Find a health testing clinic

We have organised a number of multi-breed health screening days that offer a range of health scheme assessments to help you complete some of the most important health screening before breeding from your dogs.

Please note, these clinics are conditional to Covid-19 safety and government guidelines being met. This will be continually reviewed and necessary updates will be provided.

Where: The Kennel Club Building, Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ

When: Dates currently being offered include:

• 8 January 2021

Screening available on each day

• Respiratory Function Grading Scheme assessments (Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs only)
• CKCS Heart Scheme assessments (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels only)
• Eye Screening Scheme examinations (all dogs welcome)

Find out more about the health tests relevant to your breed in our Breeds A to Z.

Appointments will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis and must be booked in advance via our online shop.

Book your assessments through the links below.

Respiratory Function Grading Scheme assessments (The Kennel Club and University of Cambridge)

Breeds: Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs only

Cost: £40

• Book for Friday 8 January 2021

CKCS Heart Scheme assessments (The Kennel Club)

Breeds: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels only

Cost: £70

• Book for Friday 8 January 2021

Eye Scheme examinations (Canine Health Scheme BVA/KC/ISDS)

Breeds: All dogs welcome

Cost: £45

• Book for Friday 8 January 2021

What is being assessed?

The Respiratory Function Grading Scheme assesses Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs for a breathing problem known as BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome).

The assessment will advise you if your dog is affected by BOAS and will provide breeders with guidance on how to lower the risk of producing puppies affected with BOAS.

This assessment is recommended for all French Bulldogs, Pugs and Bulldogs that are going to be used for breeding. As BOAS is a complex syndrome, the ways in which it can affect a dog may change over an individual’s lifetime. Therefore we recommend that the assessment is repeated every two years for their lifetime, or until you stop using them for breeding.  

Find out more about BOAS.

What happens during the assessment?

Approved Regional Assessor Dr. Dinu Catilina DVM CertAVP (GSAS) MRCVS will be available to carry out respiratory function grading assessments for your French Bulldogs, Bulldogs and Pugs.

Please note that your dog must be over 12 months of age to be eligible for this assessment.

During the assessment your dog will be assessed by the vet who will initially use a stethoscope to listen to your dog's breathing while they are calm and relaxed. Your dog will then be encouraged to move around an exercise area at a quick pace for three minutes, either by the vet or yourself. The vet will then listen to your dog’s breathing again and will use a list of criteria to give your dog a respiratory function grade.

Find out more about the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme, including more about the assessment and breeding advice.

What is being assessed?

The Kennel Club Heart Scheme assesses Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for Mitral Valve Disease and other potentially significant heart disease.

The assessment will advise you if your dog is affected by heart disease and will give breeders guidance on how to lower the risk of producing puppies affected with heart disease.

To gain the maximum benefit from the scheme, ideally dogs should first be assessed at around 2 years of age and then re-assessed every two years. If you are thinking of breeding from your dog, you should always have them graded first.

What happens during the assessment?

Cardiologist Dr. Dave Fisher BVetMed CertSAC CertSAM MRCVS will be available to carry out Heart Scheme assessments for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Please note that your dog must be over 18 months of age to be eligible for this assessment.

The cardiologist will use two non-invasive techniques to check your dog’s heart. The cardiologist will begin by using a stethoscope to listen to your dog’s heart for signs of a heart murmur. They will use their findings to give your dog a murmur grade. After this they will use an echocardiogram to scan your dog’s heart valves and give a mitral valve prolapse grade. The cardiologist will then discuss your dog’s grading with you and explain the scheme's breeding advice.

Find out more about the Heart Scheme, including more details about the assessment and breeding advice.

What is being assessed?

The Eye Screening Scheme offers breeders the opportunity to screen for inherited eye disease by examination of the eye. Breeders can use the information obtained from the examination to eliminate or reduce the frequency of eye disease being passed on to puppies.

Breeding dogs should be examined under the eye scheme within 12 months prior to mating; especially the many breeds in which inherited eye disease can develop later in life. A final examination should take place in all dogs that have been used for breeding when they have reached 8 years of age.

What happens during the assessment?

Ophthalmologist Dr Robert Pontefract B.V.M.S, Cert V Ophthal, M.R.C.V.S. will be available to carry out routine eye examinations on your dog. This examination is available for all breeds.

Please note that your dog must be over 12 months of age to be eligible for this examination.

The vet will first administer drops into your dog’s eye to dilate the pupil and ensure it stays wide during the examination to allow the vet to examine structures inside the eye (e.g. lens and retina). Once the drops have taken effect, the vet will then examine your dog’s eyes with an ophthalmoscope in a dark room.

Find out more about the Eye Screening Scheme and inherited eye disease.