Recommended Health Tests
The PWDCA encourages breeders, owners, and buyers to approach decisions and choices pertaining to health issues and their management in PWDs from the standpoint of knowledge. For breeders and puppy buyers, it is recommended that you verify that health information is current for the sire and dam on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) website. Search by registered name of each parent. PWDCA recommended Health Tests are listed below. Learn more about the following health issues on our Health Conditions page.
Test Used: Eye exam by a Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist
Minimum Age: Prior to initial breeding
Sire and/or Dam: Both
Frequency: Prior to initial breeding then yearly for breeding dogs up to 120 months of age.
Reported as: OFA #
Test Used: DNA (cheek swabs or blood)
Minimum Age: Prior to initial breeding
Sire and/or Dam: At least one parent with Normal result
Frequency: Once
Approved Labs: Optimal Selection (formerly Optigen)
Test Used: DNA (cheek swabs or blood)
Minimum Age: Prior to initial breeding
Sire and/or Dam: At least one parent with Normal result
Frequency: Once
Approved Labs: ASAP Genetics (AUST), Eurovetgene, HealthGene (Canada), Laboklin (Germany), Optimal Selection (formerly Optigen), Paw Print Genetics, or VetGen
Test Used: Radiograph
Minimum Age: 2 years
Sire and/or Dam: Both
Frequency: Once
Reported as: OFA #
Test Used: DNA (cheek swabs or blood)
Minimum Age: Prior to initial breeding
Sire and/or Dam: At least one parent with Normal result
Frequency: Once
Approved Lab: PennGEN #
Test Used: DNA (cheek swabs or blood)
Minimum Age: Prior to initial breeding
Sire and/or Dam: At least one parent with Normal result
Frequency: Once
Approved Lab: PennGEN #
Test Used: DNA (cheek swabs or blood)
Minimum Age: Prior to initial breeding
Sire and/or Dam: At least one parent with Normal result
Frequency: Once
Approved Labs: Optimal Selection (formerly Optigen), Genetic Technologies (Australia), or Paw Print Genetics
* Considered Clear with OFA-designated Cleared by Parentage (CBP). This will be displayed by the OFA as “GENOTYPICALLY NORMAL, BY PARENTAGE”.
Optional Health Tests:
Additional optional health tests are available to breeders and owners, that are not part of the above recommended PWDCA tests. These optional tests do not replace nor can be substituted for the recommended health tests above.
Test Used: Blood
Minimum Age: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Sire &/or Dam: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Frequency: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Reported as: Several labs do the test and results report to OFA
Test Used: Cardiac auscultation and, if needed, Echocardiography by a Veterinary
Minimum Age: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Sire and/or Dam: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Frequency: Once
Reported as: OFA #
Test Used: DNA (cheek swab)
Minimum Age: Prior to initial breeding
Sire and/or Dam: Both parents
Frequency: Once
Approved Labs: UC Davis/Veterinary Genetics Lab
Test Used: Radiograph
Minimum Age: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Sire and/or Dam: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Frequency: Once
Reported as: OFA #
Test Used: DNA (cheek swabs or blood)
Minimum Age: Prior to initial breeding
Sire and/or Dam: At least one parent with Normal result
Frequency: Once
Approved Labs: Optimal Selection (formerly Optigen) or Paw Print Genetics
Test Used: Radiograph
Minimum Age: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Sire and/or Dam: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Frequency: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Reported as: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Test Used: Radiograph
Minimum Age: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Sire and/or Dam: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Frequency: Once
Reported as: PennGEN #
Test Used: Skin biopsy samples
Minimum Age: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Sire and/or Dam: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Frequency: No recommendation set by PWDCA
Reported as: No recommendation set by PWDCA
For more information about the above health conditions, visit Health Conditions.
Download this useful pdf, PWDCA Health Testing Recommendations, for more information about PWDCA recommended Health Testing and approved labs.