Top Hereditary Diseases That Can Affect the Australian Shepherd Dog

Just like human beings, dogs are also affected by some hereditary diseases that can affect them from birth.  For the Australian Shepherd Dog, there are genetic diseases which can create an impact in the life of the dog from the time it is born.  There are some dogs however, who may not show any manifestation of the disease early in life.  Because these are hereditary diseases, we know that it would be impossible to cure it.  So if you want to get a dog that is completely healthy, get a puppy from a known breeder.  Reputable dog breeders give you the assurance of selling only Aussies with no health problems.

Among the common hereditary diseases affecting the Australian Shepherd are:

1.    Eye Cataracts

Aussies are known to be prone of having cataracts, but not all cases can be traced as hereditary in nature, but in cases where both eyes are involved, there is a high probability for it to be traced as hereditary.  Most Aussies develop cataracts as early as 1 year or as late as 7-8 years of age, but it would usually appear when they are 2-3 years old.  Detection and early treatment should be done to prevent complications that can lead to blindness.

2.    Iris Coloboma

This is another eye problem where there is a gap in the structure of the eye, which can cause sensitivity to bright light.

3.    Distichaisis

With this hereditary condition, the dog’s eyelashes grow towards the eyes and not away.  This will actually cause discomfort to the dog.  Surgery may be required ASAP before the cornea is damaged.

4.    Epilepsy

There are some dogs that may be fortunate of having seizure attacks that are very mild but there are also some with severe attacks and may need to be under medication to have it under control.  The sad thing is, it is a lifelong condition and blood tests may be required regularly to check on the proper level of medication.

If you plan on owning an Australian Shepherd dog and you want to be sure you won’t have problems in the future, make sure you buy it from a reputable dealer.  You may ask around or ask friends who also own Aussies and get your dog from the same breeder where they got theirs.