Saint Bernard Health Testing Guide: Hips, Heart, and Giant Breed Concerns

Saint Bernards are one of the giant breeds most prone to hip dysplasia and cardiac disease. This is the complete health testing protocol for any Saint Bernard offered at stud.

Priority Tests for Saint Bernards

Hip Evaluation (OFA or PennHIP) — Most Critical

Hip dysplasia rates in Saint Bernards are among the highest of any breed. OFA study data consistently shows Saints in the top five for hip dysplasia prevalence.

Minimum for breeding: OFA Fair. Target: OFA Good or Excellent.

Do not breed a Saint Bernard with OFA Mild, Moderate, or Severe hip dysplasia. In a dog weighing 130–180 lbs, moderate hip dysplasia causes significant, constant pain. Breeding from dysplastic Saints perpetuates suffering in offspring.

PennHIP can be done before 24 months and provides a distraction index (DI). DI below 0.30 indicates excellent hip tightness; above 0.70 indicates high laxity and elevated dysplasia risk.

Elbow Evaluation (OFA)

Elbow dysplasia also occurs in Saints. OFA Normal (Grade 0) is the standard.

Cardiac Evaluation

Saint Bernards are at risk for:

• Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• Subaortic Stenosis (SAS)

OFA cardiac evaluation by a board-certified cardiologist (not a general vet) is required. A clean echocardiogram or Doppler evaluation is the gold standard.

Eye Certification (CAER)

Annual CAER exam. Entropion (inward-rolling eyelids) is common in Saints due to their loose facial skin. Persistent ocular discharge or eye irritation should be assessed.

Additional Testing

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

DNA test. Clear preferred. DM is a progressive paralysing disease — Clear status prevents producing Affected offspring when paired with a Clear dam.

Osteosarcoma Monitoring

No pre-breeding test exists, but asking about bone cancer history in first and second-degree relatives is important. Saint Bernards have elevated osteosarcoma risk. Average lifespan of 8–10 years in a healthy Saint reflects this.

Testing Timeline

• 12–18 months: Preliminary OFA hips, preliminary elbow, initial CAER exam, DM DNA test
• 24 months: Final OFA hip and elbow certification, cardiac evaluation
• Annually: Repeat CAER, repeat cardiac if recommended by cardiologist

Summary

The most important tests for a Saint Bernard stud are: OFA hip evaluation (Good or better strongly preferred), OFA elbow (Normal), cardiology evaluation by a specialist, and annual CAER. DM DNA testing is advisable. The breed's size makes hip and cardiac health non-negotiable — these are not optional tests, they are the ethical minimum.