The new scheme will test for Lafora’s disease.

Following consultation with the breed’s health co-ordinator, The Kennel Club has approved a new DNA testing scheme for Lafora’s disease in basset hounds.

Lafora’s disease is automsomal-recessive, which means that to be affected, a dog must inherit a copy of the abnormal gene from both its mother and father.

Seizures are usually the first sign of the disease, typically presenting after five years of age. Symptoms gradually progress over time, and affected dogs may develop symptoms such as blindness, deafness, tremors, and dementia.

Once tested, dogs will be recorded on The Kennel Club systems as either:

Clear - The dog does not have any copies of the abnormal gene associated with the disease. The dog is highly unlikely to be clinically affected and will only pass on a normal copy of the gene to a puppy.

Carrier - The dog has one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the abnormal gene associated with the disease. The dog is highly unlikely to be clinically affected, but may pass one copy of the normal gene, or one copy of the abnormal gene on to a puppy.

Affected - The dog has two copies of the abnormal gene associated with the disease. The dog will likely be clinically affected by the disorder and will pass one copy of the abnormal gene on to any potential offspring.

Test results will be added to the dog’s registration details, published on The Kennel Club’s website and in the next available Breed Records Supplement.

For dogs that have already been tested, owners can scan and email DNA certificates to health.results@thekennelclub.org.uk

For more information about the DNA tests and to find out which laboratories The Kennel Club is able to record results from, visit The Kennel Club's website.