Health Testing

Health Testing

Our Commitment to Healthy Puppies

At Poodles of the Pantheon, every breeding decision begins with comprehensive health testing. We follow the Poodle Club of America's recommended testing protocols and make all results publicly available through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) database.

This level of testing represents a non-negotiable significant investment, both financially and in time. Your puppy deserves the healthiest possible start in life.

Why Health Testing Matters Testing Standards Understanding Test Results Additional Health Measures Orthopedic & Health Evaluations Genetic Screening Carrier Breeding Outside Breeding Dogs

Why Health Testing Matters

Genetic health testing allows us to identify dogs who are not only free from disease themselves, but who will not pass hereditary conditions to their offspring. By testing every breeding dog before they produce a litter, we dramatically reduce the risk of preventable genetic diseases in your puppy.

Understanding Testing Standards

When evaluating health testing, it helps to understand the different benchmarks that exist:

OFA CHIC (The Transparency Minimum)

CHIC certification requires testing hips, eyes, and one elective. Dogs only need to be tested with results made public. Many breeders stop here.

PCA Requirements (The Ethical Standard)

The Poodle Club of America sets the ethical breeding standard: hips, annual eyes, thyroid, NEwS DNA test, vWD DNA test, plus strongly recommended cardiac and sebaceous adenitis screening.

The Pantheon Standard (Performance & Longevity)

We complete 100% of PCA requirements, then go further. Because we breed athletic, active standard poodles, we add comprehensive orthopedic screening (elbows, patellas, Legg-Calvé-Perthes), full dentition verification, cardiac evaluation by a board-certified cardiologist, an extended DNA panel and we also use genetic data to maintain breed health long-term. Learn about our approach to Genetic Diversity .

We don't test to meet requirements. We test to ensure your puppy has the soundest possible foundation for an active, healthy life.

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Orthopedic & Health Evaluations

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Required Foundation Tests (PCA Standard)

Hip Dysplasia (OFA)

  • What it tests: Evaluates hip joint formation and fit
  • Why it matters: Hip dysplasia causes painful arthritis and mobility issues
  • Our standard: OFA Good or Excellent rating required
  • Testing method: X-ray evaluation by board-certified radiologists

Eyes (ACVO)

  • What it tests: Comprehensive eye examination for hereditary conditions
  • Why it matters: Detects progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, and other eye diseases
  • Our standard: Annual examination, current within one year
  • Testing method: Examination by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist

Thyroid (OFA)

  • What it tests: Autoimmune thyroiditis evaluation
  • Why it matters: Thyroid disease affects metabolism, energy, coat quality, and overall health
  • Our standard: OFA Normal rating required
  • Testing method: Blood panel evaluated by OFA-approved laboratory

Performance & Longevity Testing (Pantheon Extras)

Elbow Dysplasia (OFA)

  • What it tests: Evaluates elbow joint formation
  • Why it matters: Elbow dysplasia causes lameness and arthritis, particularly important for athletic dogs
  • Our standard: OFA Normal rating required
  • Testing method: X-ray evaluation by board-certified radiologists

Patella Evaluation (OFA)

  • What it tests: Kneecap stability and positioning
  • Why it matters: Luxating patellas cause pain, lameness, and early arthritis
  • Our standard: OFA Normal rating required
  • Testing method: Physical examination by veterinarian

Legg-Calvé-Perthes (OFA)

  • What it tests: Hip joint blood supply and femoral head integrity
  • Why it matters: LCP causes hip degeneration and severe lameness
  • Our standard: OFA Normal rating required
  • Testing method: X-ray evaluation

Advanced Cardiac Examination

  • What it tests: Heart structure, function, and rhythm abnormalities
  • Why it matters: Cardiac disease can shorten lifespan and limit activity
  • Our standard: Evaluation by board-certified cardiologist
  • Testing method: Echocardiogram and auscultation

Full Dentition Verification

  • What it tests: Complete tooth count and proper bite alignment
  • Why it matters: Correct bite is essential for eating, health, and breed standard
  • Our standard: Full dentition with correct scissor bite
  • Testing method: Physical examination and documentation

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Genetic Screening

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Required Foundation Tests (PCA Standard)

Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (NEwS)

  • What it tests: Neurological condition affecting puppies in first weeks of life
  • Why it matters: Affected puppies experience seizures and typically do not survive
  • Our standard: Clear or Carrier (never bred Carrier to Carrier)
  • Testing method: DNA test

von Willebrand's Disease Type I (vWD)

  • What it tests: Blood clotting disorder
  • Why it matters: Affected dogs can experience excessive bleeding from injuries or surgery
  • Our standard: Clear or Carrier preferred
  • Testing method: DNA test through OFA or VetGen

Extended Genetic Screening (Pantheon Extras)

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

  • What it tests: Progressive spinal cord disease
  • Why it matters: Causes progressive hind limb weakness in older dogs
  • Our standard: Clear or Carrier preferred
  • Testing method: DNA test

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-PRCD and PRA-rcd4)

  • What it tests: Genetic mutations causing progressive blindness
  • Why it matters: Affected dogs lose vision over time, eventually becoming blind
  • Our standard: Clear or Carrier (never Affected)
  • Testing method: DNA test through OptiGen or equivalent

Chondrodystrophy (CDDY/IVDD)

  • What it tests: Cartilage development disorder linked to intervertebral disc disease
  • Why it matters: Increases risk of painful disc herniation and paralysis
  • Our standard: Clear or Carrier preferred
  • Testing method: DNA test

GM2-Gangliosidosis

  • What it tests: Fatal neurological storage disease
  • Why it matters: Affected puppies experience severe neurological decline
  • Our standard: Clear or Carrier (never bred Carrier to Carrier)
  • Testing method: DNA test

Osteochondrodysplasia

  • What it tests: Skeletal development disorder
  • Why it matters: Affects bone and cartilage growth
  • Our standard: Clear or Carrier preferred
  • Testing method: DNA test

Day Blindness/Retinal Degeneration

  • What it tests: Vision impairment in bright light conditions
  • Why it matters: Affects quality of life and working ability
  • Our standard: Clear or Carrier preferred
  • Testing method: DNA test

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Understanding Test Results

Health test results typically fall into three categories:

Clear/Normal

The dog has two normal copies of the gene and will never develop the disease. They will pass one normal copy to every puppy.

Carrier

The dog has one normal copy and one mutation copy. They will not develop the disease themselves, but can pass the mutation to offspring. We carefully manage carrier breedings to ensure no affected puppies are produced.

Affected

The dog has two copies of the mutation and will develop the disease. We do not breed affected dogs.

Responsible Carrier Breeding

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For recessive conditions, we would consider breeding carrier dogs when they offer exceptional qualities in structure, temperament, or genetic diversity. However, we would never breed two carriers together.

When a carrier is bred to a clear dog, puppies may be clear or carriers, but none will be affected by the disease. This approach allows breeders to maintain genetic diversity while eliminating the risk of producing affected puppies.

Carrier puppies placed in pet homes are spayed or neutered and will never develop the disease. Carrier puppies considered for breeding would only be used if they demonstrate exceptional quality and are bred exclusively to clear dogs.

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Additional Health Measures

Beyond genetic testing, all breeding dogs receive:

  • Annual veterinary examinations
  • Current vaccinations per AAHA guidelines
  • Regular dental care
  • Appropriate parasite prevention
  • Optimal body condition maintenance
  • Age-appropriate exercise and conditioning

Our veterinary partners are familiar with our breeding program and support our health testing protocols. We maintain relationships with board-certified specialists in cardiology, ophthalmology, and reproduction to ensure the highest level of care.

Outside Breeding Dogs

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When we use a sire from another kennel, we require health testing before considering the breeding. PCA standards are strongly preferred, but we will never use a sire with less than CHIC-level testing.

We verify all test results through OFA or the testing laboratory before moving forward. We review their complete health testing, pedigree analysis, and genetic diversity data to ensure they complement our dams and support our breeding goals.

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Questions About Health Testing?

We're happy to explain any test result, discuss what specific findings mean for your puppy, or answer questions about our testing protocols. Informed puppy buyers make the best puppy owners.

All of our dogs' health testing results are publicly available in the OFA database. You can search by their registered names on our individual dog profile pages.

Complete Puppy Application