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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 Rhodesian Ridgeback we have compiled 2 mandatory and 11 recommended health tests, drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
What this grade means
The Rhodesian Ridgeback carries an above-average genetic burden with 18 mandatory health tests, though these are strictly monitored by reputable breed clubs. Particular focus is placed on breed-specific risks such as painful dermoid sinuses and Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME). Buyers must also ensure they see official hip dysplasia (HD) X-ray evaluations to prevent severe mobility issues later in the dog's life.
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 Rhodesian Ridgeback we track 2 mandatory tests plus 11 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 11 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to mandatory tests:
Cleft palate
Allgemeine Fitness und Anatomie
A cleft palate is a congenital birth defect where the roof of the mouth fails to fuse properly during development in the womb. This failure leaves an abnormal opening between the oral cavity and the nasal passages. Because these two systems are directly connected, food, liquids, and air cannot be properly separated during swallowing.
Physisch · Passing: CLEAR
Congenital blindness
Augen und Sehvermögen
Congenital blindness is a severe or complete loss of vision present from birth, affecting the eyes and the neural pathways connected to the brain. It is caused by developmental abnormalities in key structures like the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, or the optic nerve. These structural defects prevent visual signals from being properly formed or transmitted.
Physisch · Passing: CLEAR
Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy(CVCM)
Bewegungsapparat
Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy, commonly known as Wobbler syndrome, is a condition affecting the spine where the spinal cord in the neck becomes pinched. This compression is caused by malformed neck vertebrae or slipping discs between the bones. Over time, the constant pressure damages the nerve pathways that carry signals from the brain to the limbs.
Roentgen · Passing: A
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: CARRIER
Dermoid sinus(DS)
Haut und Fell
A dermoid sinus is a congenital skin defect where a tube-like channel fails to close properly during embryonic development, extending from the skin's surface down into deeper tissues or even the spinal cord. This condition primarily affects the skin and nervous system along the midline of the neck and back. While genetic risk tests exist to screen for the underlying ridge gene duplication, a physical examination by a veterinarian, known as clinical palpation, remains the gold standard for diagnosing an actual sinus.
Physisch · Passing: CLEAR
Congenital deafness(CHSD)
Nervensystem
Congenital deafness is a hereditary hearing loss present from birth that affects the inner ear's sensory cells, preventing sound signals from reaching the brain. It is often linked to specific genetic variants, such as those associated with certain coat patterns like merle or piebald, or breed-specific conditions like Early Onset Adult Deafness (EOAD). This genetic defect causes the vital blood supply to the inner ear to fail, leading to the permanent degeneration of the hearing nerve cells.
Physisch · Passing: BILATERAL_HEARING
Cerebellar abiotrophy(CA)
Nervensystem
Cerebellar abiotrophy is an inherited neurological disorder affecting the brain, specifically the cerebellum, which regulates balance and movement coordination. In affected dogs, the nerve cells in this region prematurely degenerate and die off. This progressive cell loss disrupts the brain's ability to control smooth physical movements.
DNA · Passing: CLEAR
Degenerative Myelopathy(DM)
Nervensystem
Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord where the protective sheath around the nerves slowly breaks down. This deterioration disrupts the vital communication signals between the brain and the muscles of the hind limbs. Over time, this lack of signal transmission leads to a complete loss of muscle control in the back legs.
DNA · Passing: Clear or Carrier
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (Rhodesian Ridgeback)(JME)
Nervensystem
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) is an inherited neurological disorder affecting the brain and nervous system. It is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to abnormal, uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. This disruption in normal brain signaling results in sudden, involuntary muscle twitches, which are referred to as myoclonus.
DNA · Passing: Clear or Carrier
Adult-onset deafness(AOD)
Ohren und Gehör
This condition is a progressive form of hearing loss that affects the auditory system, specifically the sensory cells within the inner ear. Over time, these specialized cells degenerate and lose their ability to transmit sound signals to the brain. Because it is an inherited disorder, this deterioration occurs naturally as the dog matures, even though the outer ear looks completely healthy.
DNA · Passing: Clear or Carrier
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 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 — Elbow Dysplasia
Both parents must be Grad 0 (frei) 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.
2 tests are currently mandatory under the relevant breed-club regulations. The most common are Elbow Dysplasia (ED), Hip dysplasia (HD). 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