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
We score hips with PennHIP and use Embark for the genetic panel. Elbows are evaluated through OFA going forward. No Rosebull dog has an elbow score yet, and each dog's page shows what it has and has not had done.
Testing is evidence, not a promise.Hip and elbow dysplasia are not simple genetic diseases. They are polygenic and heavily influenced by growth rate, diet and exercise in a puppy's first eighteen months, so a score on a parent shifts the odds without settling them. You are better off buying from tested parents than untested ones. Any breeder who tells you a test guarantees the joint is selling you something they cannot deliver. I am not going to guarantee an outcome I cannot influence by testing, and what I do and do not guarantee is written plainly on the guarantee page. Our testing is not complete across every dog, and rather than average that away we publish it dog by dog: each dog's page lists the results it has and says plainly where it has none. Orla is an Ichthyosis carrier. Every sire we breed to is Ichthyosis clear, so her puppies are either clear or carriers and none can be affected. Carriers are healthy. Pedigrees are verifiable on pedigreedatabase.ca.
The tests that matter for this breed
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.
Deep dives on the three key recessive conditions
How to verify a Rosebull dog's results
- Open the dog's page on rosebull.com/our-dogs.
- Scroll to the Health Testing table.
- Read the result for each test, and note any test marked as not done.
- Ask us for the underlying PennHIP or Embark report for any result you want to see for yourself.
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 for HUU and publishes the result on each dog's page.
Why PennHIP and Embark?
PennHIP measures hip laxity by radiograph and can be done from 16 weeks, where OFA will not certify hips until 24 months. Logic was scored at 14 months because of that. Embark is a single cheek swab covering NCL, Ichthyosis, HUU, CMR1, Nemaline Myopathy, and 250+ other genetic markers. Together they cover structural and genetic health. Elbows are evaluated through OFA going forward; our vet does both kinds of radiograph, so hips and elbows can be done in one place.