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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 Cane Corso we've compiled 3 tests required by Cane Corso Italiano e.V. (CCI) and 5 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 Cane Corso Italiano, there are breed-specific risks for severe joint diseases such as hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED), as well as the genetic dental-skeletal-retinal anomaly (DSRA). The Cane Corso Italiano e.V. (CCI) therefore mandates that official results for HD, ED, and DSRA must be available for breeding approval. Responsible breeders additionally have their dogs examined for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) with a clear result, and carry out genetic tests for degenerative myelopathy and hyperuricosuria (HUU), where carriers may only be mated with clear partners. Make sure you are shown these original test results of both parents completely and without exception before buying.
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. For the Cane Corso, Cane Corso Italiano e.V. (CCI) requires 3 tests for breeding approval, 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:
Osteochondritis dissecans(OCD)
Bewegungsapparat
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a developmental skeletal disorder affecting the joints, where a piece of cartilage fails to turn into bone properly. This abnormal cartilage can crack and detach from the underlying bone, creating a loose flap or fragment that floats in the joint space. This leads to painful inflammation and joint damage, most commonly in the shoulders, elbows, or knees.
X-ray · Passing: clear
Patellar Luxation(PL)
Bewegungsapparat
Patellar luxation, also known as a luxating patella, is a physical condition affecting the knee joint where the kneecap slips out of its normal groove. This misalignment interferes with the mechanical movement of the hind leg and can cause the joint to lock. Over time, this abnormal friction can lead to painful joint wear and tear, known as osteoarthritis.
Physical examination · Passing: PL 0
Heart disease
Herz
Heart disease refers to structural or functional abnormalities of the heart muscle, valves, or electrical system that impair its ability to pump blood effectively. This reduced pumping efficiency prevents the cardiovascular system from delivering adequate oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues. Some forms are congenital, meaning present from birth, while others are acquired over time due to wear or genetic factors.
Physical examination · Passing: normal
Degenerative Myelopathy(DM)
Nervensystem
Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord where the protective sheath around the nerves slowly breaks down. This deterioration disrupts the vital communication signals between the brain and the muscles of the hind limbs. Over time, this lack of signal transmission leads to a complete loss of muscle control in the back legs.
DNA test · Passing: clear or carrier
Hyperuricosuria(HUU)
Nieren
Hyperuricosuria is an inherited metabolic disorder affecting the renal system, specifically how the kidneys process uric acid. Due to a genetic mutation, excess uric acid is excreted into the urine rather than being broken down. This high concentration can cause the acid to crystallize, leading to the formation of painful bladder or kidney stones, also known as uroliths.
Body-fluid analysis · 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 — Dental-skeletal-retinal anomaly
Both parents must be result on file 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.
We do not list an inherited extreme-breeding trait for the Cane Corso. It does appear on our page “Cropping & docking”, which is about a procedure on the dog, not a consequence of breeding. 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 Cane Corso 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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