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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 Spanish Galgo we've compiled 0 mandatory and 4 recommended health 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 Spanish Galgo is considered a robust, primal sighthound breed with only a few documented hereditary diseases. Rare cases of hyperekplexia (startle disease), a severe hereditary neurological condition in puppies for which a genetic test is available, have been documented; in addition, bald thigh syndrome, a hair loss on the thighs typical of sighthounds, also occurs. Like other sighthounds, the Galgo is sensitive to certain anesthetics—any veterinarian should be reminded of this prior to a procedure. A health-focused breeder tests their breeding stock for startle disease; ask to see the parents' test results.
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 Spanish Galgo we track 0 mandatory tests plus 4 additional recommended ones. 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 performs all mandatory tests plus 4 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to mandatory tests:
Delayed postoperative hemorrhage(DEPOH)
Andere
Delayed postoperative hemorrhage (DEPOH) is an inherited blood clotting disorder affecting the circulatory system. In affected dogs, the normal blood clots that form to seal surgical wounds break down prematurely. This leads to unexpected bleeding hours or days after a surgical procedure has completed.
Body-fluid analysis · Passing: clear
Dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)
Herz
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a severe disease of the heart muscle where the heart's chambers become stretched and enlarged. This stretching thins the heart walls, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. Over time, this decreased pumping ability can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs or abdomen.
Ultrasound · Passing: normal
Hyperekplexia, GLRA1-related(SD)
Nervensystem
Hyperekplexia, also known as startle disease, is a severe hereditary neurological disorder affecting the nervous system. It is caused by a genetic mutation in the GLRA1 gene, which disrupts glycine receptors that normally help calm nerve activity. Without these functioning receptors, the dog's nervous system becomes unsafely overexcited by sensory inputs. This specific genetic variant is found in Miniature Australian Shepherds and Miniature American Shepherds.
Passing: clear or carrier
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
These levels are a comparison framework, not an official certification. They help compare breeding programs at a glance.
A complete checklist with every mandatory and 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 (HD-FCI)
Both parents must be tested for Hip dysplasia (HD-FCI) and show a passing result.
We compile mandatory tests from official breed regulations and veterinary databases — and cross-check every uploaded certificate against the dog's profile using AI.
L1 = mandatory under breed-club regulations. L2 = 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 Spanish Galgo 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 Spanish Galgo fits you — including an honest cost estimate per month, per year, and across the dog's lifetime.
See breeders who have already uploaded their mandatory tests for verification.
View verified breeders