will be given certification numbers.

·       Hips and elbows cannot be accurately evaluated for genetic hip defects prior to the age of 2 years; therefore, we do not honor preliminary exams. 

·       OFA will be the sole judge regarding hip and elbow dysplasia.

·       The guarantee is for genetic hip and elbow dysplasia only and not damage due to internal or external physical injury or from any kind of mistreatment, malnutrition (too much food or poor-quality food) or excessive stress on joints.

·       Vet, sedation, X-ray, and OFA fees are your responsibility.

·       If a dog is diagnosed dysplastic after 24 months of age and before 30 months of age, a copy of the X-rays and the OFA report must be submitted to us. Additionally, a complete copy of ALL vet records from time the puppy/dog left Duck Creek Kennels up to the day of OFA reports must be submitted to us for review. Finally, Duck Creek Kennels may ask for proof of dog food feed to the puppy/dog (Including but not limited to receipts of purchase or vet documentation).The dog must be proven to be genetically dysplastic.

·       Upon receipt of hip/elbow films and consultation, Duck Creek Kennels reserves the right to a second opinion of their choosing of the dog’s hips and/or elbows, including another set of films, at the buyer’s expense.

·       If the OFA states that this puppy/dog will not pass certification before 30 months of age, we will replace the puppy/dog with a puppy/dog of equal value as soon as one is available. If you choose to receive a puppy of higher breeding and/or price, the price of the dog covered by this guarantee will apply towards the higher price of the new puppy. The balance of the higher priced puppy will be paid by the buyer of the replacement puppy before replacement puppy is obtained. If the puppy/dog is found to be dysplastic, you must have the puppy/dog spayed or neutered by your veterinarian and have him/her send us a letter of verification. Or the original dog purchased must be returned to Duck Creek Kennels at the owner’s expense. Additionally, this MUST be done before replacement puppy is provided to buyer.

·       Original deposits are non-refundable, and no money will be refunded.

Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee

Because of our efforts and testing of our dogs, we guarantee that all Duck Creek Kennels puppies will be genetically UNAFFECTED of Centronuclear Myopathy PTPLA, Cone Degeneration (Labrador Retriever Type) CNGA3, Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (Labrador Retriever Type) COLQ, Cystinuria (Labrador Retriever Type) SLC3A1, Degenerative Myelopathy SOD1, Elliptocytosis SPTB, Exercise-Induced Collapse DNM1, Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis SUV39H2, Hyperuricosuria SLC2A9, Ichthyosis (Golden Retriever Type) PNPLA1, Macular Corneal Dystrophy (Labrador Retriever Type) CHST6, Myotubular Myopathy 1 MTM1,  Narcolepsy (Labrador Retriever Type) HCRTR2, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Cone-Rod Dystrophy 4 RPGRIP1, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Golden Retriever 2 TTC8, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration PRCD, Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (Labrador Retriever Type) PKLR, Retinal Dysplasia/Oculoskeletal Dysplasia 1 COL9A3, Skeletal Dysplasia 2 COL11A2,  Stargardt Disease ABCA4, and D-Locus (dilute).

Furthermore, we guarantee that all Duck Creek Kennel puppies will be clear of EIC (exercise induced collapse), Centronuclear Myopathy, prcd-PRA, and the dilute gene (D Locus). These are current recommendations from the Labrador Retriever Club and OFA.

Due to current breeding practices many breeders besides Duck Creek Kennels do not perform a full genetic panel on their Sires or Dams. And may only test for the current recommended genetic test only. Duck Creek Kennels will make every effort to pick “healthy studs” for our dams based on current recommendations. If we discover a Stud is a carrier for any genetic disease, we will disclose this information to the potential buyer so that they may make an informed decision that their puppy may also be a carrier but not affected by the disease.

We understand the importance of preventing known genetic diseases in the Labrador Retriever breed and these diseases can be 100% prevented through responsible breeding practices. We make every effort to know the status of all our dogs, prior to breeding. We also try to know the EIC, CNM, prcd-PRA, and dilute gene status at a minimum of any outside studs used.