Breed Specific Health Tests
The Kennel Club, in conjunction with veterinary organisations such as the British Veterinary Association, run several schemes aimed at reducing the prevalence of certain inherited diseases. These are predominantly aimed at breeders looking to assess animals prior to mating them. Although breeding offers no health benefits to the dam, responsible dog breeding does allow some control over breed-related health problems and can positively impact the overall health of a breed.
Schemes currently offered by the Kennel Club include:
- Elbow scoring
- Hip scoring
- IVDD scheme for Dachshunds
- Respiratory grading scheme for brachycephalic dogs
- Heart scheme for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
- Eye scheme
- PLA (gonioscopy) eye testing
- BAER testing
- Chiari-like malformation/Syringomyelia screening
Some schemes require vets to be approved as assessors, such as the eye scheme and the respiratory grading scheme. Other screening tests require images, such as x-rays, to be taken at any veterinary practice, before the images are submitted for review by an approved panel, such as for hip and elbow scoring.
For more information, and to find out which schemes are offered by your practice, please contact them directly. Please be aware that local charges will apply for assessment and/or imaging, in addition to any fees specified by the Kennel Club.
Note on Breeding
At the time of writing, UK rehoming centres are overwhelmed by the number of dogs requiring help, and at The Vet Collection we advocate for rehoming over breeding wherever possible. We do, however, understand that there are some circumstances where rehoming a dog is not appropriate, and in these situations would strongly recommend puppies are sourced from a responsible, Kennel Club registered breeder who prioritises animal welfare. When choosing a dog breed, it is important to research the typical needs of the breed, and consider these needs alongside your lifestyle to ensure you are a good match. For more information about specific health risks associated with individual breeds, we recommend having a look through our Breeds A-Z directory.
