Must-have dog health paperwork for reputable breeders  

A quick guide to dog health paperwork for reputable breeders.

Keeping detailed paperwork for dog breeders isn’t just good practice, it’s vital.  

We know your dogs’ health and wellbeing are at the heart of any ethical breeding program. If you’re a dedicated and responsible dog breeder, you already know the importance of maintaining meticulous health paperwork.  

Not only do these records help you manage your breeding program effectively, but they also ensure you comply with legal requirements while safeguarding the health and wellbeing of your animals. 

However, with the boatload of tasks already on your plate, it can be overwhelming to keep track of everything. 

In this guide, we outline the key health paperwork for dog breeders that must be stored and maintained. 

We have also created this guide on 10 types of paperwork you must keep as a responsible breeder.

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Dog health paperwork for breeders – a checklist

Pet passports 

Pet passports are required if you wish to travel with your breeding dogs, or if you wish to sell or acquire a dog from overseas. These documents not only prove your dog’s identity and vaccination status but also include important health paperwork. 

You should check the requirements of your country for how to apply for a pet passport, but these documents typically include: 

• Your dog’s microchip ID 

• Vaccination records 

• Health information, such as blood tests and treatments 

Of course, microchipping is a key part of pet ownership, as well as responsible breeding. Make sure you document each puppy’s microchip number and registration details. This information should be included in the dog breeder documents provided to the new owner. 

Veterinary reports and health certificates 

Before sending a puppy to its new home, a comprehensive vet report is a crucial piece of health paperwork. 

A typical vet report for a puppy might include: 

• Puppy ID details, such as name, date of birth, and microchip number 

• Physical examination findings, including any signs of illness or abnormalities 

• Vaccination status 

• Health test results, such as faecal, blood, or genetic tests 

For breeding dogs, your vet can provide you with a ‘fit to breed’ examination that can include: 

• Dog’s ID details, such as name, date of birth, and microchip number 

• Physical examination findings, including any signs of illness or abnormalities 

• Checking and recording body condition score and weight 

• Assessment of the dog’s behaviour (nervousness or aggression) 

• DNA tests appropriate for the breed 

Vaccination certificates 

Vaccination certificates are probably the most common and obvious piece of health paperwork for dog breeders to keep.

Typically, vaccination records are provided by your vet, but they are often physical paper copies that can easily get lost or mixed up – especially if you have multiple breeding dogs and puppies to keep track of. 

With Breedera, you can easily keep a digital copy of these documents. Simply snap a photo and store them inside the relevant dog profile.  

Test results 

One of the most important pieces of health paperwork for dog breeders is genetic testing results. These results help you avoid passing on hereditary diseases and increase the confidence of potential buyers. 

Some examples of genetic conditions that can be screened include: 

• Hip dysplasia 

• Elbow dysplasia 

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) 

• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) 

• Hereditary Cataracts 

• von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD) 

• Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) 

• Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC) 

• Canine Multifocal Retinopathy (CMR) 

• Hyperuricosuria (HUU) 

• Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) 

• MDR1 Gene Mutation (Multidrug Resistance) 

The Kennel Club provides guidelines on which DNA tests are appropriate for each breed. 

How to easily store all health paperwork for your dogs as a breeder

With Breedera, you can easily keep a digital copy of these paper certificates. Simply snap a photo and store them inside the relevant dog profile.  

You can store all your registration documents, health certificates, health test reports, vaccination certificates, pet passports and sales contracts for each dog. 

Just watch this quick demo. 

Sources:  

• Tails
• British Veterinary Association
• The Kennel Club