Health
Health testing for Malinois: what to ask to see
A claim that parents are healthy is not a record. Learn which records exist so you can ask for the real thing.
What is recommended
According to Wikipedia's account of the Belgian Shepherd, the Belgian breed club Societe Royale Saint-Hubert recommends hip and elbow dysplasia testing for all four varieties and epilepsy testing for the Malinois in particular. Treat that as the baseline list and ask a vet or breed club what else applies.
How hip results are graded
OFA veterinary radiologists review x-rays and place hips in one of seven categories. Excellent, Good and Fair are within normal limits and receive an OFA number. Borderline is unclear. Mild, Moderate and Severe are classed as dysplastic.
How elbow results are graded
Elbow films are judged for degenerative joint change around the anconeal process, with Grades I to III describing increasing bone change. A radiographically normal elbow is not graded.
Documents to request
- OFA certificate numbers for both parents, verifiable on the OFA site.
- The dog's own results if it is old enough.
- Veterinary records for vaccinations and any treatment.
- A written statement of what happens if a serious inherited problem appears.
Once health is covered, the biggest remaining question for many buyers is how to source a trained dog.
Quick answers
What does a Fair hip rating mean?
OFA counts Fair as within normal limits. Ask the vet or program how it weighs ratings when choosing breeding dogs.
Can I check a certificate myself?
OFA publishes results for dogs whose owners released them, so you can search for the numbers a seller gives you.
Ready to talk to someone who works with Malinois?
Share your ZIP code and a few lines about your routine. K9PN will pass the request to an independent professional near you.