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Health Testing Guide
Which tests are mandatory, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the Portuguese Water Dog we have compiled 1 mandatory and 8 recommended health tests, drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
What this grade means
Although official mandatory tests are missing from our database, prospective buyers of a Cão de Água Português should take an active role in verifying health documentation. Conditions such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and hip dysplasia (HD) are known vulnerabilities within the breed. Furthermore, the severe neurological disorder GM1-gangliosidosis should be ruled out through appropriate genetic testing of the parent dogs.
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 Portuguese Water Dog we track 1 mandatory tests plus 8 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 are not always predictive of severity in the puppies. Even so, they're a powerful tool used by every responsible breeder.
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 8 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to mandatory tests:
Microphthalmia
Augen
Microphthalmia is a congenital developmental disorder of the visual system where one or both of a dog's eyeballs are abnormally small. This structural defect occurs during embryonic development and is often accompanied by other eye abnormalities, such as cataracts, which are cloudy areas in the lens of the eye. Because the eyeball itself is underdeveloped, the surrounding eyelids may also appear droopy or misaligned.
Passing: Clear or Carrier
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
Cataract(HC)
Augen und Sehvermögen
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.
Augen · Passing: CLEAR
Persistent pupillary membranes (PPM)(PPM)
Augen und Sehvermögen
Persistent pupillary membranes (PPM) occur when tiny blood vessels that nourish the eye's lens before birth fail to break down and disappear as they normally should. This leaves behind delicate strands of tissue that stretch across the iris, which is the colored part of the eye, and the pupil. In some cases, these strands can attach to the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye, or the lens.
Augen · Passing: CLEAR
Hip dysplasia(HD)
Bewegungsapparat
Hip dysplasia is an inherited skeletal disorder where the ball and socket of the hip joint do not fit together properly. Instead of sliding smoothly, the bones rub and grind against each other, wearing down the protective cartilage. Over time, this chronic friction causes joint instability, painful inflammation, and progressive arthritis, which is the gradual wear and tear of the joint.
Roentgen · Passing: B or better
Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA)(CDA)
Haut und Fell
Color Dilution Alopecia is a genetic skin disorder that affects dogs with diluted coat colors, such as blue, fawn, or lilac. It is caused by an abnormal distribution of pigment within the hair shafts, which makes the hair brittle and prone to breaking. This structural weakness leads to progressive hair loss and leaves the skin more vulnerable to irritation.
Haut · Passing: Clear or Carrier
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.
Haut
Lysosomal storage diseases(LSD)
Stoffwechsel
Lysosomal storage diseases are inherited metabolic disorders where a dog's cells lack the specific enzymes needed to break down cellular waste. Without these enzymes, waste products build up inside the cells and cause severe, progressive damage to organs, particularly the brain and nervous system.
DNA · 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 — Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Both parents must be Clear or Carrier or better.
We compile mandatory tests from official breed regulations and veterinary databases — and check every uploaded certificate for authenticity.
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 AI-extracted and reviewed by our team for authenticity, date, and result.
1 tests are currently mandatory under the relevant breed-club regulations. The most common are Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (JDCM). Every test must be completed before mating, and the result must fall within the threshold defined by the regulation.
See breeders who have already uploaded their mandatory tests for verification.
View verified breeders