Frequently asked questions

Plan for appointments to last about 30 minutes. Eye drops need to be applied to dilate the pupils, which can take up to 20 minutes to take effect. We recommend arriving 5–10 minutes before your appointment time to ensure all registration paperwork is completed.

On arrival you will complete registration and your dog's microchip number will be checked against their registration. The ophthalmologist will perform the eye examination in a darkened room before and after application of dilating eye drops, which can take up to 20 minutes to work. Please ensure your dog is amenable to examination — muzzles may need to be used where appropriate to protect staff and clients. After the examination you will receive the certificate from the completed screening, along with any advice or information required.

Always bring your dog's Royal Kennel Club or ISDS registration certificate — this needs to be checked on arrival. Your dog must be microchipped, and this will also be checked on arrival.

If your dog has had a previous eye scheme examination, bring the previous certificate with you.

If your dog requires a muzzle and you have one available, please bring this with you and make the ophthalmologist aware.

Provided your registration documents (Royal Kennel Club/ISDS registration) are produced at the time of examination, the results are given at the end of the examination, along with your certificate.

If the Kennel Club/ISDS documents are not produced at the time of examination, the results will be withheld until the documentation has been provided.

Gonioscopy examines the eye's drainage angle and grades the result on a three-point scale to indicate the level of glaucoma risk. Read more on our gonioscopy & glaucoma page.

All breeds are recommended to have an annual eye test for breeding purposes. Gonioscopy is only required in breeds affected by Primary Closed Angle Glaucoma — these breeds can be found here (opens in a new tab).

You can also use our quick guide to check which test is right for your dog.

Yes, microchipping is strictly mandatory for all dogs undergoing British Veterinary Association (BVA) eye testing, including puppy litter screening. Your dog will be scanned before the test to confirm the microchip number matches the paperwork. A dog without a microchip cannot be tested or certified under the scheme.

The price depends on which test or tests your dog needs — see our pricing page for full details.

All bookings require a £25 non-refundable deposit, per dog or litter. This covers administrative and appointment preparation costs, including room hire, and cannot be transferred to another dog, appointment or owner. Failing to attend your appointment means this fee is non-refundable. If we have to cancel or reschedule your appointment due to unforeseen circumstances, the deposit may be refunded or transferred to a new date.

An annual examination is recommended for breeding dogs. Gonioscopy is recommended every 3 years, though you can choose to have this done more often if you wish.

Bookings for litter screening can be made via our booking page (opens in a new tab). All puppies must be microchipped and no older than 12 weeks at the time of registration (5–12 weeks recommended).

Please bring the Kennel Club and/or ISDS registered name and number of both the sire and dam, the litter's date of birth, and the number of puppies born to the appointment. Puppies are identified by their microchip number, sex and colour, plus any other identification you'd like noted — there should be no confusion between the puppies presented.

See our litter screening page for more.

The outstanding balance (your total minus the deposit paid at booking) is payable on the day of the examination, by card only. Exact cash can be accepted on the day, but we regret that change cannot be provided due to the nature of the set up.