Pedigree Health

What problems are some pedigree dogs prone to have?

Owners are often, understandably, upset when their dog develops a health problem linked to its breed. Often they wish they had known what problems the breed was prone to have.

Some medical conditions are very common in certain breeds, causing pain and distress for a large number of dogs.

PDSA vets advise that if you choose one of the breeds listed there is a risk they will develop one or more of the medical conditions mentioned.

Click on the breeds above to find out what some of the commonest breed-related medical conditions are.

Boxer

Cancer

Boxers are very prone to several different kinds of cancer. This reduces their life expectancy. 

Heart disease

Many boxers develop a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy. When this begins to affect the dogs, they require lifelong medication. 

Brachycephalic airway syndrome

“Brachycephalic” means “short face”. Because of their short face, many Boxers struggle to breathe properly. Many get short of breath quickly and some will collapse through lack of oxygen.

British Bulldog

Brachycephalic airway syndrome

“Brachycephalic” means “short face”. Because of their short face, Bulldogs struggle to breathe properly. Many get short of breath quickly and some will collapse through lack of oxygen. 

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult.

Elbow dysplasia

An abnormality of the elbow joints. It causes swollen painful elbows and lameness in the front legs. 

Lip fold dermatitis

Skin folds around a Bulldog’s face create a warm and humid atmosphere for bacteria and easts, so irritant skin infections are common. 

Difficulty giving birth

Because of their size and shape Bulldogs are virtually unable to give birth naturally. Most require a Caesarean operation.
 

English Bull Terrier

Atopic dermatitis (atopy)

This condition causes chronic itchiness. Scratching causes skin damage, which can then cause skin infections.

Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

Caused by inadequate tear production. The eyes become dry and irritated and can then develop painful eye ulcers. Eye infections are common because tears aren’t protecting the eyes.

Cocker Spaniel

Otitis externa

This disease causes chronic severe inflammation of the external ear canal and an ear discharge. The pain and irritation often causes dogs to shake their heads or rub their ears on the ground.  

Glaucoma

An increase in pressure inside the eye causes eye pain. If untreated, this can cause loss of the eye.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Caused by inadequate tear production. The eyes become dry and irritated and can then develop painful eye ulcers. Eye infections are common because tears aren’t protecting the eyes.  

Heart valve disease

Heart disease is extremely common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. It progresses to cause coughing, breathlessness, reduced ability to exercise, fainting and other signs associated with poor heart function. Lifelong treatment is required when signs like these develop.

Syringomyelia

This is a deformity of the spinal cord, which becomes squashed near the base of the skull. The condition often causes persistent scratching of the neck, earache and extreme pain when the head is moved.

Dachshund

Intervertebral disc disease (“slipped disc”)

The long shape of Dachshunds makes them very prone to disc disease in their back. The disc ruptures, causing the spinal cord to become compressed. This causes pain and the hind limbs are frequently paralysed.

Doberman Pinscher

Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart disease)

This can cause fainting, tiredness and other signs of heart disease

Wobbler syndrome

A deformity of the spinal cord causes the head to become instable and the rest of the body to shake. This can progress to paralysis.

Dalmatian

Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart disease)

This can cause fainting, tiredness and other signs of heart disease  

Congenital deafness

Puppies are born deaf  

Bladder stones

Many Dalmatians have an abnormality that causes them to produce a certain kind of stone in their bladder. These cause pain and usually require an operation to be removed.

Atopic dermatitis (atopy)

This condition causes chronic itchiness. Scratching causes skin damage, which can then cause skin infections.

German Shepherd Dog

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult.

Elbow dysplasia

An abnormality of the elbow joints. It causes swollen painful elbows and lameness in the front legs.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart disease)

This can cause fainting, tiredness and other signs of heart disease  

Cancer

German Shepherd Dogs are prone to certain types of tumours (especially haemangioma and haemangiosarcoma)

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

The pancreas doesn’t produce enough enzymes needed for digestion, causing weight loss and diarrhoea.

Pyoderma

Recurrent deep skin infections which can be painful and require long courses of treatment

Golden Retriever

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult.

