Health Testing

Legislation and Rules

Registered Dogs Victoria (Victorian Canine Association - VCA) breeders are bound by the following:

Constitution
Rules and Regulations
Policies and procedures
Domestic Animals Act 1994
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986

Members of Dogs Victoria are bound by the Dogs Victoria's Code of Practice (CoP) relating to responsible dog ownership, including the keeping, welfare, breeding, selling of dogs by members.

Further Readings

Here are some documents or links that may be of assistance:

Legislation and the Pet Exhange Register (PER)
Department of Primary Industries (Vic) Code of Practice for the Responsible Breeding of Animals with Heritable Defects that cause Disease
Dog Breeding Regulations (Agriculture Victoria)
Dogs Victoria Canine Health

Health Testing

Minimum requirements for litter registration

Hip and Elbow Scores

To register a litter with Dogs Victoria, the sire (father) and dam (mother) must have their hips and elbows scored by an ANKC approved reader and procedures need to be followed by both the owner and the Veterinary Surgeon.

Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Scheme (CHEDS) is administered by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC)

Elbow scores explained

Officially Registered Canine Health Information Database (ORCHID)

Minimum breeding age

The ANKC has imposed litter registration limitations (LRLs) for Labrador Retrievers. see the ANKC regulations under Section 6.2.10 – The Register and Registration.

Minimum breeding age for bitches is 18 months

Some of the health clearances done by breeders on their breeding dogs and bitches

Eye Examination

Current eye check: Normal

To be considered current, the examination must be performed in the last 12 months (18 months for those that have obtained a DNA clear result for PRA-PRCD)

Australian Canine Eye Scheme (ACES) is a national assessment system for registered dog breeds that offers a reliable screening service for a range of congenital and inherited eye conditions. Eye assessments are carried out by registered veterinary eye specialists.

DNA Tests (this is not a comprehensive list)

PRA-prcd - Progressive Retinal Atrophy - Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration

EIC - Exercise Induced Collapse

HNPK - Hereditary nasal parakeratosis

In Australia, there are two laboratories that currently do these tests (Orivet & Animal Network) they could be done individually or as part of a suite of breed-specific DNA tests. Please contact the laboratories directly.

Coat colour - there are only three recognised coat colours for registration: Black, Yellow & Chocolate/Liver. Purebred Labrador Retrievers do not carry the dilute gene. Read: NLRBC Position Statement on Silver Labrador s

Heart Screening

Cardiac Test by a veterinary cardiac specialist (read about Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia)