--- title: "Health Screening by Age: What Tests Puppies Need When" type: "post" slug: "health-screening-by-age-what-tests-puppies-need-when" published_at: "2026-11-01T23:06:23+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-01T23:06:32+00:00" url: "https://sagepuppies.com/health-screening-by-age-what-tests-puppies-need-when/" markdown_url: "https://sagepuppies.com/health-screening-by-age-what-tests-puppies-need-when.md" taxonomy_category: - "Guides" - "Health & Wellness" - "Puppy Care" author: "Matt Milar" publisher: "Sage Puppies" --- # Health Screening by Age: What Tests Puppies Need When > **Quick Summary:** Puppy health screening must match each test to the dog’s age, from nursery deworming and DHPP vaccines to wellness exams, fecal tests, heartworm prevention, eye evaluations, and patella checks. Final OFA hip certification requires radiographs taken at 24 months or later, while a CHIC number confirms testing was published, not that every result passed. Buyers should keep puppy, parent, and registry records separate, then verify both parent lines in the OFA database and request the actual certificates. A Havanese puppy leaves a breeder’s home at eight weeks with a folder of paperwork. Two years later, an adult dog from the same line arrives with a folder that looks nearly identical, even though the two dogs have lived entirely different clinical histories. That is exactly why age-appropriate puppy health screening matters: it matches each record to the dog’s actual stage of life. In plain terms, it means the right tests at the right time, from a core vaccine series and a deworming schedule in early weeks, to patella and eye checks as a dog matures. This guide walks through that health screening timeline stage by stage, from birth to eight weeks through twelve to twenty-four months. You will learn what documents to expect, which registries to check, and how to tell a documented claim from an empty one, using breed-specific examples for the Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo families we raise here in South Jordan. ## How Puppy Health Screening Is Organized by Age Age-appropriate puppy health screening means matching each test to the age at which it actually means something: a vet exam and deworming for a young puppy, joint radiographs and eye exams only once a dog is mature enough for those results to count. Knowing which layer you are looking at keeps breeder claims and vet records from getting blurred together. ### Three Record Layers Buyers Should Keep Separate Keep three layers separate: **puppy records** (vaccines, deworming, fecal exams, microchip), **parent health testing** (DNA panels, hip and patella scores, eye clearances), and **registry entries** that consolidate the parent results. A folder of puppy shots tells you nothing about inherited risk. Ask which layer a document belongs to before you weigh it. ![Breeder organizes puppy and parent health records](https://sagepuppies.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/ai-image-1793574162381-o7zt5g.webp) Breeder organizes puppy and parent health records ### Why the Same Test Means Different Things at Different Ages A DNA panel works from birth because genes never change, so a puppy-level test and a parent-level test can share results. Joint films do not work that way. Orthopedic registries score hips and patellas at set minimum ages, because a young dog’s joints can look fine months before a problem shows. A screening done too early proves very little. | Test | What it shows | | --- | --- | | DNA panel | Inherited gene variants, reliable at any age | | Hip radiograph | Joint structure at scoring age, nothing earlier | ### What a Registry Program Does and Does Not Certify The [OFA’s CHIC program](https://ofa.org/chic-programs/) issues a number when a dog completes its breed’s recommended tests and the owner agrees to publish results. That is a completeness record, not a clean bill of health: a dog can hold a CHIC number with failing scores attached, because the report lists results and ages rather than passing grades. Read the entries themselves, not just the number, before you credit any breeder’s claims. ## Birth to Eight Weeks: Nursery Observations and First Records The first stage of age-appropriate puppy health screening happens in the whelping box, not a clinic. Breeders weigh, handle, and watch each puppy daily, then start deworming and the core vaccine series before any puppy goes home. ### What Breeders Observe Daily in the Nursery Good breeders track weight gain, nursing vigor, and body temperature from day one. By three weeks they watch for steady eye opening, coordinated movement, and playful litter behavior. Daily notes catch fading puppies early, when a quick vet visit still