Health & Testing
Toy Poodle Health Testing: What Responsible Breeders Do
Before buying a Toy Poodle puppy, understand what health testing responsible breeders should perform — and what red flags to watch for if testing is absent.
February 15, 2024 · 7 min read
Why Health Testing Matters for Toy Poodles
Toy Poodles are a generally healthy breed with a long lifespan — but like all purebreds, they carry genetic risks for specific conditions. Responsible breeders test their parent dogs for these conditions before breeding, reducing the probability of passing problems to puppies. This is one of the most important differences between a reputable breeder and a backyard breeder or puppy mill.
Primary Health Concerns in Toy Poodles
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-PRCD) — a hereditary eye disease causing progressive vision loss and eventual blindness. DNA testable — carriers should not be bred to other carriers.
- Von Willebrand's Disease (vWD) — a bleeding disorder caused by deficient clotting factor. DNA testable — manageable in carriers but serious in affected dogs.
- Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) — a progressive neurological disease affecting mobility. DNA testable for risk variants.
- Patellar Luxation — a structural knee condition where the kneecap slips out of alignment. Evaluated physically and through OFA radiography.
- Sebaceous Adenitis — a skin condition affecting some Poodles. Diagnosis by biopsy; harder to screen proactively.
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease — hip degeneration in toy breeds. Evaluated by OFA radiography.
What Is OFA Testing?
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is a non-profit organization that evaluates and certifies the health of breeding dogs. For Toy Poodles, OFA evaluations include radiographic analysis of hips, knees (patellar luxation), and elbows, as well as eye examinations by a board-certified ophthalmologist and cardiac evaluations. OFA results are publicly searchable, allowing buyers to verify a breeder's health testing claims.
What Is DNA Testing?
Consumer canine DNA panels are the most practical way to screen breeding dogs. A single panel screens for over 200 genetic health conditions, determines parentage, and assesses genetic diversity. For breeders, it provides detailed reports on which health conditions a dog carries, which it's clear of, and what coat and size genetics it holds. At Star Struck Puppies, we DNA test all of our Toy Poodle parents before they join our breeding program.
Questions to Ask Any Toy Poodle Breeder
- Are parent dogs DNA tested for PRA-PRCD and vWD? Can I see the results?
- Are parents OFA evaluated for patellar luxation?
- Can I access the full DNA test reports?
- Are health test results publicly listed on the OFA website?
- Do you offer a written health guarantee? What does it cover and for how long?
Our Commitment to Health Testing
At Star Struck Puppies, every Toy Poodle parent is DNA tested before breeding. We don't breed carriers to carriers for DNA-testable conditions, and we share test results openly with all families. Every puppy comes with a written lifetime genetic health guarantee. We believe informed buyers make the best pet owners — ask us anything.