04/27/2026
Last week I started the conversation about health testing for poodles and promised more. Get comfy because this is going to be long…
🧬 Part 2 - DNA Screening in Miniature Poodles
Today, there are over 300 commercially available tests for identified genetic disorder markers in dogs. While all Poodles are considered one breed, the smaller varieties are genetically distinct from Standards —so their health testing priorities don’t always fully overlap.
For Miniature, Toy, and some Moyen Poodles, only a small number of DNA test actually considered relevant in practice.
🧪The most notable and the only required test for CHIC/OFA certification is:
• PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). PRA is a group of inherited eye diseases that lead to gradual vision loss due to degeneration of rods and cones in the retina.
There is multitude of PRA mutations, but in Poodles the two most relevant are:
• prcd-PRA the more common one with early onset with dogs going blind by 3-5year old.
• rcd4 PRA the less common with late onset at 10-12 years old
✨The optional DNA tests breeders may perform if these disorders are known to be in the lines or when they introduce a new dog to their program:
• Osteochondrodysplasia (OCD) - the poodle specific form of dwarfism which result in shortened front limbs in small Poodles and considerable pain.
• von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD) - clotting disorder that affects clotting timing
• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) - late-onset neurological condition affecting the spinal cord and leading to neurological symptoms.
• IVDD/CDDY A risk-factor marker associated with disc degeneration which may lead to neurological symptoms and paralysis.
🌈I do not advocate for breeding or purchasing of Merle poodles but it is important to mention the impact. Merle color was introduced into poodles likely through crossbreeding with herding breeds, and two conditions associated with herding breeds are now in the breed.
•MDR1 - Dogs with this mutation can have increased sensitivity to common dewormer like ivermectin and anesthesia, sometimes with dire consequences.
•HC - Hereditary cataract mutation commonly associated with herding breeds has been identified in some poodles tested by PawPrint genetics and now is included in some recommendations for poodles, however it has been ruled out by researchers as the cause of cataracts which are common in poodles.
✨ What do DNA report results actually mean?
• Clear – no copies of the mutation�• Carrier -one copy - the dog itself is not affected�• At Risk / Affected – two copies -higher likelihood of developing the condition, depending on the disease
🐩+ 🐩Acceptable breeding strategies:
Breeding clear to clear, and clear to carrier are acceptable breeding strategies that help breeders reduce incidents of the disorders with known cause and identified mutations.
❓Why Not Only Breed Clear to Clear❓
At first glance, DNA results can feel very black-and-white—but biology rarely is. Here are some examples of how different different mutations actually impact health.
•PRA and OCD are considered to have deterministic results - two copies will result in disease.
•DM has incomplete penetrance and requires additional, not fully understood factors. It is common in shepherds but exceptionally rare in poodles. In fact, only a single confirmed case is cited in a Miniature Poodle.
•IVDD/CDDY test finding is a risk factor, not a diagnosis - One copy increases risk, Two copies have same risk as one, and yet most Poodles, unlike other breeds rarely develop clinical symptoms. And importantly, a “clear” dog can still develop IVDD symptoms and the lifestyle and environment can help prevent the symptoms.
🦠Not every gene a dog carries is harmful—many are neutral or even protective. Removing dogs who are carries for conditions which are unlikely to develop in a carrier only for the sake of perceived “safety“ would create a devastating loss of overall diversity and lead to a significant increase in disorders which currently do not have a known genetic marker and are polygenic. (several genes working together).
The effects of the genetic diversity loss is observable in Standard Poodles. Through research done in early 2000, we know know that autoimmune disorders like Addison disease and Sebatious adenitis are the result of genetic diversity loss. It is also theorized that cancers and bloat are the results of loss of diversity as well.
DNA testing is a powerful tool—but it’s just one piece of a much larger picture and requires careful use.
This information is based on my own review and understanding of available literature and are not meant as a guide for other breeder, just a generalized overview of DNA testing for entertainment and introduction to health testing requirements.
I hope you learned something new ?