helps. ### Deworming and the First Core Vaccine Doses Most breeders start deworming at two to three weeks and repeat it every two weeks, per [CAPC-based clinic guidance](https://www.thepetadvocatevet.com/post/puppy-deworming-schedule) . The first DHPP dose, covering distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and parvovirus, lands around six to eight weeks, according to the [AVMA](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/vaccinations) . Repeating doses later is what builds protection; one early shot is never the whole series. ### Records to Request Before Eight Weeks Ask for dated deworming entries, the first vaccine record, and any weight log from birth. Serious programs document everything; at Sage Puppies each puppy’s care notes and vet records travel with it, so your own veterinarian can plan follow-up doses. Papers in hand, you can compare a healthy start against what [available puppies](https://sagepuppies.com/available-puppies/) already show. ## Eight to Sixteen Weeks: the Core Vaccine Series and First Wellness Exams Between eight and sixteen weeks, health screening becomes a routine you and your veterinarian run together: a core vaccine series, several wellness exams, and a few baseline tests. ![Veterinarian examines a Havanese puppy with a stethoscope](https://sagepuppies.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/ai-image-1793574210434-j6jre5.webp) Veterinarian examines a Havanese puppy with a stethoscope ### How the Core Vaccine Series Is Spaced The core series covers distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and parvovirus in one combination shot called DHPP. Guidelines call for at least three doses between six and sixteen weeks, spaced two to four weeks apart, with the final dose no earlier than sixteen weeks ([AAHA](https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/vaccine-lifestyle-calculator/) ). Rabies is a separate core vaccine, usually given around twelve to sixteen weeks. Keep every record; your vet will want proof of the series. ### What a Puppy Wellness Exam Typically Covers Each visit is more than a shot. The vet checks weight, heart and lung sounds, eyes, ears, teeth, skin, and coat. For small breeds like Havanese and Cavapoos, the vet also feels the kneecaps, because patella luxation shows up in toy dogs. This is the time to ask about deworming, feeding, and safe socialization before vaccines finish. ### Baseline Testing Your Veterinarian May Recommend Most vets run a fecal examination, since intestinal parasites are common at this age and deworming alone does not catch everything. A baseline fecal test confirms the puppy is clear or guides treatment ([VCA Hospitals](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/vaccines-for-dogs) ). Heartworm testing waits until about six to eight months, because the test cannot detect younger larvae. If your puppy comes home already microchipped, verify the registration details now. ## Four to Six Months: Boosters, Heartworm Testing, and Microchipping Between four and six months, your puppy’s health screening shifts from breeder records to your own veterinarian’s care. The third DHPP booster typically falls in this window, along with a check of growing joints and your first big preventive-health conversation. ![Veterinarian scanning a Cavapoo puppy’s shoulder for a microchip](https://sagepuppies.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/ai-image-1793574236796-d08cc.webp) Veterinarian scanning a Cavapoo puppy’s shoulder for a microchip ### The Annual Heartworm Test and Prevention Conversation Puppies under seven months usually do not get tested yet, because heartworm infection takes about six months to show on a test. The American Heartworm Society advises starting prevention by eight weeks and beginning annual testing at seven months. Expect year-round preventive medication as the standard, not an optional add-on. ### Spay or Neuter Timing and Orthopedic Development Your vet will discuss spay or neuter timing at this visit. For small breeds like Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo puppies, most clinics suggest around five to six months. Because patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, is common in these breeds, ask the vet to check both knees at every visit and note any findings in writing. ### Microchipping and Routine Identification If your puppy is not chipped yet, this is the easy window to do it. The chip is tiny, the placement takes seconds, and registration links the number to you. Ask for the chip number in your records; our guide to puppy health screening records explains why documentation at every stage matters. ## Seven to Twelve Months: Eye Evaluations and Patella Assessment Between seven and twelve