Breed-specific health screening programs help reduce the frequency of inherited diseases in pedigree dogs by identifying carriers before breeding decisions are made.
Breed health screening prevents inherited disease by identifying dogs carrying genetic conditions before they are used for breeding. Hip and elbow dysplasia cause chronic painful arthritis affecting thousands of dogs; DNA tests for conditions including progressive retinal atrophy, exercise-induced collapse, and degenerative myelopathy allow carriers to be identified and managed in breeding programs. The welfare impact of widespread screening is measurable in reduced disease prevalence over generations. However, health testing adoption remains incomplete - not all breeders participate, and some popular breeds have high disease prevalence despite available tests. Regulatory requirements for health testing before registration would accelerate welfare improvement.