10-Year Genetic Health Guarantee

Our 10-Year Health Guarantee: Because “Trust Me Bro” Isn’t Good Enough

Industry standard is 1-2 years. We offer 10. Not because we’re generous—because we breed dogs so healthy, we can afford to back them for a decade. Here’s exactly what’s covered (and what’s not).

Why We Can Offer a 10-Year Guarantee When Most Breeders Only Do 1-2 Years

Let’s be real: most breeders offer 1-2 year health guarantees because they don’t actually test their breeding dogs for genetic conditions. They’re gambling that problems won’t show up until after the guarantee expires. We’re different. Learn who MFS is and why we breed Maltipoos with comprehensive genetic testing because we can afford to stand behind our puppies for 10 full years.

View our current list of healthy Maltipoo puppies and you’ll see that every single puppy comes from parents who’ve passed Embark DNA testing for 230+ genetic conditions, OFA cardiac evaluations, OFA patella certifications, and annual eye exams. According to Orthopedic Foundation for Animals data, less than 15% of breeders complete all recommended health testing—we’re in that elite minority.

📊 Our Track Record: Less Than 1% Claim Rate

In 20+ years and 2,000+ puppies placed, we’ve had fewer than 20 health guarantee claims approved. That’s a 0.97% claim rate—compared to industry average of 8-12% for breeders who don’t health test. See reviews from happy MFS puppy families who’ve never needed to use the guarantee (but love having it).

What’s Actually Covered: Hereditary & Congenital Conditions for 10 Full Years

Our guarantee covers genetic and congenital conditions diagnosed within 10 years of birth. “Congenital” means born with it (even if symptoms don’t show immediately), and “hereditary” means passed down from parents through genes. Read the full profile of the Maltese Poodle mix to understand which conditions are genetic vs environmental.

🫀 Cardiac (Heart) Conditions Covered

Every parent dog undergoes OFA cardiac evaluation by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist before breeding. We screen out dogs with heart murmurs, valve defects, or abnormal rhythms. Covered conditions include:

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA): Congenital heart defect where fetal blood vessel doesn’t close properly
Mitral Valve Disease (MVD): Hereditary valve deterioration common in small breeds
Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Genetic weakening of heart muscle
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): Hole in heart wall present from birth
Pulmonary Stenosis: Narrowing of pulmonary valve

🦴 Orthopedic (Joint/Bone) Conditions Covered

Screening for Patellar Luxation in the Maltese breed is critical—it’s one of the most common inherited orthopedic problems in toy dogs. We OFA-certify all breeding dogs to eliminate carriers. Covered conditions include:

Patellar Luxation (Grades 2-4): Genetic knee cap dislocation requiring surgery
Hip Dysplasia: Malformed hip socket causing arthritis and pain
Elbow Dysplasia: Abnormal elbow joint development
Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease: Genetic hip joint degeneration in small breeds
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD): Hereditary spinal disc problems

👁️ Ocular (Eye) Conditions Covered

Annual ACVO veterinary ophthalmologist examinations catch inherited eye diseases early. Learn about the Maltipoo’s Maltese lineage and understand that both Maltese and Poodles can carry eye disease genes. Covered conditions include:

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): Genetic retinal degeneration leading to blindness
Hereditary Cataracts: Lens cloudiness causing vision loss
Glaucoma: Genetic increased eye pressure
Retinal Dysplasia: Abnormal retinal development
Corneal Dystrophy: Inherited corneal opacity

🧠 Neurological Conditions Covered

Epilepsy (Idiopathic): Genetic seizure disorder
Hydrocephalus: Congenital fluid buildup in brain
Cerebellar Hypoplasia: Underdeveloped cerebellum affecting coordination
Degenerative Myelopathy: Genetic spinal cord disease (screened via Embark DNA)

🩺 Other Genetic Conditions Covered

Portosystemic Shunt (Liver Shunt): Congenital blood vessel malformation
Von Willebrand Disease: Genetic bleeding disorder (Embark tested)
Addison’s Disease: Hereditary adrenal insufficiency
Hypothyroidism (Congenital): Genetic thyroid deficiency
Cryptorchidism: Congenital undescended testicles (males)

MFS – Check the size range for Teacup, Toy and Mini Maltipoos because some conditions (like liver shunt) are more common in smaller dogs. We test for everything regardless of size.

What’s NOT Covered: Environmental, Injuries, and Normal Aging (The Honest Truth)

We’re transparent about limitations. Our guarantee covers genetic/congenital conditions—not things caused by environment, accidents, or normal aging. Find answers to common Maltipoo questions about what health guarantees can and can’t cover.

❌ NOT Covered by Our Guarantee:

Infectious Diseases: Parvo, distemper, kennel cough, giardia, coccidia (preventable with vaccines/hygiene)
Injuries & Accidents: Broken bones, torn ligaments, car accidents, falls
Environmental Conditions: Allergies (food/environmental), ear infections, skin conditions
Improper Care: Obesity, dental disease from lack of care, conditions from neglect
Normal Aging: Arthritis in seniors, age-related cataracts (after age 8), general wear and tear
Behavioral Issues: Anxiety, aggression, destructive behavior (training issues, not genetic)
Cosmetic Issues: Incorrect bite (unless affecting health), coat color changes, size variance

According to American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines, most health guarantees exclude environmental conditions because breeders can’t control post-sale care. If you feed your puppy a terrible diet and they develop pancreatitis, that’s not a genetic problem—that’s a care problem.

