Loading health guide
Health Testing Guide
Which tests are mandatory, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the Greyhound we've compiled 1 mandatory and 9 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 Greyhound receives a grade of B, as being an athletic dog it exhibits a comparatively low number of typical hereditary diseases. Nevertheless, breeders must test for the dangerous familial cutaneous vasculopathy (FCV), which can lead to severe vascular inflammation. Furthermore, heart diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy as well as bone cancer (osteosarcoma) occur more frequently than average in the breed, which is why a careful selection of parent animals is essential.
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 Greyhound we track 1 mandatory tests plus 9 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 9 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to mandatory tests:
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 · Passing: clear
Pannus (Chronic Superficial Keratitis)(CSK)
Augen
Pannus, or chronic superficial keratitis, is an immune-mediated disease affecting the cornea, which is the clear outer surface of the eye. In this condition, the dog's immune system mistakenly attacks the cornea, causing blood vessels and dark pigment to grow across it. This process is worsened by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and can eventually block the dog's vision.
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
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (Cutaneous asthenia)(EDS)
Haut und Fell
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, also known as cutaneous asthenia, is an inherited connective tissue disorder that affects the skin and joints. It is caused by a genetic defect in collagen, which is the primary structural protein that provides strength and elasticity to tissues. Because of this defect, the skin lacks its normal structural integrity, making it unusually fragile, thin, and loose.
Skin test · Passing: clear
Pattern baldness
Haut und Fell
Pattern baldness is a cosmetic, genetically influenced condition affecting the skin and coat. It occurs when hair follicles gradually shrink over time, leading to localized hair loss. Because there is no underlying inflammation or infection, the skin itself remains healthy and unaffected.
Skin test
Congenital deafness(CHSD)
Nervensystem
Congenital deafness is a hereditary hearing loss present from birth that affects the inner ear's sensory cells, preventing sound signals from reaching the brain. It is usually genetic, occurs more often in certain breeds and is frequently linked to coat patterns such as merle or piebald.
Physical examination · Passing: hearing in both ears
Polyneuropathy, NDRG1-related(AMPN)
Nervensystem
This is an inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system where the protective outer coating of the nerves, known as the myelin sheath, gradually breaks down. Without this protective layer, the electrical signals traveling between the brain and the muscles are disrupted. This leads to a progressive loss of muscle control and coordination throughout the dog's body.
Passing: clear or carrier
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 · Passing: clear
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 or carrier
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 — familial vasculopathy
Both parents must be tested for familial vasculopathy 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 Greyhound 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 Greyhound 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