Hip Dysplasia
OrthopedicOFA CHIC: Required
Method: OFA radiograph at 24+ months OR PennHIP from 16 weeks
Bulldog breeds are predisposed. Catching dysplasia before breeding prevents passing it forward.
Verifiable Health
Health Testing Protocol
Rosebull tests every breeding parent before they enter the program. Results are linked from each parent dog's page on rosebull.com and verifiable on third-party databases — ofa.org, app.embarkvet.com, and pedigreedatabase.ca.
What we test
Elbow Dysplasia
OrthopedicOFA CHIC: Required
Method: OFA radiograph at 24+ months
Causes lameness and arthritis. Heritable component well-documented.
NCL (Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis)
Genetic (DNA)OFA CHIC: Required
Method: Cheek swab (Embark or specialty lab)
Fatal neurological recessive disease. Two-carrier breedings produce affected puppies.
Ichthyosis
Genetic (DNA)OFA CHIC: Required
Method: Cheek swab
Recessive skin disorder. Affected dogs have lifelong flaky coat.
HUU (Hyperuricosuria)
Genetic (DNA)OFA CHIC: Optional
Method: Cheek swab
Recessive bladder stone risk. Manageable in affected dogs but undesirable.
Cardiac Evaluation
CardiacOFA CHIC: Optional
Method: OFA basic or advanced cardiac exam
Catch structural heart issues before breeding.
How to verify a Rosebull dog's results
- Open the dog's page on rosebull.com/our-dogs.
- Scroll to the Health Testing table.
- Click the OFA number to open the corresponding entry on ofa.org.
- Click the Embark report link (when present) to open the third-party Embark page for that dog.
Common questions
What tests are required for ABRA breeding dogs?
OFA-equivalent hip evaluation at 24+ months, OFA elbow evaluation, NCL DNA test, Ichthyosis DNA test. HUU, Cardiac, and CMR1 are recommended optional tests.
What is NCL?
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis — a fatal neurological recessive disease in American Bulldogs. Affected dogs decline rapidly between 1 and 3 years. Carriers are healthy. NCL DNA testing is non-negotiable for breeding stock; Rosebull never breeds two carriers.
What is Ichthyosis?
Ichthyosis (NIPAL4) is a recessive skin disorder. Affected dogs have a flaky, scaly coat throughout life. Manageable but uncomfortable. Two-carrier breedings are avoided.
What is HUU?
Hyperuricosuria — a recessive metabolic condition where dogs excrete excess uric acid, creating bladder stone risk. Affected dogs need a managed low-purine diet. Rosebull tests every breeding parent.
Why both OFA and Embark?
OFA evaluates structural soundness via radiograph (hips, elbows). Embark is a single cheek swab covering NCL, Ichthyosis, HUU, CMR1, Nemaline Myopathy, and 250+ other genetic markers. Together they cover both structural and genetic health.