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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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog we've compiled 5 tests required by Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) and 4 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, size and bulk entail a serious risk of joint diseases such as hip dysplasia (HD), elbow dysplasia (ED), and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD); in addition, cataracts occur. The Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) therefore mandatorily prescribes X-ray and eye examinations, requiring, for example, a breeding value of at most 102 for HD, and that animals must be free of OCD and cataracts. A health-oriented breeder additionally tests for chondrodysplasia (SLC13A1) as well as ectropion / entropion. Before buying a puppy, have the official results of both parents shown to you: ED 0–1, freedom from OCD and cataracts, and, in the case of a genetic test for chondrodysplasia (SLC13A1), at least one clear partner if the other is a carrier.
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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) requires 5 tests for breeding approval, plus 4 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 4 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Gastric dilatation-volvulus(GDV)
Andere
Gastric dilatation-volvulus, commonly known as bloat, is a severe condition affecting the stomach and digestive system. It occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists on itself, trapping the gas and blocking blood flow to vital organs. This twisting can rapidly lead to tissue damage and cardiovascular shock if not treated immediately.
X-ray
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
Chondrodysplasia, SLC13A1-related
Bewegungsapparat
This is an inherited form of dwarfism affecting the skeletal system, specifically bone and cartilage development. It is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to a deficiency in sulfate, a compound crucial for healthy bone growth. Without enough sulfate, the dog's skeleton cannot develop to its normal size and structure.
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
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 Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV)
Acceptable result: Premium SNP DNA profile (ISAG 2020) on file (alternatively ISAG 2006 until the end of 2026)
Wesensbeurteilung
Required by Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV)
Acceptable result: Breeding approval test (Körung) passed successfully
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 clear 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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