Health screening before breeding

Key facts

Screening methods

May include DNA tests, imaging and clinical examinations [source]

Limitation

Not every condition has a DNA test [source]

Identify the question

Start with the conditions relevant to the proposed parents and the recognised scheme for each test. A large test panel is not automatically a complete breeding assessment.

Check identity and method

Ask for original reports that identify the dog, testing body and result. Dogs Australia notes that health screening includes methods beyond DNA and that not every condition has a DNA test.

Discuss the pairing

Ask a veterinarian to interpret results in the context of both parents and their family history. Preserve the reports and avoid turning a screening result into a guarantee of a healthy puppy.

Ask which reports should accompany the puppy’s handover and which claims the results can support. Record limitations explicitly so future owners can discuss the evidence with their own veterinary team.

A panel is not a whole-health guarantee

Dogs Australia describes screening methods including DNA tests, imaging and examinations of systems such as eyes, heart and hearing. It also notes that not all health conditions have a DNA test. A clear result for one tested variant answers that particular question; it does not establish freedom from every inherited or acquired problem. Ask which tests are relevant to the breed and family and whether examination-based screening is also needed. Keep the original report, dog identity and testing date available so future breeding and ownership decisions can use the actual evidence.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• Dogs Australia: Health problems and screening (opens in a new tab)

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