Health Testing for Dogs: Investing in Pedigree Breed Health
Every potential buyer of a new pedigree puppy naturally wants to ensure that the puppy is fit, healthy, and will remain so throughout its life. Investing in health testing provides the tools to help make informed decisions when selecting puppies and breeding stock.
The advent of DNA testing and advancements in genetic health screening are transforming responsible dog breeding. Breeders and buyers can now have their breeding dogs, as well as puppies, screened for inherited health risks and genetic conditions. This proactive approach helps both avoid costly health complications later and preserves the wellbeing of entire breed lines.
Understanding Health Testing for Pedigree Dogs
Health testing encompasses a range of veterinary and genetic checks aimed at early detection or risk assessment of inherited conditions, conformation faults, and predispositions to illnesses. Tests can be performed on the dam and sire before breeding, and on the puppies themselves, to provide insights into their health status.
Results may sometimes give a definitive presence or absence of a condition. More often, results are expressed as risk levels or scores reflecting the likelihood or severity of potential health issues, enabling breeders to make responsible breeding decisions.
High Risk Breeds and Their Health Concerns
The Kennel Club in the UK has identified several "high profile breeds" recognised for higher risks of certain inherited health problems. These breeds include:
- Basset Hound puppies
- Bloodhound puppies
- Bulldog puppies
- Chow Chow puppies
- Clumber Spaniel puppies
- Dogue de Bordeaux puppies
- French Bulldog puppies
- German Shepherd puppies
- Mastiff puppies
- Neapolitan Mastiff puppies
- Pekingese puppies
- Pug puppies
- St. Bernard puppies
- Shar Pei puppies
Other breeds such as Labrador Retriever puppies and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies also show predispositions to conditions like hip dysplasia and syringomyelia respectively. However, health testing can be tailored for any breed to address individual risks.
Available Health Tests and Their Importance
The range of health tests undertaken depends on breed-specific risk factors. These tests can be costly, so breeders and buyers focus on those relevant to the breed’s known health concerns.
Common health tests include:
- Hip dysplasia scoring through x-rays to assess joint quality
- Elbow dysplasia evaluation
- Eye examinations for inherited eye conditions
- Syringomyelia screening particularly for breeds like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- DNA screening to identify carriers and affected individuals for genetic abnormalities
How Health Tests Are Performed
Veterinary surgeons perform health testing, and samples or images are sent for detailed analysis by specialists or geneticists.
For hip dysplasia, x-rays taken when dogs are over a year old provide a hip score to evaluate joint health. This assists decision-making before breeding. DNA tests, however, usually involve a simple cheek swab and can be performed on dogs or puppies of any age.
Interpreting and Using Health Test Results
Once results are returned, breeders use the data to decide whether to breed their dogs, and buyers consider health status when choosing a puppy. Health testing provides professional advice but ultimately supports informed choices rather than dictating them.
Who Covers the Cost of Health Testing?
Typically, the person commissioning the test pays for it. Breeders bear the cost for testing breeding stock and consider this an investment in responsible breeding. If a dog is found unsuitable for breeding, the financial cost remains with the breeder.
If breeding proceeds with healthy parents, the cost of health testing is often factored into the sale price of puppies. Puppies from well-tested, healthy parents can command a premium, reflecting reduced risk for future health issues and associated emotional and financial stress.
Health Test Results Finder
The Kennel Club maintains a database of health test results for all registered dogs that have undergone screening. This resource allows breeders and potential buyers to check the health background of a dog's ancestors by name using the Health Tests Results Finder tool.
There is also a dedicated register for multifocal retinal dysplasia (MRD), a common eye condition, with breed-specific listings available separately.
Responsible Breeding and Long-Term Welfare
Investing in health testing is a cornerstone of responsible pedigree dog breeding. It helps safeguard the future by reducing genetic defects, improving overall health, and promoting ethical breeding practices. Understanding the importance of these tests empowers buyers and breeders to contribute to the wellbeing and longevity of pedigree dogs.