Elbow dysplasia

An abnormality of the elbow joints. It causes swollen painful elbows and lameness in the front legs.

Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) of the shoulder

Shoulder pain and lameness.  

Atopic dermatitis (atopy)

This condition causes chronic itchiness. Scratching causes skin damage, which can then cause skin infections.

Great Dane

Elbow dysplasia

An abnormality of the elbow joints. It causes swollen painful elbows and lameness in the front legs.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart disease)

This can cause fainting, tiredness and other signs of heart disease.

Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) of the shoulder

Shoulder pain and lameness.  

Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV)

Swelling and twisting of the stomach. This leads to a swollen and painful abdomen, vomiting and shock. The condition can be life threatening.  

Wobbler syndrome

A deformity of the spinal cord causes the head to become instable and the rest of the body to shake. This can progress to paralysis.  

Osteosarcoma

Cancer of the bone which causes pain and early death.

Labrador retriever

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult.

Atopic dermatitis (atopy)

This condition causes chronic itchiness. Scratching causes skin damage, which can then cause skin infections.

Elbow dysplasia

An abnormality of the elbow joints. It causes swollen painful elbows and lameness in the front legs.

Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) of the shoulder

Shoulder pain and lameness.

Newfoundland

Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart disease)

This can cause fainting, tiredness and other signs of heart disease.

Elbow dysplasia

An abnormality of the elbow joints. It causes swollen painful elbows and lameness in the front legs.

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult.

Osteosarcoma

Cancer of the bone which causes pain and early death.

Pekingese

Brachycephalic airway syndrome

“Brachycephalic” means “short face”. Because of their short face, Pekingese dogs struggle to breathe properly. Many get short of breath quickly and some will collapse through lack of oxygen.

Corneal ulcers

Painful ulceration of the front of the eye.

Intervertebral disc disease (“slipped disc”)

A disc between the bones of the backbone becomes damaged and ruptures, causing the spinal cord to become compressed. This causes pain and the hind limbs are frequently paralysed.

Rottweiler

Elbow dysplasia

An abnormality of the elbow joints. It causes swollen painful elbows and lameness in the front legs.

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult.

Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) of the shoulder

Shoulder pain and lameness.

Cancer

Rottweilers are prone to several different kinds of cancer. This reduces their life expectancy

Shar Pei

Entropion (ingrowing eyelashes)

The shape of the eyelids causes the eyelashes to grow inwards and scrape the surface of the eye. This is painful and causes eye ulcers. Many shar peis need an operation to correct their folded eyelids when they are young.  

Chronic skin infections

A shar pei’s many skin folds provide a hot and humid environment for bacteria and yeasts. Connsequently, shar pei’s suffer from repeated skin infections throughout their life, each causing irritation and distress to the dogs.  

Elbow dysplasia

An abnormality of the elbow joints. It causes swollen painful elbows and lameness in the front legs.

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult.

Atopic dermatitis (atopy)

This condition causes chronic itchiness. Scratching causes skin damage, which can then cause skin infections.

St Bernard

Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart disease)

This can cause fainting, tiredness and other signs of heart disease.  

Elbow dysplasia

An abnormality of the elbow joints. It causes swollen painful elbows and lameness in the front legs.

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult.

Osteosarcoma

Cancer of the bone which causes pain and early death.

West Highland White Terrier

Atopic dermatitis (atopy)

This condition causes chronic itchiness. Scratching causes skin damage, which can then cause skin infections.

Seborrhoea

Flaky, greasy and inflamed skin, often with secondary skin infections.

Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

Caused by inadequate tear production. The eyes become dry and irritated and can then develop painful eye ulcers. Eye infections are common because tears aren’t protecting the eyes.

Yorkshire Terrier

Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

Caused by inadequate tear production. The eyes become dry and irritated and can then develop painful eye ulcers. Eye infections are common because tears aren’t protecting the eyes.  

Tracheal collapse

The wind pipe collapses, so becomes narrow. This can cause a chronic cough and difficulty breathing.