Great Pyrenees Owner Guide
Great Pyrenees health problems and health testing
TL;DR
Health information should guide good questions, not predict an individual dog’s future. Great Pyrenees owners should know urgent bloat signs, maintain preventive care, and ask breeders for transparent, publicly verifiable health results rather than a vague assurance that parents were “vet checked.”
- Discuss hip and patella evaluation, plus relevant additional testing, with a breeder; CHIC requirements are breed-specific and can change.
- A CHIC number means required results were submitted and made public—it is not a guarantee that every result is normal or that a puppy will be healthy.
- A swollen abdomen, repeated unproductive retching, weakness, collapse, or severe distress can signal GDV/bloat and needs emergency veterinary care.
- Orthopedic health. Discuss lameness, pain, gait changes, and appropriate growth and body condition early. Hip dysplasia and patellar issues are among concerns breeders screen for.
- Bloat/GDV awareness. Know the emergency signs: nonproductive retching, a swollen or painful abdomen, restlessness, drooling, weakness, or collapse. Seek emergency care immediately.
- Routine prevention. Keep up with veterinary exams, parasite prevention, dental care, nutrition review, and age-appropriate screening.
- Individual symptoms. Behavior or appetite changes can be medical as well as training concerns; do not diagnose from a breed list.
Ask for the registered names or links to public results, not just screenshots or a verbal claim. The Great Pyrenees Club of America’s CHIC protocol has included hip and patella evaluation plus an elective test; confirm the current breed-specific requirements directly with OFA and the parent club because protocols can change.
A useful distinction
Health testing reduces uncertainty; it does not create a health guarantee. Good breeders share results, discuss family history and limitations honestly, and support puppies after placement.
Get prompt veterinary care for severe or persistent symptoms, breathing trouble, collapse, sudden abdominal enlargement, repeated unproductive retching, severe pain, neurological signs, or a dog who seems acutely unwell. This guide cannot assess an individual dog.
Next in Growth, feeding & health
Frequently asked questions
- What health tests should a Great Pyrenees breeder do?
- Verify current OFA/CHIC requirements directly. Discuss documented hip and patella evaluations and the relevant elective testing with the breeder, and ask to see public results.
- Are Great Pyrenees prone to bloat?
- Large, deep-chested dogs can develop GDV. Learn the emergency signs and have an emergency-veterinary plan; speak with your vet about your dog’s individual risks.
Sources
Sources
Last reviewed October 2, 2026. These sources support general education and do not replace veterinary or qualified behavior-professional advice for an individual dog.