months, screening shifts from growth checks to the tests that matter most for small companion breeds: eye examinations and patella evaluation. Some results become permanent at this stage, while others stay preliminary until maturity. OFA hip radiographs become permanent only after the dog turns 24 months. Before that, a hip study done between 12 and 24 months counts as a preliminary reading, not a final certification. So a young dog’s “passing” hips can still change, which is why experienced buyers ask for the dog’s age on every record. ### Eye Examinations and Why They Are Repeated Annually Eye screening uses a board-certified ophthalmologist through the ACVO CAER exam, and results are filed with OFA. The exam finds inherited eye disease before a dog is bred. Because some conditions appear later in life, the ACVO Genetics Committee recommends annual exams rather than a one-time check. When you review a breeder’s paperwork, look for a recent exam date on each parent, not a single old certificate. ![Veterinary ophthalmologist examining a Havanese puppy’s eyes](https://sagepuppies.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/ai-image-1793574295249-m7bb0c.webp) Veterinary ophthalmologist examining a Havanese puppy’s eyes ### Patella Evaluation for Small Companion Breeds Patella luxation, where the kneecap slips out of its groove, is common in small breeds. OFA accepts patella exams from 12 months onward, and a veterinarian grades each knee from normal to severe. For Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo lines, this is one of the core orthopedic tests to ask about, alongside the parent health records you can compare in our guide to [health tests every puppy buyer should ask about](https://sagepuppies.com/health-tests-every-puppy-buyer-should-ask-a-breeder-about/) . ### Why Hip Radiographs Usually Wait Hips mature slowly, and sedation plus X-rays cost real money. Radiographs before 24 months are preliminary, and the joint can loosen or tighten as a dog grows. PennHIP works differently: it can be done as early as six months, but its readings measure joint laxity rather than replacing a final OFA score. Ask which system a breeder used and when. ## Twelve to Twenty-Four Months: Permanent Orthopedic Records and Adult Maintenance Your puppy’s second year turns preliminary results into permanent records. Once a dog reaches 24 months, orthopedic images become final certifications, and routine care shifts to an adult schedule. ### Hip Radiographs at Two Years and Older Permanent [hip certification](https://ofa.org/diseases/hip-dysplasia/hip-screening-procedures/) requires radiographs taken at or after 24 months. Three board-certified veterinary radiologists then review each set of films and assign a grade. Any earlier study stays preliminary, so ask for the updated certification in writing before it goes into your dog’s file. ### Adult Boosters, Heartworm, and Annual Wellness Exams After the first-year core vaccine series is complete, most dogs need boosters on a one- or three-year cycle set by your veterinarian. Plan an annual wellness exam with a heartworm test, and keep year-round prevention going. Fecal checks catch parasites early. ### Dental and Sensory Checks for Small Breeds Small breeds like Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo often keep crowded teeth, so ask your vet to check for tartar and retained puppy teeth at each visit. Annual eye checks and patella rechecks also belong on the calendar. When you compare breeders, [how a breeder’s health record reads](https://sagepuppies.com/havapoo-puppies-how-to-read-a-breeders-health-record/) tells you a lot. ## Breed-Specific Priorities for Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo Each breed in this guide carries its own screening checklist, and the differences matter when you compare litters. Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo puppies inherit health risks from both parent lines, so breed-specific tests tell you which risks were actually checked. ### Eyes, Hips, and Patella These three areas head the list for small companion breeds. The Havanese parent club lists OFA patella certification as one of the core tests for a CHIC number, alongside eye and hearing checks, according to the [Havanese Club of America’s testing guide](https://havaneseclubofamerica.org/health-issues-and-testing/) . Loose kneecaps, called patella luxation, and inherited eye disease show up in all three breeds. Hip radiographs matter too, though preliminary readings before 24 months are not final. ### Screening Across Two Lines A mixed breed like a Havapoo needs testing from both sides of the pedigree. The breed-specific protocols in the [OFA CHIC program](https://ofa.org/chic-programs/) define which tests each