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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 German Shepherd we've compiled 2 tests required by Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V. and 13 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
Hip and elbow dysplasia remain the most common orthopedic findings in the breed despite decades of selective breeding; Degenerative Myelopathy is also exceptionally prevalent in the German Shepherd Dog. For breeding approval within the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V., radiographic screenings for hip dysplasia (HD) with a threshold of HD A–C, elbow dysplasia (ED) with ED 0–1, as well as a dental and bite evaluation are mandatory. Health-conscious breeders additionally test parent animals for Degenerative Myelopathy as well as lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LTV). Make sure to see all official HD and ED radiographic evaluation certificates and, ideally, additional DNA test results for further risks such as Degenerative Myelopathy without any gaps.
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 German Shepherd, Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V. requires 2 tests for breeding approval, plus 13 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 13 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
Megaesophagus(ME)
Andere
Megaesophagus is a disorder of the digestive system where the esophagus, the muscular tube connecting the throat to the stomach, becomes abnormally stretched and loses its muscle tone. Because these muscles can no longer contract to push food and liquid downward, meals become trapped in the tube. This trapped material is typically regurgitated, meaning it is passively cast back up before ever reaching the stomach.
X-ray
Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra(LTV)
Bewegungsapparat
Transitional vertebra, also known as lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), is a congenital skeletal malformation where a vertebra at the junction of two spinal sections—usually the lower back and the pelvis—develops abnormally, sharing characteristics of both areas. This anatomical variation can cause instability or uneven pressure in the lower spine. It is frequently identified during standard hip dysplasia screening radiographs, which evaluate the same pelvic region.
X-ray · Passing: LTV 0–1
Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy(CVCM)
Bewegungsapparat
Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy, commonly known as Wobbler syndrome, is a condition affecting the spine where the spinal cord in the neck becomes pinched. This compression is caused by malformed neck vertebrae or slipping discs between the bones. Over time, the constant pressure damages the nerve pathways that carry signals from the brain to the limbs.
X-ray
Lupus erythematosus (systemic, cutaneous/discoid)(SLE)
Haut und Fell
Lupus erythematosus is a severe autoimmune disease where the dog's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues. In the cutaneous or discoid form, this damage is limited to the skin, while the systemic form can affect multiple internal organs, including the kidneys, joints, and blood vessels. This abnormal immune response causes chronic inflammation and tissue damage throughout the affected areas.
Body-fluid analysis
Aortic valve stenosis(AS)
Herz
Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart, which controls blood flow from the main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) to the rest of the body. Because of this restriction, the heart muscle must work much harder to pump blood, which eventually causes the muscle wall to thicken abnormally. This is a severe cardiovascular condition that can strain the heart over time.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)(PDA)
Herz
Patent ductus arteriosus is a congenital heart defect where a normal fetal blood vessel connecting the aorta and the pulmonary artery fails to close shortly after birth. This failure allows blood to continuously recirculate through the lungs instead of flowing to the rest of the body, putting severe, permanent strain on the heart muscle. Over time, this volume overload causes the left side of the heart to enlarge and weaken.
Ultrasound
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
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
Nodular dermatofibrosis and renal cystadenocarcinoma(RCND)
Nieren
This is an inherited condition that affects both the skin and the kidneys. It causes non-cancerous, firm lumps of connective tissue (nodules) to form under the skin, while simultaneously causing fluid-filled sacs (cysts) and cancerous tumors to grow in the kidneys. Over time, these kidney abnormalities damage the organ's ability to filter waste from the blood.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency(EPI)
Stoffwechsel
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a digestive disorder where the pancreas fails to produce enough essential enzymes to break down food. Without these enzymes, the dog's digestive system cannot absorb nutrients properly, leading to malnutrition. Diagnosis is typically confirmed using a specific blood test called the canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) serum test.
Body-fluid analysis
Hemophilia
Stoffwechsel
Hemophilia is an inherited blood clotting disorder affecting the circulatory system, where the body lacks specific proteins needed for coagulation, which is the process of blood clotting. Because the blood cannot clot properly, even minor injuries can lead to prolonged internal or external bleeding. This condition is inherited through an X-linked genetic trait, meaning it primarily affects male dogs.
Body-fluid analysis
Pituitary hormone deficiency, LHX3-related(CPHD)
Stoffwechsel
This condition is an inherited underdevelopment of the pituitary gland, which is a small hormone-producing organ at the base of the brain. Due to a genetic mutation, the gland cannot produce enough growth hormone and other vital regulatory hormones. This deficiency severely impacts the dog's overall development and the function of other organs like the thyroid.
Passing: clear or carrier
Not health tests, but required for breeding: the club asks for these results too. They don't count toward the risks or the rating.
DNA-Identitätsnachweis
Required by Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V.
Acceptable result: DNA-geprüft (DNA-Profil in Genotypen-Datenbank hinterlegt)
Dental and bite evaluation
Required by Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V.
Acceptable result: Kein Fehlen von P3 + weiterer Zahn, Fangzahn, P4, M1, M2 oder insgesamt 3 Zähnen; Kiefer: maximal 2 mm Überbiss, kein Vorbiss, kein Aufbeißen im gesamten Schneidezahnbereich
Hip and elbow joints (follow-up X-ray for stud dogs)
Required by Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V.
Acceptable result: Keine zuchtausschließenden Befunde beim Kontrollröntgen
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 — Elbow Dysplasia
Both parents must be ED 0–1 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.
These hereditary conditions are currently classified as most relevant for the German Shepherd: Elbow Dysplasia (ED), Hip dysplasia (HD). The risk for a puppy depends primarily on whether both parents have been tested for these conditions and whether the results fall within breed-specific requirements.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the German Shepherd 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