How do I train and socialize my Maltipoo? and our new Maltipoo owner’s guidebook help you prevent environmental issues through proper care.

How We Back Up Our Guarantee: The Testing Protocol Nobody Else Does

Finding a responsible and ethical Maltipoo breeder means asking to see actual test results—not promises. Here’s what we do for EVERY breeding dog before they ever produce a litter:

🧬 Embark DNA Testing

Screens for 230+ genetic conditions including all the covered conditions above. Results are uploaded to Embark’s public database—you can verify them yourself. We only breed dogs who test clear or are at-worst carriers paired with clear dogs (so puppies won’t be affected).

❤️ OFA Cardiac Evaluation

Every parent dog examined by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. Full echocardiogram (ultrasound of heart) checks for valve defects, murmurs, arrhythmias. Results registered with OFA’s public database. Dogs must be certified “normal” to breed.

🦵 OFA Patella Certification

Patellar luxation screening by veterinary orthopedist. Dogs must have normal (Grade 0) knees to breed. No exceptions. Results publicly registered with OFA.

👁️ Annual Eye Exams

CERF eye exams by veterinary ophthalmologist every 12 months. Checks for PRA, cataracts, glaucoma, retinal issues. Dogs must pass annually to remain in breeding program. Many inherited eye diseases are late-onset—annual testing catches them before breeding occurs.

Total cost of testing per breeding dog: $800-$1,200 annually. Most backyard breeders skip this entirely. View all available Maltipoo puppies nationwide from fully health-tested parents.

How to File a Health Guarantee Claim (Hope You Never Need This, But Here It Is)

What are the steps to adopting a puppy from MFS? includes understanding the health guarantee claim process. We’ve designed it to be straightforward—not full of loopholes to deny claims.

6-Step Claim Process

Initial Vet Visit (Within 72 Hours of Delivery)

Take your puppy to your veterinarian within 72 hours of delivery for a wellness exam. This is required by our contract. If your vet finds an immediate health problem, contact us IMMEDIATELY—you may be eligible for full refund or replacement before the 72-hour window expires.

Contact Us Immediately If Issue Suspected

Call/text (402) 937-2233 or email as soon as your vet suspects a covered condition. Don’t wait weeks—early notification helps us help you. We’re not going to fight you if there’s a legitimate problem. Contact us 24/7 if you have concerns.

Specialist Confirmation (If Needed)

For major conditions (heart defects, hip dysplasia, PRA, etc.), we may request confirmation from a board-certified specialist. We’ll help coordinate this and may cover the exam cost. This protects both of us from misdiagnosis.

Submit Veterinary Documentation

Email us complete vet records: exam notes, diagnostic test results (X-rays, ultrasounds, blood work), specialist reports, and treatment recommendations. We need official veterinary documentation—not just your description of symptoms.

Claim Review (Within 7 Business Days)

We review with our veterinary consultant. If it’s clearly a covered genetic/congenital condition, we approve immediately. If it’s ambiguous (could be genetic OR environmental), we may request additional testing or a second opinion.

Resolution (Your Choice)

If claim is approved, you choose: (A) Full refund + return puppy, (B) Keep puppy + get replacement puppy at no charge, or (C) Keep puppy + reimbursement for veterinary treatment costs (up to purchase price). We honor your choice.

Your Resolution Options: We Put YOU in Control

What happens if I can’t keep the Maltipoo puppy? explains our policies in detail, but here are your three options if a health guarantee claim is approved:

Option 1: Full Refund (Return Puppy)

Return your puppy to us and receive 100% refund of purchase price. We’ll coordinate safe transportation back to Nebraska (we pay). You keep all supplies, vet records, etc. This option makes sense if the condition requires expensive ongoing treatment and you can’t afford it, or if you’re emotionally unable to care for a special-needs dog. No judgment—we understand.

Option 2: Keep Puppy + Get Replacement (Most Popular)

Keep your current puppy AND get a replacement puppy at no additional cost when our next litter is available. This works if the condition is manageable with treatment and you’ve bonded with your puppy but want a healthy companion as well. View our current available puppies to see replacement options. You choose the replacement puppy just like your first adoption.

Option 3: Keep Puppy + Veterinary Reimbursement

Keep your puppy and we reimburse you for veterinary treatment costs up to the original purchase price. Submit itemized vet bills and we’ll reimburse directly. This works for treatable conditions like liver shunt surgery ($3,000-$5,000) or patella luxation surgery ($1,500-$3,000 per knee). You don’t have to pay out of pocket for genetic conditions we should have prevented.

According to Humane Society breeder guidelines, ethical breeders always put the dog’s welfare first. We honor your choice because you know your situation better than we do.

Beyond the Guarantee: Lifetime Health Support

Even for conditions NOT covered by our guarantee, we provide free lifetime health consultations. Call us at 2 AM when your dog is vomiting. Text us when you can’t figure out if that limp is serious. How is the puppy delivered safely to Virginia? and every other state includes our contact info and 24/7 availability.

We maintain relationships with families from California to New York, from Texas to Florida. Your puppy’s health is our reputation.

Comparing Health Across Breeds

Wondering if Maltipoos are healthier than other breeds?

Questions About Our Health Guarantee?

Download the full legal guarantee document or call us to discuss. We’ll explain every detail so you feel completely confident.

Call: (402) 937-2233 View Available Puppies