Canine Health Problems by Breed

Healthy jerky treats with arthritis fighting glucosamine. Click here to learn more.

Click here for free on-line quote!

Possible Canine Health Problems by Breed

The following medical problems have been found to be associated with certain breed types. This may or may not mean that your pet will have these problems. In addition this does not represent the most complete or up to date list possible. This is because as certain breeds gain popularity, new problems appear because of careless breeding practices motivated by profit.

For some of the most up-to-date and detailed information regarding the health of a breed, the American Kennel Club has a listing of National Breed Clubs that lists some of the health problems being encountered with each breed. The AKC also has a web site Canine Health Foundation that lists breed research plus the top 10 diseases of 2000.

Prospective pet owners of a breed with possible health problems may want to obtain a written health guarantee and only buy pets with both parents OFA certified (for breeds susceptible to Hip Dysplasia) and CERF certified (for breeds susceptible to hereditary eye conditions). Even if a breed is not prone to health problems, it does not mean that a particular dog may not have that problem.

Click on the first letter of the breed you are interested in.

[A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z ]

A
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Affenpinscher	Slipped Stifle, fractures, eye ulcers, respiratory difficulties
Afghan Hound	Hip Dysplasia, cataracts, paralysis
Airedale Terrier	Hip Dysplasia
Akita	Hip Dysplasia, bad knees, popping hocks, thyroid problems, PRA
Alaskan Malamute	Hip Dysplasia, skin disorders, throid problems, dwarfism in the legs
American Cocker Spaniel	PRA, cataracts, glaucoma, eye abnormalities, skin conditions, hemophyilia, ear infections, heart disease, epilepsy.
American Eskimo Dog	Hip Dysplasia, PRA. For more info, here's a breed description from the American Eskimo Dog Web Site.
American Hairless Terrier	sunburn, sunstroke
American Staffordshire Terrier	Hip Dysplasia, tumors
American Water Spaniel	skin conditions
Australian Cattle Dog	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, and congenital deafness
Australian Shepherd	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, cataracts, deafness in merles, sunburn in reds and red merles, epilepsy and autoimmune disease. For additional information, visit the Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics Institute
Australian Terrier	Hair loss, allergies, patellar luxation. For additional information, visit The Australian Terrier Club of America's Web Site
Azawakh	hypothyroidism, seizures, spondylosis, autoimmune disorders

B
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Brussels Griffon	Slipped Stifle, eye lacerations, respiratory difficulty, heatstroke
Brittany	glaucoma, spinal paralysis
Basenji	kidney disorder, eye problems, hernias, digestive problems
Basset Hound	ear infections,glaucoma, bloat, spinal disc problems, eyelid problems
Beagle	hypothyroidism, Demodectic Mange, umbilical Hernia, epilepsy, eye and eyelid problems, cryptorchidism, dwarfism, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disk disease, luxating patella. For more information visit the National Beagle Club of America's Web Site
Black and Tan Coonhound	Hip Dysplasia
Bloodhound	eyelid problems, Hip Dysplasia, bloat
Borzoi	bloat
Bernese Mountain Dog	eyelid problems, Hip Dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, bloat, cancer,
Boxer	corneal ulcers, bloat, tumors, digestive problems heart disease
Bullmastiff	Hip Dysplasia, eyelid problems, bloat, tumors,
Bearded Collie	Hip Dysplasia
Belgian Malinois	Hip Dysplasia
Belgian Sheep Dog	Hip Dysplasia, epilepsy, eye problems
Belgian Tervuren	Hip Dysplasia, epilepsy, eye problems
Bouvier des Flandres	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, elbow dysplasia, heart conditions, thyroid problems, eye problems (cataracts, entropion, glaucoma). For more information, visit the Bouvier Information Health Issues page.
Briard	PRA, Hip Dysplasia, and bloat
Bedlington Terrier	kidney disease, thyroid deficiency, PRA, cataracts, retinal dysplasia, liver disease
Border Terrier	congenital heart problems
Bull Terrier	patella problems, skin problems, deafness
Border Collie	epilepsy, congenital deafness, Hip Dysplasia, PRA, CEA
Bolognese	In general, the Bolognese is a healthy breed. However, before buying be sure to check for luxating patella and eye abnormalities.
Bichon Frise	corneal/retinal disorders, skin conditions, ear infections, cataracts
Boston Terrier	respiratory difficulties, heatstroke, eye infections/lacerations, eyelid abnormalities, cataracts
Bulldog	congenital heart disease, heart attack, collapsed nostrils, heatstroke, respiratory difficulties, eyelid abnormalities, skin conditions

