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Galaxy
Digit
(2015-2023)

Pomegranate
(2009-2019)

Orca
(2005-2014)

Bison
(2002-2011)

Panda
— Pedigree
Health Clearances
— Panda's titles
— Puppy Weight Chart
— In Memory (1996-2005)
Pockets
(1990-2006)

Panda was been certified by the following tests. These records are all entered in the Berner-Garde database and can be found in OFA's open database.
OFA	Hips		 BMD-4730G25M-T	 	Good	
Panda was certified for Hips at a time when elbows were just beginning to be x-rayed. He did have a CERF test done at the age of 6, but we never had it recorded (clear). While he never showed signs of elbow dysplasia, he did show some arthritis towards the end.

He would not have cleared the OFA Cardiac test. At the age of two, he was diagnosed with a valvular insufficiency. "Cardiac structure and function within normal limit; murmer with aortic insufficiency without obvious diastolic murmur, no signif cardiac enlargement". Upon necropsy, this was discovered to be a 2mm x 2mm node on the left arterial valve.

In late February 2004, he looked great and competed in the Conformation ring for the first time in his life. He had a blast, performing tricks in the ring while the other dogs were being examined, including free stacking himself on a piece of tape after doing 360 degree twirl. Returning to the obedience circuit two months later, he looked fine (for Panda in the obedience ring), and suddenly looked very lost halfway on the recall exercise. He came halfway, stopped, and scanned the crowd. He could not see me standing 10 feet in front of him. He looked weary, and began to lose weight after that trial, his last.

His declining health from the age of 7 1/2 until his demise at 8 1/2 was a mystery. For the first few months, we checked his thyroid function (clear) but his lethargy and weight loss progressed. He had a major collapse in September 2004, at which time his spleen was notably enlarged on ultrasound. Bernese Mountain Dog, over 7 years old, 10% weight loss in under 6 months, lethargy, and enlarged spleen. This spelled one thing. Malignant Histiocytosis. He was given 6 to 8 weeks to live, if he were lucky. We chose a pallative therapy of prednisone, rather than subject a very weakened and frightened dog to a splenectomy. We'd rather live with him declining that lose him on the operating table.

After two months, he was still with us. Struggling, but definitely very much alive and wanting to be with us. He began to slow down even more by January, refusing to climb stairs. In February, he declined rapidly. It was clear he was no longer fighting. After 4 1/2 months, we euthanized him. He died peacefully in Adam's arms.

The necropsy was stunning. So much so, it was ordered to be done again.
Marked thrombosis of splenic vein; interstitial fibrosis in the heart; no sign of any histiocytosis, splenic mass of follicular lymphoid hyperplasia
No MH. The final conclusion was that he was throwing blood clots off of his heart node; these were getting trapped in his spleen, as well as causing cardiac episodes.