Health testing before breeding is one of the most important tools for preventing heritable diseases in dogs, yet testing uptake remains incomplete across many breeds.
Dogs born with heritable health conditions face lives of chronic pain, repeated surgeries, and shortened lifespans. Health testing before breeding can eliminate or substantially reduce many of these conditions within a few generations. The challenge is that many buyers do not require health test evidence, removing the market incentive for breeders to test. Education and legislation are needed to make health testing standard practice.