Miniature Schnauzer Health
History and Overview
Raising a Healthy Puppy
History and Overview
Miniature Schnauzers are a hardy and generally healthy dog breed with a life expectancy of 12-15 years. Originating from Germany's standard schnauzer, they were robust farm dogs used as ratters. Today in the US, our American Miniature Schnauzer club sets the standard for recommended genetic testing for breeding stock. There are several g
Miniature Schnauzers are a hardy and generally healthy dog breed with a life expectancy of 12-15 years. Originating from Germany's standard schnauzer, they were robust farm dogs used as ratters. Today in the US, our American Miniature Schnauzer club sets the standard for recommended genetic testing for breeding stock. There are several genetic mutations recommended to DNA test for, as well as a cardiac and eye exam. Some conditions that the breed is prone to include pancreatitis, diabetes, bladder stones, dental disease, cataracts, high cholesterol, and Schnauzer Comedo Syndrome (aka: Schnauzer bumps).
Our Genetic Testing
Raising a Healthy Puppy
History and Overview
We carefully analyze health, temperament, and conformation prior to breeding. We have used Embark in the past, which tests for many of our breed relevant conditions, but also several hundred DNA mutations that are not even recommended for our breed. We currently test for MAC through PennGenn and for CMT through Orivet. We will be transi
We carefully analyze health, temperament, and conformation prior to breeding. We have used Embark in the past, which tests for many of our breed relevant conditions, but also several hundred DNA mutations that are not even recommended for our breed. We currently test for MAC through PennGenn and for CMT through Orivet. We will be transitioning to testing through AKC for all things other than MAC. We also obtain an eye and cardiac exam and register the results with OFA.
American Miniature Schnauzer Club recommended health screenings: https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn-origin-etr.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/18134123/American-Miniature-Schnauzer-Club-Inc.-Health-Statement-7-24-Final.pdf
Raising a Healthy Puppy
Raising a Healthy Puppy
Raising a Healthy Puppy
A healthy puppy starts with informed and wise breeding, but it certainly does not end there! Although there are many diseases that we can certainly avoid by DNA advised breeding, genetics are not a black and white, copy and paste formula. For example, we may have two parents with perfectly aligned teeth produce a puppy with maligned teeth
A healthy puppy starts with informed and wise breeding, but it certainly does not end there! Although there are many diseases that we can certainly avoid by DNA advised breeding, genetics are not a black and white, copy and paste formula. For example, we may have two parents with perfectly aligned teeth produce a puppy with maligned teeth. I like to remind potential puppy parents that although we do everything we can to ensure we are producing healthy puppies, any live animal has a high potential to encounter some sort of medical need throughout their lifetime and the adoption of a puppy is also a lifelong commitment to caring for that dog's health. Environmental factors also play a huge role in the lifelong health of any dog! Most of the common health issues in miniature schnauzers can be avoided by good diet, regular exercise, routine dental care, and maintaining a healthy weight. Diet is so important! We personally avoid all table scraps and feed our dogs a high quality, corn-free dry dog food. Our dogs are very active, so to meet their nutritional needs our food is 26% protein and 16% fat (they get about a cup a day), however for an adult dog with a lower activity level, 10-15% fat is recommended.
a note about interpreting genetic testing
Our approach to breeding, includes full transparency! If you have any questions, please ask!
For a recessive gene, such as PMDS, two carriers are required in order for there to be a chance of the disease presenting in offspring. With recessive genes, we can avoid said diseases, by not breeding two carriers together. We may occasionally breed a dog that has not had all of the normal testing we preform because we know what they may/may not be carriers for due to parentage and the chosen match has been tested.
For a dominate gene, such as CDDY, a carrier could display disease with only one copy of the gene, however it is not an indicator of disease. Savannah's was our first (and currently only) DNA panel to show a gene for CDDY. Our first instinct was to spay her and avoid breeding her, however thankfully before her appointment, we began to do a deep dive of research into the genetic mutation, as well as the linked disease of IVVD. As of June 2026, as I am writing this, in all of the published research available, there are no available statistics of diagnosed cases of IVVD in miniature schnauzers with the CDDY gene mutation, despite the fact that around 16% of miniature schnauzers are carriers. Because of the significant prevalence of carrier rate, yet seemingly very low incidence of disease presentation among miniature schnauzers, we decided to begin talking to veterinarian professionals to get their opinions on breeding a carrier of CDDY. Thanks to some networking, we were able to hear from over a dozen veterinarians, who all agreed that there is more research needed on the genetic testing of CDDY/IVVD and some mentioned that there could be more breed health detriment caused by eliminating all carriers from the breed pool and thus bottlenecking breed genetic diversity than breeding non-pathological carriers for CDDY. Miniature schnauzers are not conformationally a high risk breed for IVDD, due to their square stature. Any dog, even one without the gene for CDDY, can develop IVVD... as my veterinarian worded it, "anything with a backbone can get it." However, miniature schnauzers are not considered a breed prone to developing IVVD.
There are some diseases that do not have a genetic screening test available, such as liver shunts. For such diseases, we screen the health of bloodlines, as well as our offspring.