In January 2025, the RKC published a health standard for all breeds including the Havanese.
For this breed, the recommended health tests are:
Good Practice (Essential)
BVA/KC/ISDS scheme – eye testing by a panel approved vet.
Best Practice (Recommended)
BVA elbow dysplasia screening scheme.
The Health Standard also originally included a Best Practice recommendation for hip dysplasia screening. However, following input from the Havanese Club of GB and RKC committee review, this test has been removed from the Havanese health standard with the argument being there is not adequate evidence that hip dysplasia causes clinical suffering in Havanese.
We as a society to do not agree with excluding hip scoring as there is evidence of it being a significant health consideration for the breed, as explained on our hip testing page. Unless data on hip scores is collected, it is hard to see how its implications for the breed can be objectively assessed.