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Health Testing

At Cardinal’s Crossing Australian Labradoodles, health testing is the foundation of our breeding program. We believe that ethical, intentional breeding begins with a deep commitment to producing dogs with sound structure, strong genetics, and the best possible chance at a long, healthy life.

We go beyond the minimum. Every dog in our program undergoes comprehensive health screening before being considered for breeding. This includes orthopedic evaluations, genetic disease panels, and routine testing to ensure that our dogs — and the puppies they produce — are physically and genetically sound.

Why Health Testing Matters

Responsible breeding isn’t about producing puppies — it’s about preserving and improving the breed. Health testing:

  • Reduces the risk of passing on heritable diseases

  • Supports early detection of potential health concerns

  • Ensures each breeding dog is physically fit for reproduction

  • Helps families and breeding partners feel confident in their dog’s long-term wellbeing

Our goal is to produce puppies who are not only beautiful and well-tempered but also structurally sound, genetically clear, and free from preventable health conditions.

Our Health Testing Protocol

All breeding dogs at Cardinal’s Crossing must pass the following evaluations:

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Screening:

  • Hips (via OFA or PennHIP)

  • Elbows

  • Patellas (kneecaps)

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Cardiac & Endocrine Function:

  • Basic Cardiac Exam

  • Thyroid Panel

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Ophthalmology:

  • CAER Eye Exam (performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist)

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Comprehensive Genetic Testing:

  • Full breed-specific disease panel via Embark and/or PawPrint Genetics, including but not limited to:

    • CDDY/IVDD

    • EIC (Exercise-Induced Collapse)

    • PRA-prcd (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)

    • VWD (Von Willebrand Disease)

    • Degenerative Myelopathy

  • Trait testing (e.g., coat type, furnishings, color)

  • DNA profile verification via PawPrint Genetics or Orivet

  • Carrier status disclosure — any carriers will only be bred to clear mates to ensure no puppies are at risk

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Reproductive & Infectious Disease Testing:

  • Brucellosis test (required before any live breeding or AI)

  • Semen analysis (for stud dogs prior to use)

Orivet powered by Pawprint Genetics landscape banner logo
Logo for Embark Vet Genetic Testing, "embark" in black bold letters with a yellow symbol to the left of the word.
Paw Print Genetic logo
OFA logo banner in blue displays the OFA seal, CHIC logo, and OFA health info center

Transparency & Documentation

We believe in full transparency. All health testing results are available for review upon request and many are publicly accessible via the OFA database. We are committed to upholding ALAA and WALA breeding standards and providing the highest level of care for our dogs and yours.

Why This Matters to You

Whether you’re a fellow breeder considering stud services or a family preparing to welcome a puppy, you deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing your dog has a solid foundation. Health testing is more than just a checkbox — it’s a promise to future generations of Australian Labradoodles.

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