Breeding guide: dog health testing before breeding
Dog Health Testing Before Breeding: What OFA, Eye, Heart and DNA Tests Cover
Dog health testing before breeding comes in two kinds. Physical exams check the dog in front of you: hips, elbows, knees, eyes and heart. DNA tests check what the dog can pass on. A well-tested parent has both, chosen for its breed, and the results are on record where a buyer can see them.
The two kinds of dog health testing before breeding
| Test | What it checks | How it is done | What it cannot tell you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hips and elbows | Joint structure, for dysplasia | X-rays read by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or by PennHIP. OFA’s final hip rating needs the dog to be at least 2 years old. | Whether the dog carries genes for other conditions |
| Patellas (knees) | Loose kneecaps, common in small breeds | Hands-on exam by a veterinarian | Problems that develop later in life |
| Eyes | Visible eye disease | Exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist, usually repeated | Diseases that have not appeared yet |
| Heart | Murmurs and structural heart disease | Exam by a vet or cardiologist, sometimes with an echocardiogram | Heart disease that starts later |
| DNA panel | Known inherited mutations | Cheek swab sent to a lab | Anything without a known gene test, including most hip and heart problems |
Test types are described by OFA and by Cornell University’s Riney Canine Health Center (OFA, Cornell).
Which dog health testing does each breed need before breeding?
It differs by breed. OFA runs the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) with each breed’s national club, and each club sets the list of screenings that matter most for its dogs. A dog earns a CHIC number when it has had every test on its breed’s list and the results are public.
For a mixed breed such as a Havapoo or Goldendoodle, the sensible standard is to test each parent for what its own breed calls for. Look up the Havanese, the Poodle or the Golden Retriever on the OFA CHIC page to see the lists. The Goldendoodle Association of North America publishes its own required tests as well.
Clear, carrier and affected: reading a DNA result
Most DNA results for inherited diseases come back as one of three words.
- Clear: the dog has no copy of the mutation and cannot pass it on.
- Carrier: the dog has one copy. It is usually healthy, but it can pass the mutation to puppies.
- Affected or at risk: the dog has two copies and may develop the disease.
A carrier is not a bad dog. Cornell’s guidance is that carriers can make perfectly good pets and can be bred responsibly, as long as the mate is clear, so that no puppy ends up with two copies. What matters is that the breeder knows the status of both parents before pairing them.
What dog health testing before breeding cannot promise
No set of tests guarantees a healthy puppy. Exams show how a dog is today, and DNA panels cover only the mutations science has identified so far. Testing lowers risk. It does not remove it, and an honest breeder will say so.
Be wary of the phrase “vet checked” on its own. A general check-up is good care, but it is not the same as breed-specific screening with results on file.
Questions to ask about dog health testing before breeding
- Which tests has each parent had? Ask for physical exams and DNA separately.
- Can I see the reports, with each dog’s name on them?
- Are the results in the OFA database, where I can look them up myself?
- Is either parent a carrier for anything, and what is the other parent’s status for the same condition?
- What have earlier litters from these parents been like as adults?
Our own answer: every parent dog here has an Embark DNA health panel before breeding, and a reproductive veterinarian cares for our dams. See how we health test, and ask us what physical exams each parent has had. The same questions appear in our guide on how to choose a puppy breeder.
Related guides
- Puppy Vaccine Schedule and Deworming: What Is Done Before Go-Home and What Comes Next
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Dogs: Signs, DNA Tests and Breeding
- Hip Dysplasia in Goldendoodles: Signs, Screening and Prevention
- Luxating Patella in Dogs: Signs, Grades and Treatment
- Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) in Dogs: What Buyers Should Know
See all our puppy guides, read about our health testing, or meet our Havapoo puppies for sale and Goldendoodle puppies for sale.
Sources
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, CHIC Program
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Selecting a Purebred Puppy
- American Kennel Club, Breed Health Testing Requirements
- Goldendoodle Association of North America, Health Testing Standards
- Embark Veterinary, Top 5 Reasons to DNA Test Before You Breed
Ask us about our parent dogs
We are happy to talk you through each dog’s results. Ready to meet a puppy? See our available puppies.