The Vallhund is a hardy breed with few health problems. With few breeders in this breed and the vast majority being responsible, threw good breeding practices and health testing they have managed to keep the breeds good health. Below are the few health problems that the breed can be prone to and what testing is available for it. Whoever you go to when buying a puppy please make sure their dogs are fully health tested. 

Hip Dysplasia

What is it?
This is where the hip joint is not formed normally preventing a proper fit where the joint may be too lose or will scrape when moved. It can range from mild where the dog may just get stiff or to severe where the dog may become arthritic and lame.

Causes?
The cause of hip dysplasia is believed to be both genetic and environmental. No genes have been found for this, however dogs can be screened by having the their hips x-rayed and scored to make sure they have good hips before breeding to help avoid the genetic risk. Although this still leaves environmental causes which is thought to include being over weight, an injury, over stressing the joints while still growing and ligament injury to name a few.

Testing?
In the uk there is the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme that gives dogs a grade for how well there hips are formed. A vet will take x-rays of the dogs hips and send them in to a panel for grading. The hips are scored separately in nine areas giving each a score. Then they are added up to get a total for each hip ranging from perfect 0 to worst 53, both scores are then added to get a total for both hips. The BVA keeps data on the results for each breed and set out the breed mean scores based on the dogs of that breeds results.

Retinopathy

What is it?
Retinopathy is an eye disease that causes the photoreceptor cells in the dogs retina to degrade over time. More recently retinopathy has been found in the Vallhund breed in the uk, although cases were found in other countries before this time none were confirmed here until 2013. The disease can vary in its severity and onset with some dogs being found effected at around 2-4 years old and other dogs having clear eye tests before being found effected in old age. Retinopathy is not painfull and in mild cases the dog may be night blind where it can not see properly in the dark. In the most severe cases a dog may become blind.

Causes?
Retinopathy  is a hereditary condition. One gene has been found by the Animal Health Trust which they believe is a good candidate to be responsible for one form of retinopathy. Its mode of inheritance is recessive so for a dog to be affected by this gene and have a 20 fold risk of developing retinopathy it must inherit a copy of the gene from both parents. However there are DNA affected dogs who never develop retinopathy and cases of some clear/carrier who have, so dogs should still be eye tested as well as DNA tested.

Testing?
The Animal Health Trust has released a DNA test for Retinopathy all breeding dogs should be tested with this test before breeding. This test involves a cheek swab being taken and sent to the AHT. 
There is also a general eye test under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme. This is where a specially qualified vet will examine the dogs eyes and check for any abnormality. If none is found the dog will be given a clear eye certificate which should be done annually for breeding dogs.