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Health Testing Guide
Which tests matter, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the Irish Water Spaniel we've compiled 3 tests in the recommended health standard and 4 additionally recommended tests, drawn from veterinary databases such as CIDD (University of PEI) and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
View verified breedersWhat this grade means
In the Irish Water Spaniel, the main focus is on orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED), as well as eye diseases such as cataracts. Additionally, primary hypothyroidism and non-color-linked follicular dysplasia can occur. A responsible breeder has the parent animals carefully X-rayed and examined by a specialist veterinarian before breeding. Before buying a puppy, ask to see official results for the hips (HD A–C), mandatory ED 0 for the elbows, and proof of eye clearance regarding cataracts.
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 recommended health standard for the Irish Water Spaniel covers 3 tests, 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:
Cataract(HC)
Augen
A cataract is a progressive clouding of the lens inside the dog's eye, which is the clear structure that focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye. When the lens becomes cloudy or opaque, it blocks light from entering, gradually impairing the dog's vision. If left untreated, this condition can eventually lead to complete blindness in the affected eye.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Non-colour-linked follicular dysplasia
Haut und Fell
Non-colour-linked follicular dysplasia is an umbrella term for structural abnormalities affecting the hair follicles, the microscopic skin structures that produce hair. Unlike certain other follicle disorders, it occurs independently of the dog's coat colour and causes the follicles to progressively fail at generating healthy hair. Because there is no commercial genetic test, confirmation requires examining a small skin biopsy under a microscope.
Skin test
Heart disease
Herz
Heart disease refers to structural or functional abnormalities of the heart muscle, valves, or electrical system that impair its ability to pump blood effectively. This reduced pumping efficiency prevents the cardiovascular system from delivering adequate oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues. Some forms are congenital, meaning present from birth, while others are acquired over time due to wear or genetic factors.
Physical examination · Passing: normal
Primary hypothyroidism
Stoffwechsel
Primary hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder where the thyroid gland, located in the neck, fails to produce enough thyroid hormones. This hormone deficiency is usually caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the gland or by the gradual replacement of thyroid tissue with fat. Because these hormones regulate how the body uses energy, a shortage slows down the dog's entire metabolism.
Passing: normal
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 — Ocular anomalies
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 Irish Water Spaniel 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 Irish Water Spaniel 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