When searching for a new pet to join your family, there are many factors to consider: age, breed, and temperament are a few important ones.
A less well-known but equally important factor is what breed predisposition your future pet may have.
Many breeds are prone to inherited diseases and physical ailments due to inbreeding or selection on extreme traits. It is important to know what problems your pet may face, either at birth or later on in life, so you can be aware of the treatments and costs associated with that animal.
Below is a list of the more common dog breeds and some of their associated health problems.
American Bulldogs: hip and elbow dysplasia, lysosomal storage disease
American Pit Bill Terrier: demodicosis/demodectic mange, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, patellar luxation
Australian Shepard: deafness, hip dysplasia, cataracts, retinal dysplasia
Beagle: pulmonic stenosis, cataracts, deafness
Bernese Mountain Dog: meningitis, elbow and hip dysplasia, histiocytosis
Border Collie: deafness, Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), hip dysplasia
Boxer: corneal dystrophy, degenerative myelopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy
Chihuahua: patellar luxation, corneal dystrophy, demodicosis/demodectic mange
American Cocker Spaniel: retinal dysplasia, seborrhea, chronic hepatitis
Dachshund: acanthosis nigricans, intervertebral disk disease, cryptorchidism
English (British) Bulldog: brachycephalic syndrome, hip dysplasia, dry eye, ventricular septal defect
French Bulldog: brachycephalic syndrome, cleft lip/palate, histiocytic ulcerative colitis, intervertebral disk disease
German Shepard: degenerative myelopathy, hemophilia, hip dysplasia, pan osteitis, perianal fistula
Golden Retriever: hip, elbow and retinal dysplasia, subaortic stenosis
Great Pyrenees: hip dysplasia, coagulation (bleeding) disorders, Wobbler syndrome, deafness
Labrador Retriever: elbow, hip and retinal dysplasia, Wobbler syndrome, cataracts
Mastiff: hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts, pulmonic stenosis
Newfoundland: hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts, subaortic stenosis
Pembroke Welsh Corgi: cataracts, degenerative myelopathy, intervertebral disk disease
Pomeranian: patent ductus arteriosus, cryptorchidism, hydrocephalus
Poodle (miniature): mitral valve dysplasia, patellar luxation, cataracts, deafness
Poodle (toy): patellar luxation, deafness, cryptorchidism, diabetes mellitus
Pug: dry eye, atopy, brachycephalic syndrome, demodicosis/demodectic mange
Rhodesian Ridgeback: dermoid sinus, hip dysplasia, Wobbler syndrome
Rottweiler: subaortic stenosis, hip and elbow dysplasia, Wobbler syndrome
Schnauzer (miniature): portosystemic shunt, sick sinus syndrome, cataracts, diabetes mellitus
Shar-pei: atopy, demodicosis/demodectic mange, entropion, hip dysplasia
Shih Tzu: exposure keratopathy syndrome, brachycephalic syndrome, dermoid sinus
Siberian Huskey: hip dysplasia, cataracts, glaucoma, entropion
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan): intervertebral disk disease, lens luxation, retinal dysplasia
Yorkshire Terrier: patellar luxation, portosystemic shunt, tracheal collapse, retinal dysplasia
Learn more by visiting Canine Inherited Disorders