The Basics
There are a few basic health tests that should be done on every Rottweiler used in a breeding program. Hip and elbow dysplasia, JLPP, LEMP, and heart conditions should be screened for before any dog is used in a breeding program. Responsible breeders will check all of these plus more!
It's an absolute MUST that any rottweilers used for breeding have x-rays of their hips and elbows taken and scored. X-rays are taken by a vet after the dog reaches a minimum of 12 months of age and must be sent to a certified reader for scoring. There is a limitation of a combined score of 20 imposed by the National Rottweiler Council Australia (NRCA) for breeding pairs which must be adhered to as members of any of the state bodies.
Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy (JLPP) and Leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP) are Autosomal Recessive traits and are screened for using DNA. We use ONLY dogs clear of these diseases.
Heart conditions should be screened for with an echocardiograph or echocardigram. If screening is conducted by auscultation it should be done annually due to diagnostic limitations (it is a less thorough check and things can be missed). The most common issue in Rottweilers is Sub-Aortic Stenosis (SAS). Dogs used in our breeding program have been screened and certified clear of any heart abnormalities by echocardiograph.
Hip Dysplasia
The ANKC-CHEDS Scheme evaluates nine traits for each hip individually assessedagainst an ordinal categorical scale from a radiograph taken with the hips in extension. The Categories measured individually for each hip are:
HIP SCORINGEach category described above is scored with a number between 0 (normal hip) and 6 (greatest deviation from normal), except one trait (Caudal Acetabular Edge – CaAE) which is scored from 0 to 5 for each hip. Perfects hips would therefore have a score of 0 for each hip which is shown as 0:0, the worst hips would have a score of 53 for each hip displayed as 53:53 giving a hip score of 106. The average hip score for Rottweilers in Australia is 8.6 (ORCHID July 2023). A breeder should be breeding with dogs that are at or below this average score with careful consideration also given to the categories in which that score was obtained.
- Norberg Angle
- Sublaxation
- Cranial Acetabular Edge
- Dorsal Acetabular Edge
- Cranial Effective Acetabular Edge
- Acetabular Fossa
- Caudal Acetabular Edge
- Femoral Head/Neck Exostosis
- Femoral Head Recontouring
HIP SCORINGEach category described above is scored with a number between 0 (normal hip) and 6 (greatest deviation from normal), except one trait (Caudal Acetabular Edge – CaAE) which is scored from 0 to 5 for each hip. Perfects hips would therefore have a score of 0 for each hip which is shown as 0:0, the worst hips would have a score of 53 for each hip displayed as 53:53 giving a hip score of 106. The average hip score for Rottweilers in Australia is 8.6 (ORCHID July 2023). A breeder should be breeding with dogs that are at or below this average score with careful consideration also given to the categories in which that score was obtained.
Elbow Dysplasia
Elbows are scored in accordance with the IEWG (International Elbow Working Group) scheme. X-rays are evaluated in a two-stage process: 1st assessing the degree of secondary osteoarthrosis, and 2nd checking for signs of a primary lesion. The grading of Borderline is not a standard international grade however is available to Rottweilers in Australia.
SCORINGThe AVA recommendation is that dogs having Grade 1 elbows should only be bred from with caution and any dogs with Grade 2 or 3 elbows should not be included in breeding programs. This is also the opinion of other veterinary associations worldwide.
SCORINGThe AVA recommendation is that dogs having Grade 1 elbows should only be bred from with caution and any dogs with Grade 2 or 3 elbows should not be included in breeding programs. This is also the opinion of other veterinary associations worldwide.