parent breed should have, so ask for records from the Havanese parent and the Poodle parent separately. A breeder who screens only one line has covered only half the risks. ### What Cavalier and Poodle Contribute Cavalier genetics bring heart checks into a Cavapoo’s picture, since the breed is screened for cardiac disease as well as eyes and patellas. Poodle lines add hip and eye priorities. At Sage Puppies, both parent lines are documented separately, so families can verify each side. ## How to Verify Health Records Before You Reserve a Puppy Verifying a breeder’s claims takes about twenty minutes online. Look up each parent in the OFA database by registered name, confirm CHIC numbers, and ask for copies of test results, not summaries. Five direct questions will separate documented health testing from a verbal promise. ### Searching the OFA Database and CHIC Listings The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals keeps a free public database. Search each parent by exact registered name or AKC number at ofa.org. A CHIC listing means the dog completed the required tests for its breed, though a CHIC number itself does not grade results. Check that hip results say final, not preliminary, since readings taken before 24 months can change as the dog matures. ### Five Questions to Ask About Health-Tested Parents Ask these in order, and expect written answers: 1. What are the parents’ registered names and OFA numbers? 2. Which tests did each parent pass, and at what age? 3. Did a veterinary ophthalmologist examine the eyes, and when? 4. What does the genetic DNA panel cover? 5. Can I see the actual certificates, not a summary? A breeder who tests answers fast and sends documents. One who stalls, or offers “vet checked” as the only proof, is telling you something. ### Where Sage Puppies Fits the Process Sage Puppies shares parent health documentation during the matching process, so families can run these same checks before reserving. Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo parents should carry patella grading and eye examination results at minimum. Verify everything yourself regardless of who the breeder is. ![Sage Puppies homepage](https://sagepuppies.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sagepuppies.com-1781544698129.png) Sage Puppies homepage Want a puppy whose health records already tell this story? At [Sage Puppies](https://sagepuppies.com) we breed Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo litters with documented screening at every stage. Start your application and see exactly what paperwork comes home with your puppy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Q1: Which health tests do puppies need by age? Screening follows the timeline below: 1. Birth to 8 weeks: deworming, first DHPP dose, weight records. 2. 8 to 16 weeks: core vaccine series, wellness exams, fecal examination. 3. 4 to 6 months: final boosters, microchipping, spay or neuter discussion. 4. 7 to 12 months: ACVO eye exams, patella grading, preliminary hips. 5. 12 to 24 months: final OFA hip certification at 24 months. ### Q2: Can hip X-rays be done before 24 months? Yes, but results count only as preliminary. Permanent certification requires radiographs at or after 24 months, reviewed by three radiologists. ### Q3: How do I check a breeder’s parent health testing? Search each parent by registered name in the free OFA database, confirm CHIC numbers, and request actual certificates rather than summaries. ### Q4: Are Havapoos tested for both parent breeds? They should be. Ask for patella and eye results from the Havanese parent and hip and eye results from the Poodle parent separately. ### Q5: Does a CHIC number mean a dog passed all tests? No. It confirms the breed’s required tests were completed and published, but the entries can include failing scores. Read each result yourself. ### Q6: When should heartworm testing start? Prevention starts by eight weeks; annual testing begins around seven months, because earlier tests cannot detect young larvae. ## Conclusion Age-appropriate puppy health screening matches each test to the stage where its results actually count: deworming and early DHPP doses in the nursery, the core vaccine series and fecal exams through sixteen weeks, boosters and microchipping by six months, then eye exams and patella grading as joints mature. Permanent hip certification waits until 24 months, and nothing before that is final. For Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo families, keep the three layers separate: puppy records, parent health testing, and registry entries. Verify each parent in the OFA database yourself, read the actual results rather than the CHIC number, and treat every documented record as evidence, never a guarantee.