C
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Cardigan Welsh Corgi	hip dysplasia, PRA, and various eye problems
Cesky Terrier	In general, they are a healthy breed. However, females have tendency toward ovarian cysts and infertility and they can be susceptible to back problems caused by their long back and excessive high-jumping.
Chinook	Hip Dysplasia
Collie	PRA, CEA, skin conditions, congenital deafness, crusty nose
Clumber Spaniel	Hip Dysplasia, entropion
Chesapeake Bay Retriever	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, cataracts, eczema
Curly Coated Retriever	Hip Dysplasia, PRA
Cairn Terrier	skin allergies
Chow Chow	Hip Dysplasia, skin conditions, eyelid abnormalities
Chihuahua	Slipped Stifle, fractures, jawbone disorders, rheumatism, eye problems, heart disease, tooth and gum weaknesses
Canaan Dog	Not prone to health problems
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	heart disease, Slipped Stifle, Hip Dysplasia, eye problems
Chinese Shar-pei	Hip Dysplasia, eyelid abnormalities, and skin conditions

D
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Dandie Dinmont Terrier	spinal disc problems
Dachshund	skin conditions, heart disease, spinal disc problems, diabetes, urinary stones, eye disorders
Doberman Pinscher	Hip Dysplasia, VWD, bloat, heart disease, thyroid, liver, and immune-deficiency disorders
Dalmatian	Hip Dysplasia, inherited deafness, skin conditions, and urinary stones

E
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
English Cocker Spaniel	PRA, eye abnormalities, ear infections
English Setter	Hip Dysplasia
English Springer Spaniel	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, eye abnormalities, ear infections, skin conditions
English Toy Spaniel	Slipped Stifle, eye lacerations, eyeball prolapse (eye pops out of socket), ear infections, respiratory difficulty, heatstroke
English Shepherd	Hip Dysplasia

F
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Foxhound	Not prone to health problems.
Finnish Spitz	Hip Dysplasia, and PRA
French Bulldog	eye lacerations, respiratory difficulties, and heatstroke
Flat-Coated Retriever	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, Melanoma of the gums, various health problems including adenocarcinoma, fibrosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, osteosarcoma Note: We love Flat-Coats and want to be sure they are matched with an appropriate home. If you are considering a Flat-Coated Retriever, take a minute to check out this Breeder's Checklist to see if a Flat-Coat is the right dog for you.
Field Spaniel	Hip Dysplasia, retinal/eye abnormalities, ear infections

G
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
German Shorthaired Pointer	Hip Dysplasia, cataracts, SAS
German Wirehaired Pointer	Hip Dysplasia
Glen of Imaal Terrier	Not prone to health problems
Golden Retriever	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, VWD, serious heart problems, cataracts, skin conditions, eye abnormalities, epilepsy.
Gordon Setter	Hip Dysplasia
Greyhound	bloat
Giant Schnauzer	Hip Dysplasia
Great Dane	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, bone cancer, heart disease, tumors
Great Pyrenees	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, eyelid problems
German Shepherd	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, gastric disorders, penosteitis, spinal paralysis, eye disease, and skin conditions
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog	Hip Dysplasia, bloat

H
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Hairless Chinese Crested	sensitive to weather extremes (may burn in hot sun). tooth decay (needs dry food to help prevent)
Harrier	Not prone to health problems.
Havanese	Not prone to health problems

I
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Ibizan Hound	drug/chemical sensitivity
Irish Setter	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, bloat, congenital heart disease, skin conditions, epilepsy.
Irish Terrier	Not prone to health problems.
Irish Water Spaniel	Hip Dysplasia, hypothyroidism
Irish Wolfhound	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, bone tumors
Italian Greyhound	Slipped Stifle, fractures, PRA, and epilepsy

J
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Jack Russell Terrier	lens luxation, glaucoma, PRA, epilepsy, cryptorchidism, congenital dwarfism in the legs. For more information, visit: http://www.terrier.com/breed/medical.php3 JRT items in our store
Japanese Chin	eye lacerations, respiratory difficulties, and heatstroke

K
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Keeshond	Hip Dysplasia, skin conditions, and congenital heart disease
Kerry Blue Terrier	eye problems, cysts, tumors
Komondor	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, skin allergies
Kyi-Leo	Slipped Stifle, flea allergies
Kuvasz	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, skin problems, and allergies

L
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Labrador Retriever	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, cataracts, eye abnormalities, and bloat.
Lakeland Terrier	Not prone to health problems.
Leonberger	Hip Dysplasia, bone disease, and eyelid abnormalities
Lhasa Apso	kidney problems, skin conditions, and eye lacerations
Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog	inherited deafness in some catahoulas which are mostly white
Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)	Not prone to health problems

M
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Maltese	Slipped Stifle, eye infections, hypoglycemia, teeth, and gum weaknesses
Mastiff	Hip Dysplasia, eyelid problems
Miniature Bull Terrier	deafness, eye disease
Miniature Pinscher	Demodectic Mange, Epilepsy, Patellar Luxation, Legg's Perthes Disease. For more information, click here.
Miniature Poodle	PRA, cataracts, glaucoma, eye and ear infections, digestive problems, skin conditions, heart disease, and epilepsy
Miniature Schnauzer	cataracts, corneal disorders, kidney stones, bleeding disorders, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, skin conditions, cysts

