Pet Circle

    Last Updated: 28/05/2025

    Genetic Testing in Puppies

    Looking for a new pup and wondering what tests should be done prior to purchase? Take a read through our Vet-guide to find out more!

    Author: Dr Samantha Wycherley BVSc

    Reading Time: 9 minutes - short read

    Looking for a new puppy to take home is one of the most exciting times in life!

    There are so many different things to consider when adopting a new puppy and all new owners want to make sure that their potential new family member is going to be free of any health issues.

    You may have heard about genetic testing and are wondering whether this is something that should be done before bringing a pup home.

    Contents:

    What Is Genetic Testing

    Do All Breeders Perform Genetic Testing on Puppies?

    What Conditions Can Be Tested For?

    My Dog Has Been Identified As A Carrier - What Does This Mean?

    What Is Genetic Testing?

    Genetic testing involves taking a sample from a dog (saliva or blood) and then sending this to a testing lab so that they can take a look at the dogs DNA and assess for particular health conditions that are genetically linked.

    The tests are also able to determine the dog's parentage as well as checking if they are carriers for any other genetic traits such as coat colour.

    Genetic testing can be discussed with your vet clinic.

    Do All Breeders Perform Genetic Testing On Puppies?

    Not all breeders will perform genetic testing. Genetic testing is more common in breeds which are prone to a known heritable disorder.It is more common for breeders to genetically test the sire and dam they are using to breed with, rather than the puppies themselves. A good breeder will ensure that they are not breeding two dogs together which both carry a gene for a disease, as this means there is a high risk that at least one of the puppies will develop that disease.

    What Conditions Can Be Tested For?

    Some health conditions which can be tested for genetically include Cardiomyopathy, Retinal Atrophy, Von Willebrands Disease and Cataracts.

    The conditions that are tested for are often breed specific.

    My Dog Has Been Identified As A Carrier - What Does This Mean?

    All dogs will inherit two genes - one from the father, and one from the mother. Two of the genes known to cause disease must be inherited for a dog to show that disease therefore if a pup has inherited only one affected gene then it won't develop the disease.

    However - this does mean that if you are going to breed that dog in the future, they cannot be bred with another carrier as this will result in a chance that the resulting puppies will carry both genes and be affected.

    Further Reading

    Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips from our expert vets on keeping your pets happy and healthy.