What Health Tests Should Corgi Parents Have?

When a breeder says their corgis are health tested, ask exactly which tests. Here is a plain-English guide to the ones I run before every breeding at Fluffy Corgis of Missouri, and what the results mean for your puppy.

DM: degenerative myelopathy

DM is an inherited condition affecting the spinal cord. A simple DNA test tells whether a dog is clear, a carrier, or at risk. Clear dogs cannot pass it on. Carriers can be bred safely to clear mates, because no puppy will end up at risk.

Our Muffin is DM at risk, so she will only be bred to DM-clear sires. Our pairings always take test results into account.

vWD1: von Willebrand's disease type 1

This is an inherited bleeding disorder, tested with DNA. Dogs that are clear will not pass it on. Knowing the result matters for planning surgery and for choosing breeding pairs.

Our current adults are clear for vWD1.

EIC: exercise-induced collapse

EIC can cause weakness or collapse after intense exercise. It is tested with DNA. Our adults are clear for EIC, which is one more reason you can feel confident bringing a high-energy herding breed into an active family.

OFA: hips, elbows and eyes

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals evaluates hips and elbows by x-ray and eyes by a veterinary eye exam. We keep earning OFA certificates on elbows, hips and eyes. When a dog has completed the set of recommended tests, it can earn a CHIC number, which proves the results were made public.

A CHIC number does not guarantee perfect health, but it shows that a breeder tested and shared the results.

What does a health guarantee add?

Testing lowers the odds of problems, and a guarantee is the breeder's promise to stand behind the puppy. Ours is two years and covers genetic issues and conditions, excluding hip dysplasia and IVDD. Each puppy also gets vaccinations at six and nine weeks, deworming and a veterinary exam before going home.

Please ask any breeder to put the guarantee in writing.

How do you read a test result?

A DNA result for DM, vWD1 or EIC usually comes back as clear, carrier or at risk. Clear means the dog has two normal copies. Carrier means it has one changed copy and, for these conditions, is not expected to develop the disease but can pass the gene on. At risk means two changed copies.

The key is how results are combined. Two carriers bred together can produce at-risk puppies, so a thoughtful breeder pairs dogs to avoid that.

What should you ask to see?

Ask for the actual results on both parents, the name and registration of each dog, and the OFA listing for hips, elbows and eyes. Results from a recognized lab or the OFA database are easy to verify. A breeder who is proud of testing is happy to share it.

You can read each of our adults' results and notes on the Our dogs page.

Do tests replace regular vet care?

No. Testing lowers risk, but a healthy life still depends on good food, exercise, a lean body and regular vet visits. Corgis have long backs, so keeping weight down and avoiding repeated jumping is wise.

Your puppy comes with a complimentary first vet visit through the AKC Veterinary Network, and a two-year health guarantee backs the puppy's genetic health.

Why testing matters for corgis in particular

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a long-bodied, short-legged breed, so joint and spine health deserve careful attention. DM, vWD1 and EIC are conditions that run in the breed, and DNA tests let breeders make informed pairings, rather than learning about a problem after puppies are born.

Hip and elbow evaluations add another layer, because they show how a dog's joints developed, not only what its genes say.

How long do results last?

DNA results are permanent, so a dog only needs to be tested once. OFA hip and elbow results are generally recorded once a dog is old enough, and eye exams are repeated on a regular schedule. That is why we keep earning new OFA certificates as our adults mature.

How should you use this guide when you shop?

Print a short list: DM, vWD1, EIC, OFA hips, OFA elbows, OFA eyes and the guarantee. Ask each breeder to show you results for both parents. If answers are vague, ask again, or move on.

A breeder who tests is proud to share, and a breeder who shares is usually one who cares about the puppy long after pick-up day.

How do you use the results?

I use test results to choose pairs, not just to label dogs. Dams are at least two years old and in top condition before their first breeding, and sires may mate at 18 months.

Look at the profile of each adult on our Our dogs page, or ask me about a specific dog. Call or text (660) 234-5656, or request the Puppy Questionnaire.