Ask for documented heart, eye, hip, and elbow screening results for both parents, plus the puppy’s portosystemic shunt (liver-shunt) blood-test result before it goes home. Review the original reports, dates, and dog identities—not just a breeder’s assurance or a CHIC number. Screening can reveal important information, but it cannot guarantee a dog’s future health.
What health tests should I ask an Irish Wolfhound breeder for?
For each parent, request reports for cardiac, eye, hip, and elbow screening. For the puppy, ask for documented liver-shunt screening. These recommendations reflect US Irish Wolfhound Club of America (IWCA), Irish Wolfhound Foundation (IWF), and OFA/CHIC guidance; protocols and registries may differ in other countries.
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| Dog | Records to request | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Each parent | Cardiac report, eye examination report, hip evaluation, and elbow evaluation | Testing provider, method, date, dog identity, and the result for each test |
| Puppy | Portosystemic shunt (PSS) blood-screen result | Whether the test was done before the puppy goes home and when |
The IWCA describes cardiac screening for congenital and adult-onset disease and strongly recommends annual EKGs. Its CHIC guidance includes an echocardiogram performed by a veterinary cardiologist as part of the OFA Advanced Cardiac Database requirement. Ask which cardiac tests were performed and request the cardiologist’s report; an old normal result is not a lifetime clearance. IWCA CHIC guidance
Request an eye report from a board-certified canine ophthalmologist. The IWCA guidance addresses congenital eye disease and identifies progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) as an inherited concern. Because some disease can emerge later, ask about the date and whether there are more recent examinations. IWCA CHIC guidance
For hips and elbows, request actual OFA or accepted PennHIP hip documentation and the elbow evaluation. These evaluations use radiographs. The IWCA says OFA hip evaluation is performed at 24 months or older; PennHIP can be performed younger, with reliability increasing as the dog matures. IWCA CHIC guidance
Ask whether the puppy had a blood test for PSS before going home and obtain the result. The IWF gives 10–12 weeks as the usual screening age; the IWCA says a veterinarian can perform the blood test. IWF health-testing guidance IWCA health-testing guidance
How do I verify the parents’ OFA health testing?
- Match each report to the dog. Check the registered identity on the report and confirm it matches the parent named by the breeder.
- Look up public results. Where available, search the dog’s OFA/CHIC record. OFA’s CHIC Program page explains the program; the IWCA also links its breed-specific requirements at its CHIC guidance.
- Open the component results. Review each underlying result and testing date rather than treating a CHIC number as a pass certificate.
- Ask for reports that are not clear online. A breeder should be able to explain the results and provide records for your review.
OFA describes CHIC as a joint information program with participating parent clubs. A CHIC number means the breed-required tests were performed and their results were released publicly. It does not mean every result was normal. Check the report itself, including the result for each test and the dog’s age at testing. OFA CHIC Program
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Should an Irish Wolfhound puppy be tested for liver shunt?
Ask for a documented PSS blood-screen result for the puppy before it goes home. The IWF cites 10–12 weeks as the usual screening age. The test is performed by a veterinarian; a breeder’s general statement that the puppy is healthy is not a substitute for the result. IWF health-testing guidance IWCA health-testing guidance
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What should I compare when reviewing breeder records?
- Completeness: Are heart, eye, hip, and elbow results available for both parents, and is the puppy’s PSS result documented?
- Provider and method: Was cardiac screening done by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist and the eye examination by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist? Are orthopedic results from an accepted evaluation route?
- Timing: How old was each dog when tested? Are there newer annual heart or eye results where relevant?
- Identity and transparency: Do report identities match the dogs, and will the breeder share and explain the actual records?
- Family history: What health concerns have occurred in parents, siblings, and other close relatives? The IWCA emphasizes pedigree context because direct genetic tests are unavailable for most relevant diseases and screening does not cover every concern. IWCA health-testing guidance
- Individual results: Does each report show a normal result, an abnormal result, or a finding that needs explanation? A CHIC badge alone does not answer that question.
What does a CHIC number mean—and what does it not mean?
OFA issues a CHIC number when the breed-specific testing requirements are satisfied and the owner elects to make the results public. The number documents that the required tests were done and published, not that the dog passed them all. Use the public record to inspect individual test results and dates. OFA CHIC Program
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why screening is not a guarantee
Screening documents findings at particular times; it cannot promise that a dog will remain healthy or that every inherited or later-onset condition has been ruled out. Heart and eye disease may emerge as a dog ages, and the IWCA cautions that testing alone does not assure good health. Consider results alongside the family’s health history and discuss individual findings with your veterinarian. IWCA health-testing guidance
For cardiac testing, an IWF clarification dated January 20, 2023 says Holter monitoring is not required under the OFA requirements it addresses; it lists auscultation, EKG, and echocardiogram performed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. Since program requirements can change, confirm the current protocol with OFA and the cardiologist rather than relying on an old checklist. IWF clarification, January 20, 2023
The IWF estimates the average Irish Wolfhound lifespan at about 7.5 years; its page does not state a publication year for that estimate. It is context, not a dated population statistic or a prediction for an individual dog. IWF general health
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