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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 Brittany Spaniel we've compiled 1 test required by Club für Bretonische Vorstehhunde e.V. and 11 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
The Brittany Spaniel (Epagneul Breton) is generally a robust breed, but it has genetic risks for hip dysplasia (HD) as well as neurological and hereditary eye diseases such as cerebellar abiotrophy, progressive retinal atrophy, and primary lens luxation (PLL). The Club für Bretonische Vorstehhunde e.V. strictly mandates an HD X-ray with the limit HD A–B for breeding approval. A responsible breeder also tests the parent animals for gene mutations such as cerebellar abiotrophy, where carriers may only be mated with proven clear partners. Ask to see the official HD reports and genetic test results for the mentioned conditions before purchasing.
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 Brittany Spaniel, Club für Bretonische Vorstehhunde e.V. requires 1 test for breeding approval, plus 11 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 11 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Cleft palate
Andere
A cleft palate is a congenital birth defect where the roof of the mouth fails to fuse properly during development in the womb. This failure leaves an abnormal opening between the oral cavity and the nasal passages. Because these two systems are directly connected, food, liquids, and air cannot be properly separated during swallowing.
Physical examination · Passing: clear
Complement deficiency(C3D)
Andere
This is an inherited disorder of the immune system where the dog lacks key proteins belonging to the complement system. The complement system is a group of proteins in the blood that normally work together to help the body recognize and destroy invading bacteria. Without these proteins, the dog's natural defense mechanism is severely compromised.
DNA test · Passing: clear or carrier
Lens luxation(PLL)
Augen
Lens luxation is an inherited eye disorder where the lens slips out of its normal position because the supporting fibers holding it in place weaken or break. When the lens shifts, it can block the natural drainage of fluid within the eye. This blockage causes a rapid, painful buildup of pressure called glaucoma, which can lead to permanent blindness if left untreated.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma(POAG)
Augen
Primary open-angle glaucoma is an inherited eye disease where the natural fluid inside the eye cannot drain properly. This fluid buildup causes a gradual increase in pressure within the eyeball, which eventually damages the optic nerve, the connection between the eye and the brain. Without management, this pressure leads to permanent blindness.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)(PRA)
Augen
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited eye disease that affects the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. In this condition, the specialized cells responsible for detecting light, known as photoreceptors, gradually degenerate and die. Because these cells cannot recover or be replaced, the disease slowly but inevitably leads to complete blindness.
Passing: clear or carrier
Retinal Dysplasia(RD)
Augen
Retinal dysplasia is a congenital condition affecting the eyes, where the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) does not develop properly during growth in the womb. This abnormal development leads to structural defects like folds or gaps in the retinal layers. Because the retina is responsible for sending visual signals to the brain, these imperfections can impair normal vision.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Ventricular septal defect(VSD)
Herz
A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart defect where a hole exists in the wall, or septum, that separates the left and right lower chambers of the heart. This opening allows blood to flow abnormally between these chambers, forcing the heart and lungs to work much harder than normal. Over time, this abnormal circulation can lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs and heart failure.
Passing: normal
Epilepsy(IE)
Nervensystem
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain and nervous system where abnormal electrical activity causes sudden, temporary disruptions in normal brain function. These disruptions lead to repeated seizures, which are involuntary changes in body movement, sensation, or behavior. Because the underlying cause is often complex, the brain's electrical signaling remains permanently prone to these sudden misfires.
Physical examination
Spinal muscular atrophy(SMA)
Nervensystem
Spinal muscular atrophy is an inherited neurological disorder that affects the motor neurons, which are the specialized nerve cells in the spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Because of an inherited genetic defect, these nerve cells progressively waste away, preventing normal signals from reaching the muscles. This lack of stimulation leads to severe muscle weakness and wasting, known as atrophy, throughout the body.
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 or carrier
Primary hypothyroidism
Stoffwechsel
Primary hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder where the thyroid gland, located in the neck, fails to produce enough thyroid hormones. This hormone deficiency is usually caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the gland or by the gradual replacement of thyroid tissue with fat. Because these hormones regulate how the body uses energy, a shortage slows down the dog's entire metabolism.
Passing: normal
Not health tests, but required for breeding: the club asks for these results too. They don't count toward the risks or the rating.
Wesensbeurteilung
Required by Club für Bretonische Vorstehhunde e.V.
Acceptable result: result on file
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 — Hip dysplasia
Both parents must be HD A–B 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 Brittany Spaniel 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 Brittany Spaniel 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