N
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Newfoundland	Hip Dysplasia, eyelid problems, heart disease
Norfolk Terrier	Not prone to health problems.
Norwegian Buhund	Hip Dysplasia, PRA
Norwegian Elkhound	Hip Dysplasia, eye problems, cysts, kidney disease
Norwegian Lundehund (Puffin Dog)	severe intestinal problems
Norwich Terrier	Not prone to health problems.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever	Hip Dysplasia, PRA

O
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Old English Sheepdog	Hip Dysplasia, cataracts, auto-immune disorders, and skin conditions
Otterhound	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, hemophilia

P
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Papillon	Slipped Stifle, fractures
Pekingese	eye lacerations/infections, eyeball prolapse, eyelid abnormalities, respiratory difficulties, heatstroke, collapsed nostrils, cleft palate, jawbone disorders, spinal disc problems, urinary stones
Pembroke Welsh Corgi	hip dysplasia, VWD, and various eye problems
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen	ear infections, seizures
Pharaoh Hound	drug/chemical sensitivity
Pointer	Hip Dysplasia, dwarfism, thyroid problems, skin conditions
Polish Owczarek Nizinny Sheepdog	Not prone to health problems
Pomeranian	Slipped Stifle, eye infections, collapsed windpipe, heart disease, skin conditions, tooth and gum disorders
Portuguese Water Dog	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, fatal neurological disorder
Powderpuff Chinese Crested	Not prone to health problems.
Pug	eye lacerations, eyeball prolapse, eyelid abnormalities, respiratory difficulties, heatstroke, collapsed nostrils, and heart problems
Puli	Hip Dysplasia, and possibly ear infections

Q
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems

R
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Rhodesian Ridgeback	Hip Dysplasia, cysts
Rottweiler	Sub-Aortic Stenosis, Hip Dysplasia, Hypothroidism, Osteosarcoma, Juvenile Cataracts, Elbow Dysplasia. For additional information, please visit the health section of the American Rottweiler Club's web site.

S
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Saint Bernard	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, tumors, skin conditions, heart disease, eyelid problems
Saluki	drug/chemical sensitivity, emotionally sensitive
Samoyed	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, glaucoma, retinal detachment, skin conditions
Schipperke	Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPS IIIB)
Scottish Deerhound	bloat
Scottish Terrier	VWD, leg cramps, skin problems, flea allergies, jawbone disorders
Sealyham Terrier	skin conditions, back problems, glaucoma, deafness
Shetland Sheepdog	PRA, CEA, heart disease, epilepsy, and deafness in blue merles
Shiba	Hip Dysplasia, PRA
Shih Tzu	Slipped Stifle, eye lacerations, respiratory difficulties, heatstroke, eyelid abnormalities, gum and tooth problems, ear infections
Siberian Husky	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, cataracts, corneal disorders, thyroid deficiency, zinc-deficiency skin problems
Silky Terrier	Not prone to health problems
Skye Terrier	Not prone to health problems
Smooth Fox Terrier	deafness, glaucoma, cataracts, skin conditions, heart disease
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier	Hip Dysplasia, PRA, flea allergies, PLE, PLN
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	cataracts, tumors
Standard Manchester Terrier	glaucoma, bleeding disorders
Standard Poodle	Addison's Disease, Hip Dysplasia, PRA, VWD, bloat, cataracts, severe skin disease. For more information, please visit http://mysite.freeserve.com/eddieanaddisonpoodle
Standard Schnauzer	Hip Dysplasia, cysts
Sussex Spaniel	ear infections
Swedish Vallhund	Not prone to health problems

T
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Tibetan Spaniel	Not prone to health problems
Tibetan Terrier	Hip Dysplasia, and PRA
Toy Fox Terrier	eye problems, skin conditions, cold sensitivity
Toy Manchester Terrier	Slipped Stifle, skin conditions, tooth and gum problems, bleeding disorders, chills
Toy Poodle	PRA, cataracts, glaucoma, eye and ear infections, digestive problems, skin conditions, diabetes, and heart disease

U
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems

V
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Vizsla	Hip Dysplasia

W
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Weimaraner	Hip Dysplasia, bloat, bleeding disorders, allergies, cysts, tumors
Welsh Corgi	See Pembroke Welsh Corgi or Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Welsh Springer Spaniel	PRA, ear infections, epilepsy
Welsh Terrier	skin conditions, eye problems
West Highland White Terrier	skin conditions, jawbone calcification (CMO), liver disease (copper toxicosis), Legg-Perthes (a muscoskeletal disease), hernias
Whippet	drug/chemical sensitivity, emotionally sensitive
Wire Fox Terrier	deafness, glaucoma, cataracts, skin conditions, heart disease
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon	Hip Dysplasia

X
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems

Y
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems
Yorkshire Terrier	Slipped Stifle, eye infections, gum and teeth weaknesses

Z
Breed Name	Possible Health Problems