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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 Golden Retriever we've compiled 12 core tests (8 of them required by Golden Retriever Club e.V. (GRC) / Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC)) and 12 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 Golden Retriever, breed-specific risks exist for hereditary eye diseases such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, as well as hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED). The Golden Retriever Club e.V. (GRC) mandates an ophthalmological eye examination (ECVO) for breeding, along with tests for cataracts, retinal dysplasia (RD), and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). The Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC) requires genetic tests for Progressive Retinal Atrophy 1 (GR-PRA1) and 2 (PRA-GR2), Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL5), and Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd); in these genetic tests and for PRA, carriers are only mated with clear partners. A responsible breeder also has the parent animals examined for HD (HD A–C, C only with restrictions), ED (ED 0–1), and aortic stenosis (AS). Make sure to have all of these official reports and test results presented to you in full before buying a puppy.
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 Golden Retriever covers 12 tests, 8 of them required by Golden Retriever Club e.V. (GRC) / Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC), plus 12 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 12 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Distichiasis
Augen
Distichiasis is an eye condition where extra eyelashes grow from the meibomian glands, which are the oil glands along the edge of the eyelid. These abnormal hairs point inward and rub directly against the cornea, the clear outer surface of the eye. This constant friction causes mechanical irritation and can damage the sensitive ocular surface.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Ectropion / Entropion
Augen
These are structural eyelid abnormalities affecting a dog's eyes. In cases of entropion, the eyelid rolls inward, causing the eyelashes or fur to rub painfully against the surface of the eyeball. In ectropion, the eyelid sags or rolls outward, leaving the sensitive inner lining of the eye exposed and unprotected.
Passing: clear
Corneal dystrophy(CD)
Augen
Corneal dystrophy is an inherited eye disorder where abnormal, opaque materials like fats or calcium build up in the cornea, which is the clear outer layer of the eye. This accumulation typically affects both eyes and is non-inflammatory, meaning it does not cause immediate swelling or redness. Over time, these deposits can disrupt the smooth surface of the eye.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD)
Bewegungsapparat
This is a severe, inherited muscle disorder caused by a lack of dystrophin, which is a crucial protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. Without this protein, both the skeletal muscles used for movement and the cardiac muscle of the heart progressively weaken and break down.
DNA test · Passing: clear
Atopy(CAD)
Haut und Fell
Atopy is a chronic allergic skin disease where a dog's immune system overreacts to common environmental substances like pollen, mold spores, and dust mites. This inappropriate immune response damages the natural protective barrier of the skin, leading to persistent inflammation and irritation. It primarily affects the skin, which is the body's largest organ system.
Skin test
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
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
Hypomyelination(HYM)
Nervensystem
This is an inherited neurological disorder affecting the central nervous system, where the protective myelin sheath that insulates nerve fibers fails to develop properly. Without this adequate insulation, nerve signals cannot travel efficiently between the brain and the body. This disruption leads to impaired coordination and involuntary muscle movements.
Passing: clear
Hypothyroidism
Stoffwechsel
Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder where the thyroid gland, located in the neck, fails to produce enough thyroid hormones. These hormones are essential for regulating the body's metabolic rate, which is the speed at which cells convert nutrients into energy. When hormone levels are too low, the dog's entire metabolism slows down, affecting multiple organ systems.
Body-fluid analysis
Hemangiosarcoma(HSA)
Tumor
Haemangiosarcoma is a severe cancer that develops from the cells lining the blood vessels, most commonly affecting the spleen, liver, or heart. Because the tumor weakens these vessel walls, it frequently leads to dangerous internal bleeding. When the heart is involved, veterinarians typically use a cardiac ultrasound, also known as an echocardiogram, to identify tumor masses in the right atrium.
Ultrasound
Lymphoma(LSA)
Tumor
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is the network of vessels and organs responsible for filtering fluids and fighting infections. In affected dogs, white blood cells called lymphocytes multiply uncontrollably and accumulate in tissues like the lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. This disrupts the normal function of the immune system and other vital organs.
Body-fluid analysis
Mast cell tumor(MCT)
Tumor
A mast cell tumor is a type of cancer that arises from mast cells, which are specialized white blood cells involved in the body's immune and allergic responses. These tumors most commonly develop in the skin and the tissues just beneath it, though they can occasionally affect internal organs. Because mast cells contain chemical messengers like histamine, the tumors can cause localized inflammation, swelling, or redness.
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 — Cataract
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.
The Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever 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