Can I be guaranteed about the future health of my dog?

Well not entirely! Biology is not quite like that.

However, if all the questions in the "what should I ask?" section have been answered satisfactorily, you are well on the way. Buying a dog from a Kennel Club Accredited breeder, or going to a charity that is a member of the Association of Dog or Cat Homes, means that everything should have been done to give your dog a good chance of enjoying a healthy life.

The Kennel Club and the British Veterinary Association offer three canine health schemes which aim to detect and monitor certain inherited conditions. These are:

• Hip Dysplasia scheme
• Elbow scheme
• Eye schemes

Find out more by following the link to choosing a dog. More recently DNA tests have become available for a range of problems. These have the advantage that they can identify dogs that are genetically clear, those that are affected, and those that are carriers. To find out more about these schemes, follow the link to:
http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/glossary/health-tests.aspx
Your veterinarian can also advise on diseases that are more common in particular breed types.