Hereditary diseases in companion animals cause enormous suffering. Genetic testing, ethical breeding practices, and breed health reforms can dramatically reduce this suffering across generations.
Hereditary disease represents a largely preventable cause of companion animal suffering. Breeding animals without testing for known hereditary conditions perpetuates preventable pain across generations of offspring. Genetic testing programs, health-focused breed standards, and consumer demand for health-tested animals together form the path to reducing this suffering. The most impactful change would be making health testing mandatory for breed registration.