Dog health testing guides for breeders
These dog health testing guides explain which clearances each breed needs before breeding, how each test works and what VerifiedStuds requires for the Verified Health badge. Pick your breed below.
French Bulldog health testing: the CHIC tests for hips, eyes, patellas and heart, plus airway and DNA extras.
English Bulldog health testing: the seven recognized tests, including the trachea X-ray and HUU DNA.
Golden Retriever health clearances: hips, elbows, a cardiologist heart exam and yearly eye exams.
Labrador Retriever health testing: hips, elbows and eyes, plus EIC, CNM, PRA and dilute DNA.
German Shepherd health testing: hips, elbows and the temperament test, plus DM DNA.
Dachshund health testing: patellas, heart and eyes, plus PRA DNA for miniatures.
Poodle health testing: the lists for Standard, Miniature and Toy, side by side.
Beagle health testing: hips, heart, eyes, thyroid and the MLS DNA test.
Rottweiler health testing: hips, elbows, heart, eyes and JLPP DNA.
German Shorthaired Pointer health testing: hips, elbows, heart, eyes and cone degeneration DNA.
Cane Corso health testing: hips, elbows, heart and patellas, plus DSRA and NCL1 DNA.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel health testing: yearly heart exams, eyes, hips and patellas.
Yorkshire Terrier health testing: patellas and eyes, plus the liver test breeders add.
Australian Shepherd health testing: hips, elbows and yearly eyes, plus MDR1 and HSF4 DNA.
Doberman Pinscher health testing: hips, eyes, thyroid, vWD DNA and yearly heart screening.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi health testing: hips and eyes, plus DM and vWD DNA.
Miniature Schnauzer health testing: yearly eyes and heart, plus myotonia and MAC DNA.
Boxer health testing: hips, elbows, thyroid, heart exams and a yearly Holter.
Pomeranian health testing: patellas, heart and eyes.
Bernese Mountain Dog health testing: hips, elbows, heart, eyes and both DM tests.
Shih Tzu health testing: eyes, patellas and hips, and what no test can show.
Great Dane health testing: hips, a cardiologist heart exam, eyes and thyroid.
Boston Terrier health testing: yearly eyes, patellas, BAER hearing and JHC DNA.
American Bully health testing: our recommended list, since no official one exists.
Brucellosis in dogs: why every stud is tested before each breeding, and how the tests work.
OFA vs PennHIP: the two hip tests compared by method, age and cost.
OFA hip and elbow grades explained: every grade, prelims and how to look up a dog.
What is a CHIC number?: how a dog earns one, and why it is not a pass mark.
Best DNA tests for dog breeders: the main labs and how to read results.
CAER eye exam: OFA eye certification and why it is yearly.
OFA cardiac exam: basic vs advanced: stethoscope, echocardiogram and Holter.
Degenerative myelopathy DNA test: clear, carrier and at-risk results.
OFA patella evaluation: luxating patella grades 1 to 4.
Every breed is welcome on VerifiedStuds. For a breed without its own guide yet, follow the list your breed's parent club recommends, and look up registered results on the OFA website. In addition, every stud needs a recent negative Brucellosis test before each breeding.
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