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Health Testing Guide
Which tests are mandatory, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the Basenji we've compiled 6 core tests (4 of them required by 1. Basenji Klub Deutschland von 1977 e.V. (BKD)) and 4 additionally recommended tests, drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
View verified breedersWhat this grade means
In the Basenji, there are breed-typical risks for serious diseases such as Fanconi syndrome, hip dysplasia (HD), and eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. The 1. Basenji Klub Deutschland von 1977 e.V. (BKD) mandatorily requires genetic tests for Fanconi syndrome and progressive retinal atrophy (carriers may only be mated with clear partners), as well as X-rays for HD and findings on distichiasis. A health-oriented breeder also has the parent animals examined for cataracts and persistent pupillary membranes (PPM). Have the complete DNA and examination certificates of both parent animals presented to you before buying a puppy.
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 core standard for the Basenji covers 6 tests, 4 of them required by 1. Basenji Klub Deutschland von 1977 e.V. (BKD), plus 4 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 4 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Corneal dystrophy(CD)
Augen
Corneal dystrophy is an inherited eye disorder where abnormal, opaque materials like fats or calcium build up in the cornea, which is the clear outer layer of the eye. This accumulation typically affects both eyes and is non-inflammatory, meaning it does not cause immediate swelling or redness. Over time, these deposits can disrupt the smooth surface of the eye.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Immunoproliferative (Basenji) enteropathy/lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis(IPE)
Stoffwechsel
This is a severe, chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract, particularly affecting Basenjis. It occurs when the dog's immune system abnormally attacks the lining of the small intestine, preventing the body from properly absorbing nutrients and leading to a dangerous loss of proteins. A definitive diagnosis is typically confirmed through an intestinal biopsy, which remains the gold standard clinical exam for this condition.
Body-fluid analysis
Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency(PK)
Stoffwechsel
Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is an inherited metabolic disorder affecting red blood cells, which lack a vital enzyme needed to produce energy. Without this enzyme, the red blood cells break down prematurely, leading to a severe shortage of oxygen-carrying cells, a condition known as chronic anemia. Over time, this constant cell destruction can cause secondary damage to organs like the liver and bone marrow.
DNA test · Passing: clear or carrier
Hypothyroidism
Stoffwechsel
Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder where the thyroid gland, located in the neck, fails to produce enough thyroid hormones. These hormones are essential for regulating the body's metabolic rate, which is the speed at which cells convert nutrients into energy. When hormone levels are too low, the dog's entire metabolism slows down, affecting multiple organ systems.
Body-fluid analysis · Passing: normal
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 — Cataract
Both parents must be clear 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 Basenji 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 Basenji 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.
View verified breeders