Health testing & genetics
- all about the breed
DNA testing
There are different kinds of health testing, and they tell us different things.
For Toy Poodles, the core health screening includes testing for prcd-PRA, examination of the eyes by a veterinary ophthalmologist and evaluation of the patellas (kneecaps).
DNA tests will give one of three results:
Clear: the dog has no copies of the tested disease variant;
Carrier: the dog has one copy of the variant;
Affected / At Risk: the dog has two copies of the variant.
One of the advantages of genetic testing is that being a carrier does not automatically mean a dog has to be removed from a breeding program
Depending on the laboratory and panel used, poodles may receive results for conditions such as:
rcd4-PRA: another genetic form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy;
vWD1: von Willebrand Disease; Type 1, an inherited bleeding disorder;
DM: Degenerative Myelopathy, a progressive neurological disease;
NEWS: Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures.
.
Eye examination
This is where DNA testing and physical health screening become especially important to distinguish.
A clear DNA result does not mean that a dog’s eyes are automatically clear of hereditary disease.
There are eye abnormalities and diseases for which we either don’t have a DNA test or for which the known DNA tests only identify one particular genetic cause.
That is why breeding dogs should also undergo a specialist eye examination, such as an ECVO examination in Europe.
During this examination, the eyes are physically assessed for abnormalities and hereditary conditions.
In other words:
DNA testing tells us about specific genetic variants.
An eye examination tells us what is actually observable in the dog’s eyes.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation occurs when the kneecap can move out of its normal position. It is particularly relevant in small and toy breeds.
This isn’t something we can rule out with a DNA swab.
The dog’s knees therefore need to be physically examined and graded. Results are commonly recorded separately for the left and right knee, for example 0/0, meaning no luxation was detected in either knee.
Screening breeding dogs helps us make more informed decisions and reduce the risk of passing a predisposition for patellar problems to future generations.
The bigger picture
Even comprehensive health testing can’t predict everything.
Not every health condition has a simple genetic cause. Some are influenced by many genes, environmental factors or a combination of both. Others may have a hereditary component that science cannot yet reliably test for.
This is why we also consider pedigree, relatives and family history when choosing breeding dogs and combinations.
And health isn’t our only consideration.
We look at the whole dog: health, genetics, structure, temperament, pedigree and genetic diversity.
No breeder can promise that a puppy will never develop a health problem. Biology simply doesn’t work that way. What responsible breeding can do is gather as much reliable information as possible, understand its limitations, and use it to make thoughtful choices.
Because breeding shouldn’t only be about creating beautiful puppies.
It should be about doing everything reasonably possible to give the next generation the best start. 🤍