Understanding Breed Health Testing: OFA, PennHIP, and DNA Panels
What responsible breeders test for and why it matters. OFA evaluations, PennHIP scores, and genetic panels explained.
Health testing is the single most important factor separating responsible breeders from irresponsible ones. A puppy from parents with documented health clearances is significantly less likely to develop breed-specific genetic conditions, potentially saving thousands of dollars in veterinary care and years of the dog's healthy life. Yet many buyers do not know what tests to ask for or how to interpret the results. This guide explains the major testing protocols and what they mean for each breed.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
Founded in 1966, the OFA maintains the largest database of health screening results in veterinary medicine, with over 1.2 million evaluations on record. The OFA evaluates orthopedic conditions (hips, elbows, knees, shoulders), cardiac conditions, thyroid function, eye conditions, and breed-specific DNA tests. All results are publicly searchable at ofa.org, which means you can verify any breeder's claims.
Hip evaluations: OFA hip evaluations require radiographs (X-rays) taken after age 2, when skeletal maturity is reached. Three board-certified veterinary radiologists independently evaluate each set of radiographs. Results are graded as Excellent, Good, or Fair (all normal), or Borderline, Mild, Moderate, or Severe dysplasia. For breeds prone to hip dysplasia — including the German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, and Bulldog — hip evaluation is considered a minimum health test.
Elbow evaluations: Elbow dysplasia is a complex of developmental conditions affecting the elbow joint. OFA elbow evaluations are graded as Normal or Dysplastic (Grade I, II, or III). Breeds particularly affected include the Bernese Mountain Dog, Rottweiler, and Labrador Retriever.
Cardiac evaluations: OFA cardiac evaluations can be performed by auscultation (stethoscope, conducted by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist) or by echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Echocardiograms are more thorough and are required for breeds with high incidence of specific cardiac conditions. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, with its high prevalence of mitral valve disease (MVD), should ideally have echocardiographic evaluation rather than auscultation alone.
Eye evaluations: OFA eye exams (formerly CERF exams) are performed by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists and screen for hereditary eye conditions including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, and entropion. Unlike most OFA evaluations, eye exams must be repeated annually because some conditions develop later in life.
PennHIP: An Alternative Hip Evaluation
PennHIP (Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program) is an alternative to OFA hip evaluation that measures hip joint laxity — essentially, how loose the hip joint is. Unlike OFA, which evaluates hip conformation from a single radiographic view, PennHIP uses three standardized views and calculates a Distraction Index (DI) ranging from 0 (perfectly tight) to 1 (completely lax).
The key advantage of PennHIP is that it can be performed as early as 16 weeks of age, compared to OFA's requirement of 24 months. This allows breeders to make earlier breeding decisions and buyers to evaluate puppies before committing. PennHIP also compares each dog's score to a breed-specific database, giving a percentile ranking. A Golden Retriever with a DI of 0.35 falls at the tighter (better) end of the breed distribution, while a DI of 0.60 indicates above-average laxity and increased dysplasia risk.
Neither OFA nor PennHIP is definitively "better" — they measure different aspects of hip health. Some breeders perform both, using PennHIP for early evaluation and OFA for the definitive adult assessment.
DNA Panels: Genetic Testing
Advances in canine genomics have made DNA testing both affordable and comprehensive. Companies like Embark, Wisdom Panel, and GenSol offer breed-specific panels that test for dozens to hundreds of genetic variants simultaneously. For breeders, these tests are transformative: they can identify carriers of recessive genetic diseases and make breeding decisions that prevent affected puppies from being produced.
Common conditions screened through DNA panels include:
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): A group of genetic conditions causing progressive blindness. Multiple forms exist, each caused by different gene mutations. Testing is recommended for breeds including the Labrador Retriever (prcd-PRA), Cocker Spaniel (prcd-PRA), and Irish Setter (rcd1-PRA).
Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC): A condition primarily affecting Labrador Retrievers where intense exercise triggers hind-limb weakness and collapse. Caused by a mutation in the DNM1 gene. Carrier-to-carrier breeding produces 25% affected puppies.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): A progressive spinal cord disease analogous to ALS in humans. The SOD1 gene mutation responsible has been identified in many breeds, including the German Shepherd, Boxer, and Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Two copies of the mutation are required for the disease to develop.
Von Willebrand Disease (vWD): A bleeding disorder caused by deficiency of a blood clotting protein. Common in the Doberman Pinscher (Type 1, which is the mildest form), Scottish Terrier (Type 3, the most severe), and several other breeds.
Breed-Specific Testing Requirements
Each breed's national parent club publishes recommended health tests for breeding stock. The AKC's Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database codifies these requirements: a CHIC number indicates that a dog has completed all recommended tests for its breed (regardless of results — CHIC records completion, not pass/fail). When evaluating a breeder, asking for the CHIC number of both parents is an efficient way to verify health testing compliance.
For example, CHIC requirements for a Golden Retriever include: OFA hip evaluation, OFA elbow evaluation, OFA cardiac evaluation, and an annual ophthalmologist eye exam. For a Poodle (Standard): OFA hip evaluation, an ophthalmologist eye exam, and an OFA-recommended DNA test for neonatal encephalopathy with seizures (NEwS).
Cat Health Testing
Health testing in cats is less standardized than in dogs but equally important for purebred cats. Key tests include:
HCM screening: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cardiac disease in cats. Breeds with elevated risk include the Maine Coon, Ragdoll, and British Shorthair. Screening is performed via echocardiogram by a veterinary cardiologist and should be repeated annually for breeding cats, as HCM can develop at any age.
PKD testing: Polycystic Kidney Disease is prevalent in Persian cats and related breeds (Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan). A DNA test can identify the PKD1 mutation, and responsible breeders test all breeding cats and remove carriers from their programs.
FeLV/FIV testing: While not genetic, testing for Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is essential for all breeding cats and should be confirmed negative before any cat enters a breeding program.
How to Verify Health Testing
Never take a breeder's verbal assurances at face value. All OFA results are searchable by dog name or registration number at ofa.org. DNA test results should come with a certificate from the testing laboratory. Ask for copies of all health clearances before committing to a purchase, and verify them independently. A responsible breeder will not only provide this documentation willingly but will appreciate that you asked.
You can check breed-specific health predispositions on any breed's profile page here on BreedCompare, or read about the role health testing plays in our scoring methodology in our article on how we score breed traits.