DNA test – STGD (Stargardt disease)

The DNA test for Stargardt disease can be used by breeders and owners to screen their dogs for the gene variant linked to this health condition.

What is Stargardt disease?

Stargardt disease is an inherited eye condition that gets worse as a dog gets older. This disease affects the parts of the eye that sense light (the photoreceptors), causing them to deteriorate. As the photoreceptors break down, the dog’s eyesight becomes worse in both daylight and dim light.

Symptoms of Stargardt disease

Affected dogs often develop signs of the disease before they are ten years old. These signs can include loss of vision, dilated pupils and a reduced response to light. Dogs that are affected by Stargardt disease don’t usually go completely blind, but retain some degree of vision.

What causes Stargardt disease?

Stargardt disease is an inherited condition, which means that some dogs may be more at risk of a health issue because of the genes they inherited from their parents. This particular disease is described as an autosomal-recessive condition. This means that a dog must inherit two copies of an abnormal gene (one from their mother and one from their father) before their health is affected.

Which laboratories we record and publish the results from?

To find out which laboratories The Kennel Club is able to record results from, and which laboratories will send results directly to The Kennel Club, please refer to our website.

Please be aware, The Kennel Club has a set of criteria that we request DNA testing laboratories to meet to enable us to record their results, helping to maintain and protect the integrity of results that appear on a dog’s record. We strongly advise that customers ensure their chosen laboratory is included on our list if they wish The Kennel Club to record and publish the results. Results from laboratories not included on this list will not be recorded.

Breeding advice and what your dog's results mean

If, once your dog is DNA tested, you would like to find out what their DNA test results mean, or how to select the right mate to avoid producing affected puppies, then please read our breeding advice and DNA testing information.

How to find out if a potential mate has been DNA tested

The health test results finder allows you to find the results of DNA tests carried out as part of our official DNA testing schemes for any dog on The Kennel Club’s Breed Register.