The German Wirehaired Pointer / Deutsch Drahthaar is a resilient, tough and adaptable breed, which has maintained a generally excellent health record over the years.

Like many breeds, however, there are a number of relatively rare health problems in the breed that the various worldwide breed clubs having differing standards of enforcement about, to protect the long term well being of the breed.

The Verein Deutsch Drahthaar has always mandated that all parents should be Hip Dysplasia Free (HD Frei) to be eligible for breeding and that dogs should be free from known genetic problems (under German law an owner can insist on a refund if a dog has an avoidable genetic disorder).

Health certification requirements vary across the world, in the USA as well as HD, GWP’s must be assessed for correct thyroid function to be eligible for breeding (a known problem in the US) yet in the UK there are no mandated health tests at present, only HD testing for Accredited Breeders (yet ironically do not have to be HD-Free !).

The biggest world-wide campaign over the last 10 years has been the efforts to remove a bleeding disorder from the gene pool – Von Willibrands Disease (vWD) – from the gene pool . After having developed a simple and cheap DNA test, over 8 years ago, many breed clubs across the world have chose to ignore this disorder and the DNA test, including the UK. Thankfully due to the tireless efforts of many people across the world, the breed clubs are beginning to mandate this test.

Below is a number of articles summarising many of the main key health issues debated in the breed and their status;