Kennel Club promotes eye testing and discounted DNA testing at International Agility Festival
The Kennel Club is pleased to announce it will be offering BVA/KC/ISDS eye testing at the International Agility Festival, as well as a limited-time 15% discount on its DNA Testing Services throughout the month of August.
The International Agility Festival is taking place between 8-11 August 2024 at Rutland Showground, Oakham.
The canine eye testing is being offered as part of the British Veterinary Association/Kennel Club/International Sheepdog Society (BVA/KC/ISDS) Eye Test Scheme and will take place on Thursday 8 August. The service aims to identify potential hereditary eye conditions in dogs, giving owners vital information about their dog's eye health and allowing breeders to make informed breeding decisions.
The testing will be carried out by leading veterinary ophthalmologist Paul McPherson BVMS CertVOphthal MRCVS and is open to all and for any breed. The tests will work on an appointment basis and owners are being asked to pre-book now to avoid disappointment. Assessments cost £40 per dog and appointments can be booked by visiting thekennelclub.org.uk/iafeyetests.
The Kennel Club will also be offering a 15% discount on all Breed-Specific DNA testing packages via it's DNA Testing Services. Currently available for 78 breeds, the Kennel Club DNA Testing Services provide cost-effective access to the most impactful genetic health tests – without the need to carry out each one individually – with results that are easy to interpret and accompanied by breeding and care advice.
The service has been uniquely developed by The Kennel Club in partnership with Weatherbys Scientific, to provide breeders with the tools needed to breed against the verified, breed relevant diseases, but also to advance understanding of dog disease, with those who use the service contributing to canine genetic research – both through data collection and with all funds reinvested into ongoing research and health initiatives.
The Kennel Club takes insights from research and feeds them into its Breed Health and Conservation plans, so that it can work with breeders to give information and guidance about how to ensure the future health of pedigree breeds. These plans, which enable The Kennel Club to track progress and make meaningful changes to breed health, have been developed as a result of reviewing more than 4,000 research papers, making these plans the most comprehensive review of pedigree health data anywhere in the world.
To take advantage of the DNA testing packages discount, visit The Kennel Club website, select the relevant Breed-Specific Package and enter the promotional code KCIAF15.
More information about the BVA/KC/ISDS and The Kennel Club DNA Testing Services is also available on The Kennel Club website.
Information about The Kennel Club International Agility Festival, taking place from 8-11 August, can be found at thekennelclub.org.uk/iaf.
