Can I use my own vet?

If you prefer to use your own vet, you will not be eligible for the £200 of screening subsidies and the score will not be recorded against your dog's KC health test records. You will also have to negotiate a price with your vet and pay the assessor separately.

All the information on the Nordic countries' X-ray screening protocols is in the public domain and has been for several years. Any Dachshund owner is welcome to ask their own vet to take the X-rays and send these to one of the Nordic experts for scoring.

The benefits of participating in the Kennel Club's screening programme, using one of our participating centres, are as follows:

• X-rays are available at a subsidised price from normal rates
• The KC has put an internal quality assurance process in place to help ensure the X-rays meet the standard required for scoring
• The scoring will be done by an expert scrutineer from an approved panel of UK veterinary neurologists
• You can participate in the wider IVDD research programme being conducted by the Dachshund Breed Council

If you do choose to have your own vet carry out the screening, please ensure your vet emails the X-rays (DICOM images) to Anu Lappalainen for scoring, along with a Consent Form (pdf).