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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 Brazilian Terrier we've compiled 7 core tests (1 of them required by Klub für Terrier e.V.) 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 Brazilian Terrier, there are breed-typical risks for patellar luxation (PL) as well as severe eye diseases such as primary lens luxation (PLL), primary open-angle glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy. While the Klub für Terrier e.V. mandates screening for patellar luxation (PL) with a cut-off value of 0–1, dedicated breeders also additionally test for hereditary eye diseases as well as genetic risks such as mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS VII) and malignant hyperthermia. Before purchasing, ask to see the patellar luxation (PL) results of the parent animals and ensure that in the case of mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS VII), a carrier is mated exclusively with 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 core standard for the Brazilian Terrier covers 7 tests, 1 of them required by Klub für Terrier e.V., 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:
Apple head
Andere
Apfelkopf, or apple head, describes an extremely rounded, dome-like skull shape with a very pronounced forehead angle, or stop. This skeletal variation affects the structure of the head and can predispose dogs to open fontanelles, which are soft spots where the skull bones fail to close fully. In some cases, this shape can also restrict fluid flow in the brain, leading to a buildup of fluid known as hydrocephalus.
Physical examination · Passing: {"resultNotOk": "Disease present"}
Cranioschisis
Bewegungsapparat
Lacunar skull (Lückenschädel) is a congenital developmental defect affecting the skeletal system, specifically the skull. It occurs when the bones of the cranial vault fail to harden or ossify completely, leaving thin spots, depressions, or actual gaps in the bone structure. This defect is often associated with increased pressure within the skull and other brain abnormalities.
X-ray · Passing: {"resultNotOk": "Disease present"}
Malignant Hyperthermia(MH)
Stoffwechsel
Malignant hyperthermia, also known as anesthesia hypersensitivity, is an inherited skeletal muscle disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the RYR1 gene. This mutation disrupts how calcium is regulated within the muscle cells, causing them to contract uncontrollably when triggered. These intense spasms generate a rapid, life-threatening rise in body temperature, typically brought on by specific anesthetic gases or extreme physical stress.
DNA test · Passing: clear
Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII(MPS VII)
Stoffwechsel
Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII (MPS VII) is an inherited metabolic disorder belonging to a group called lysosomal storage diseases. It occurs when a deficiency in a specific enzyme prevents the body from breaking down complex sugar molecules, leading to a harmful buildup of waste products inside cells. This accumulation causes progressive damage to multiple organ systems, particularly the skeleton and connective tissues.
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 — Ectropion / Entropion
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 Brazilian Terrier 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 Brazilian Terrier 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