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Health Testing Guide
Which tests matter, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the Australian Kelpie we've compiled 2 tests in the recommended health standard and 5 additionally recommended tests, drawn from veterinary databases such as CIDD (University of PEI) and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
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The Australian Kelpie carries an average genetic load: its median life expectancy in British data is 12.0 years, which is average (McMillan et al. 2024). Several hereditary conditions are documented, including Cerebellar Abiotrophy, Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy, Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), and Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRCD); most of these can be managed through DNA testing. In addition, there are Hip Dysplasia (HD) and Elbow Dysplasia (ED). A health-conscious breeder has the joints of the parent animals X-rayed and uses DNA tests to prevent affected puppies. Before buying, have them show you findings of HD A–C and ED 0–1 as well as the DNA tests: for Cerebellar Abiotrophy, both parents must be clear; for CEA, PRCD, and Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy, a carrier must only be mated to a clear partner.
Every breed is susceptible to certain inherited conditions. Just like humans, dogs inherit predispositions from their parents. Responsible breeders screen their breeding dogs for these conditions and make informed mating decisions to reduce the risk passed on to puppies.
No — but it's the strongest tool we have. Diet, exercise, environment, and genetics all contribute to whether a dog develops a condition. When breeders use the right tests to identify risk in potential parents, the likelihood of many conditions appearing in the puppies drops significantly.
There's no one-size-fits-all here. The recommended health standard for the Australian Kelpie covers 2 tests, plus 5 additional recommended tests. The specific tests and passing thresholds are detailed further below.
Keep in mind
Reliable screening tests still don't exist for many hereditary conditions, and tests for complex polygenic conditions don't always predict severity in the puppies. Even so, they're a powerful tool of responsible breeding.
There are two main types of health tests:
Screen the dog's DNA for known disease-causing mutations. Can be performed from puppyhood and give a binary result (clear / carrier / affected).
Clinical and imaging exams like X-ray, ultrasound, or ophthalmoscopy. They show how a predisposition actually manifests — usually only conclusive after 12–18 months.
We group breeding programs into three levels based on testing depth. Ask your breeder directly which level they meet.
A breeder at the Great level meets the Good level and performs 5 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Collie eye anomaly (CEA)(CEA)
Augen
Collie Eye Anomaly is an inherited developmental defect affecting the eye, specifically the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) and the choroid (the underlying layer of blood vessels). This genetic condition causes these structures to develop abnormally before birth. It is primarily seen in herding breeds and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.
Passing: clear or carrier
Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD-PRA)(PRA-prcd)
Augen
This is an inherited eye disease where the light-sensitive cells in the retina, called rods and cones, slowly break down over time. The rods, which handle vision in dim light, degenerate first, followed by the cones, which are responsible for bright light and color vision. This gradual degeneration of the eye's sensory layer eventually leads to complete blindness.
Passing: clear or carrier
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (galactocerebrosidosis)(GCL)
Nervensystem
Globoid cell leukodystrophy is an inherited metabolic disorder affecting the nervous system, caused by a deficiency in an essential enzyme. This deficiency leads to the buildup of harmful substances that destroy myelin, which is the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Without this protective covering, the nerves cannot transmit signals properly, resulting in progressive neurological decline.
DNA test · Passing: clear or carrier
Cerebellar abiotrophy(CA)
Nervensystem
Cerebellar abiotrophy is an inherited neurological disorder affecting the brain, specifically the cerebellum, which regulates balance and movement coordination. In affected dogs, the nerve cells in this region prematurely degenerate and die off. This progressive cell loss disrupts the brain's ability to control smooth physical movements.
DNA test · Passing: clear
Lipid malabsorption, ACSL5-related(ILM)
Stoffwechsel
This is an inherited metabolic disorder of the digestive system, primarily affecting the Australian Kelpie breed, where the intestines cannot properly absorb or process dietary fats. It is caused by a specific genetic deletion involving the ACSL5 gene, which is essential for fat metabolism. Without this functioning gene, the body cannot utilize fats from food, leading to severe nutritional deficiencies.
Passing: clear or carrier
These levels are a comparison framework, not an official certification. They help compare breeding programs at a glance.
A complete checklist with every core-standard and additionally recommended test, plus identity and rearing questions — take it with you.
Open the full checklistFor breeders
Machine-readable mating rules, minimum ages, scoring schemes, and what's required for HonestDog verification — as a printable guide.
Example rule — Elbow Dysplasia
Both parents must be ED 0–1 or better.
We take mandatory tests from official breed regulations, build the recommended health standard from veterinary databases — and cross-check every uploaded certificate against the dog's profile using AI.
L1 = core standard: the club's required tests where its rules set them, otherwise the recommended health standard for the breed. L2 = additionally recommended or clinically indicated. L3 = lower prevalence. Every assignment carries a source and confidence rating.
VDH breeding regulations, CIDD (University of PEI), OMIA (University of Sydney), curated veterinary input.
Uploaded certificates are read by AI and checked for date, result, and consistency with the dog's profile — our team reviews anything inconclusive.
The Australian Kelpie is not currently listed in our extreme-breeding overview. That does not mean it is free of hereditary disease: which ones are typical, and which tests the parents should have, is on this page.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the Australian Kelpie fits you — including an honest cost estimate per month, per year, and across the dog's lifetime.
See breeders who have already uploaded their health test results for verification.
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