05/14/2026
Letâs talk HEALTH TESTING.
What health testing are you looking for in Dachshunds specifically? These are the results buyers should be asking for and what they actually mean.
Actual health testing refers to OFA testing:
*Patellas
*Cardiac
*CAER (eyes)
*Thyroid (optional)
Informative testing refers to Genetic testing:
*PRA (testable cords)
(Please note that wire breeders and those breeding âSilky doodle Dachshundsâ or mixing wire lines should also be doing testing for Laforaâs)
The difference between diagnostic OFA health screening and informative genetic health screening?
OFA health screening CAN diagnose a health concern. Ideally parents are clear. This doesnât prevent recessive genes from matching up in offspring, but it does give you the best chance at having unaffected puppies.
Genetic health testing for PRA specifically does NOT diagnose the health issue. I feel like Iâm screaming this 100000xâs over because a lot of breeders are actually very uneducated on how to use the testing. They then pass on that misinformation to buyers. Genetic testing is NOT a diagnostic. It is not a sham or a money scam. It is INFORMATION, a tool to be used to access a risk. Just because your dog shows two genes for the testable Pra cords does NOT mean that they will go blind. It also doesnât mean that they wonât get the untestable cords. What it actually means is that they âcanâ. They have a risk of going blind for those specific cords because two genes are necessary in order for a dog to develop that concern. I do produce Pra carriers, Pra carriers are NOT at risk. I also own Pra genetically affected dogs who are NOT clinically affected. Theyâre properly OFA tested for eyes to prove that theyâre not clinically affected. Those dogs not developing the clinical issue does not mean that my Pra testing is faulty, it just means that my dogs are the lucky ones who did not inherit the health concern despite being at risk. Genetic testing is an informational tool. Buyers of Pra affected puppies should be educated and doing actual eye exams with an ophthalmologist to access their specific dogâs clinical risk due to that information. Unfortunately, you wonât see breeders who do produce affected dogs even discussing the âriskâ. What you will find is an uneducated post circling referencing a study of I believe 46 dogs years ago that claims âonly 1% of dogs are affectedâ. 46 dogs?! What you wonât see is the actual context or link to that study which shows that the âstudyâ was referring to that small percentage on those 46 dogs who tested genetically as affected and none were seen or diagnosed by an ophthalmologist. THERE ARE NO CURRENT STUDIES ON ACTUAL CLINICAL PRA OCCURRENCE IN DACHSHUNDS. We have no idea how prevalent it may or may not actually be. How many pet buyers are seeing a canine ophthalmologist? An honest show of hands? Outside of basic vet exams and vaccines how many pet buyers are seeing eye specialists?
This is why itâs important to do your own research and to not take someone elseâs bias as fact. Itâs the blind leading the blind and education is important.
Did you know that your pup may also have the risk of being deaf if the breeder is breeding Mh length merle dogs? (there is also the risk for eye impairment although it is very rare!).
These dogs are not double dapple, but imo there is the real question of âethicsâ in breeding Mh dogs who produce merle created white in their puppies. Especially those Mh dogs who produce a lot of merle created white. Not all white is piebald created and piebald is not a cop out for breeding at risk dogs. Most breeders breeding these dogs want the double dapple âlookâ while also being able to show that a dog is Mm genetically. What they donât share is that this doesnât erase risk for impairments. Double dapple MM breeding is also only a âriskâ. Youâre not guaranteed to get impaired puppies, but we all collectively agree (rightfully so) that because there is risk of impairment, that it is unethical. Iâm not sure I agree that Mh length breeding isnât just as unethical. There is still risk for impairment and Iâm not seeing any Mh dapple breeders BAER testing their dapple puppies or openly discussing this risk with their buyers.
Did you know that deaf puppies/dogs cannot be diagnosed without BAER testing? Clapping and banging pots is not proper diagnostic. A puppy seemingly responding, is not a diagnostic. Some dogs have partial hearing and this cannot be proven without proper testing. Testing that is not being appropriately done. Puppies/dogs are very adaptable and a regular vet check with a basic vet is not always sufficient. Your regular vet is not usually educated in breed specific concerns. Some do not even know what a double dapple is. They do not know proper breed colors, they do not know about CDA, they are comparable to your P*P. The things your P*P does not know, well the specialist is whom will give you answers outside of the basics.
To sum it all up, OFA health testing is real health testing. It can be diagnostic. Genetic testing is NOT diagnostic, it is purely informational. You need to follow up with the specialist for real answers. Mh length merle has risk for impairment and is an âethical dilemmaâ.
Do not just take someoneâs word because they âseem like they know what theyâre talking aboutâ. No scientific or study link to prove their claims? Itâs likely a bias and information is most likely missing.
****Do your OWN research, it will benefit you. Iâm glad I do.****
