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Crufts 2024: Vets reveal top questions to ask when buying a puppy to avoid unwanted health issues
01 Mar 2024
Canine Health Schemes
Dog health screening schemes
The Canine Health Schemes (CHS), established by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Kennel Club, works with expert veterinary surgeons to offer dog health screening schemes for a number of known hereditary conditions in order to improve dog health and welfare.
The schemes allow breeders and owners to screen their dogs for a range of inherited diseases, helping them to make informed and responsible breeding decisions.
Over 8,000 dogs had their hips scored in 2023
Over 6,500 dogs had their elbows graded in 2023
Over 16,000 dogs had eye examinations in 2023
Our schemes
Our mission is to improve dog health and welfare by reducing the incidence and severity of inherited disease. The schemes are open to both pedigree and crossbred dogs and submissions from outside the UK are welcome.
Healthy dogs create healthy puppies
All pedigree and crossbred dogs can suffer from inherited diseases which are passed on from parent to puppy.
Health testing and screening allows owners and breeders to screen for inherited diseases, the results can then be used to help make sure that only healthy dogs are bred from. Responsible breeders should always health test the dogs they plan to use for breeding. To make sure you are buying a happy and health puppy, always ask to see the relevant health test results for both parents.
Request leaflets for your vet practice
Order our Getting started with health testing leaflets, A3 posters or request our digital resources pack to support conversations with your clients about breeding responsibly.
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The Puppy Contract
You can use The Puppy Contract, developed by the Animal Welfare Foundation and the RSPCA, to help you ask all the right questions, including questions about health testing, when buying a puppy.
The Assured Breeder Scheme
The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme promotes good breeding practice and aims to work together with breeders and buyers to force irresponsible breeders, or puppy farmers, out of business.