Good Breeder Center

Resources for health screening and veterinary specialists

Below you'll find Good Dog's recommended resources for finding the right health testing or veterinary specialist.

Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.

Veterinarian and his assistant at vet clinic are examining a Yorkshire Terrier

Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.

Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.

Good Dog supports all breeders in their efforts to ensure the health of the next generation of dogs through responsible breeding practices including screening for heritable health conditions. This guide aims to answer some common questions to help breeders locate the appropriate veterinary care for their dogs.

How do I find an OFA veterinarian?

It is important to understand that there are no “OFA” veterinarians. OFA is a nonprofit foundation that was established to promote canine orthopedic health and developed a protocol to screen dogs for hip and elbow dysplasia. Subsequently they have become the primary registry of health tests in North America aimed at advancing scientific research and providing a public record to increase transparency and improve breeding decisions. When looking for a veterinarian the place to start is to understand if the screening test requires a board-certified veterinary specialist or if the testing can be performed by a general practitioner.

What screening tests can be performed by a general practitioner (non-specialist) veterinarian?

Common screening tests including radiographs (x-rays) to diagnose hip and elbow dysplasia, an examination for patella luxation and blood collection to screen for autoimmune hypothyroidism and liver shunts can be conducted by your rDVM in most cases.  

Hip Dysplasia: A general practitioner can take the x-rays for submission to OFA or BVA for assessment and grading by board-certified radiologists. PennHip requires a veterinarian certified in the technique to take the radiographs.

Elbow Dysplasia: A general practitioner can take the x-rays for submission to OFA or BVA for assessment and grading by board-certified radiologists.

Hypothyroidism: A general practitioner can collect the blood sample to submit to an approved diagnostic laboratory to register with OFA.

Liver Shunts (PSVA and MVD): A general practitioner can collect the blood sample to run a serum bile acid test, either a paired sample (pre- and 2 hr post feeding) or a single (2 hr post feeding) sample to register with OFA.

Luxating Patellas: A general practitioner can do the exam and complete the form for registry with OFA.

What screening tests require a veterinary specialist?

The most common screening tests that require a specialist are cardiac examinations and eye certification. 

Cardiac Examination: A board certified cardiologist is recommended for all cardiac evaluations but is required for an Advanced cardiac evaluation which includes an auscultation and echocardiogram. However for some breeds screening by a general practitioner for a Basic cardiac evaluation is acceptable. Refer to the recommended screenings by breed for details pertaining to accepted testing for your breed. This Find a Veterinary Specialist Tool will help you locate a cardiologist in your area and the OFA Cardiac Database is where you will find more information and the relevant forms to register the results of the examination.

Eye Certification: A board certified ophthalmologist is required for eye certification. The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists has a complete list of ophthalmologists  and Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER)is where you will find more information and the relevant forms to register the results of the examination.

BAER testing: While not required, in some cases a neurologist may be needed for BAER testing. The Find a Veterinary Specialist Tool will help you locate one in your area.

Additional resources

Accredited Veterinary Colleges typically have specialists in all (or most) disciplines so this is another good place to start your search. 

Good Vets is a list of Good Breeder recommended veterinarians. 

Below is a list of other speciality services that may be needed for your dogs or puppies. 

Behaviorist: Many general practitioners have limited training in behavior so a consultation with a behaviorist is often recommended.

Dentistry: For more advanced dentistry needs including root canals you will need to consult with a veterinary dentist.

Dermatology (skin problems): A dermatologist may be needed to diagnose and treat some autoimmune conditions such as lupus as well as allergies. 

Nutritionist

Radiologist

Reproductive Specialists: If you are having difficulty finding a veterinarian that is either a specialist or has a special interest, additional training, and a focus on reproduction in their clinic, a good place to start your search is the Society for Theriogenology.

Diagnostic Testing Labs: If you are looking for a laboratory to submit blood to screen for autoimmune thyroiditis and to run vaccine titers.

Genetic Testing Labs: All of these companies provide genetic testing for dogs.

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