Spanish Water Dog — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Hip dysplasia
Malformation of the hip joint that can progress to osteoarthritis. The breed's UK club names it as one of the conditions it recommends screening for before breeding.
Ask to see: Hip evaluation from OFA or PennHIP, or a BVA/KC hip score, on both parents
Spanish Water Dog Club (UK) — Breed Health (https://www.spanishwaterdogclub.co.uk/breed-health)
Goniodysgenesis / primary glaucomacan shorten life or cause chronic pain
An inherited narrowing of the eye's fluid drainage angle that can progress to glaucoma, a painful, sight-threatening pressure build-up inside the eye. It is a genuine veterinary emergency if it develops.
Ask to see: Gonioscopy eye examination under a recognised scheme (e.g. BVA/KC) on both parents
Spanish Water Dog Club (UK) — Breed Health (https://www.spanishwaterdogclub.co.uk/breed-health)
Early-onset progressive retinal atrophy (EO-PRA)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A form of retinal degeneration leading to blindness, distinct from the more common prcd form found in many breeds. A dedicated DNA test for this breed-specific mutation only became available recently.
Ask to see: DNA test for early-onset PRA (EO-PRA) on both parents
Spanish Water Dog Club (UK) — Breed Health (Early Onset PRA test notice) (https://www.spanishwaterdogclub.co.uk/breed-health)
Congenital hypothyroidism with goiter (CHG)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An inherited enzyme deficiency that prevents normal thyroid hormone production. The breed's US club describes it as fatal, and carrier dogs are reported present in UK lines.
Ask to see: DNA test for the TPO gene mutation on both parents
Spanish Water Dog Club (UK) — Breed Health (https://www.spanishwaterdogclub.co.uk/breed-health) · GenSol Diagnostics — Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter, Spanish Water Dog type (CHG-SWD) (https://www.gensoldx.com/tests/congenital-hypothyroidism-with-goiter-spanish-water-dog-type-chg-swd/)
Neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A progressive, inherited disease of the nervous system that damages nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord over time. Onset is typically between 6 months and a year old, and it worsens progressively with no treatment.
Ask to see: DNA test for the TECPR2 gene mutation on both parents
Spanish Water Dog Club (UK) — Breed Health (https://www.spanishwaterdogclub.co.uk/breed-health) · GenSol Diagnostics — Neuroaxonal Dystrophy, Spanish Water Dog (NAD-SWD) (https://www.gensoldx.com/tests/neuroaxonal-dystrophy-spanish-water-dog-nad-swd/)
Autoimmune thyroiditis (hypothyroidism)
The immune system gradually attacks and destroys the thyroid gland, leading to an underactive thyroid. It is manageable for life with daily medication once diagnosed.
Ask to see: Thyroid panel including TgAA antibody testing, registered with OFA, repeated periodically
Spanish Water Dog Club of America — Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hypothyroidism) in SWDs (https://www.swdclub.org/hypothyroidism.html)
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)
The pancreas stops producing enough digestive enzymes, so the dog cannot absorb nutrients and wastes away despite eating well. It is treatable for life with enzyme replacement once diagnosed, but the US breed club describes only a handful of confirmed cases and there is no way to screen breeding stock before they are affected.
Ask to see: No breeding-stock screening test exists. Diagnosis in a symptomatic dog is by a fasting TLI blood test; ask whether the sire, dam or their close relatives have a documented EPI diagnosis
Spanish Water Dog Club of America — Liver/Pancreas Disorders (EPI) (https://www.swdclub.org/epi.html)