Australian Shepherd Health Screening

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Hip Dysplasia (HD): Caused by loose hip socket and can affect one or both hips. This disease has a genetic factor, but environmental factors can make the disease more severe. Rapid weight gain, rapid growth, not enough, or too much exercise can make a problem much more painful for the dog.

Screening breeding animals in the USA is an x-ray sent to either OFA or PennHip. The x-ray is evaluated to check for loose sockets. If there is dysplasia, it is graded on the level of laxity, if there is no dysplasia, the “tightness” of the hip socket is assigned a “grade”. OFA grades are excellent, good and fair. PennHip offers a percentage based on dogs of the same breed. No animals with dysplasia should ever be used for breeding.

Elbow Dysplasia (ED): similar to HD, same environmental causes can make this disease cause more pain to the affected dog. OFA grades elbows on a pass/fail. One or both elbows may be affected. Animals with elbow dysplasia should not be used for breeding. Some breeders do not check for elbow dysplasia. When x-ray films are taken at the same time the hip x-ray is taken, it costs the breeder very little more, the cost of the film, and the cost of the OFA report.

Hereditary Eye Defects: There are several eye defects that Aussies can inherit.

“Collie Eye” Anomaly (CEA):  Choroidal Hypoplasia is an abnormal development of a layer of the retina. The retina is the part of the eye that “translates” sight to the optic nerve. Luckily, this disease has a simple DNA blood test. Breeders can use the results to choose mates for their dogs/bitches that will never product a puppy that will have CEA.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): in Aussies, there is rod-cone degeneration. Rods in the retina are the low light receptors, when they degenerate, night blindness occurs. Cones operate on normal light, once the cones are affected, the dog goes blind. AS in CEA, there is a DNA test breeders can use to select breeding mates that will not cause any affected puppies to be produced.

All breeding stock should have a yearly CERF exam. CERF stands for the Canine Eye Registration Foundation. A board certified canine ophthalmologist checks the eyes of each dog for signs of disease. Dogs that pass are issued a certificate valid for one year. The exam can only tell an owner if the dog has a disease present, not it the dog has genes that can cause disease in its offspring. For diseases that do NOT have DNA tests, this is the test breeders can use to decrease diseases in the breed.

The Animal Health Trust (UK) has a DNA test that can check for about 70% of genetic cataracts in Aussies. The HSF4 test is not 100% for all genetic cataracts in Aussies. It is a tool breeders can use to decrease the chances of a puppy developing cataracts, but cannot guarantee your puppy will not develop cataracts during its lifetime.

Multi-Drug Resistance Gene: This DNA test is for breeders and owners alike. About half of all Aussies carry at least one mutation of this gene. The gene is responsible for a protein (P-glycoprotein) that pumps toxins and certain drugs out of the brain. If the toxins or drugs are not removed, the dog’s nervous system becomes overloaded and could result in death. Drugs include some chemotherapy, some anesthetic, and some parasitic agents. All Aussies should be tested if both their sire and dam results are not normal/normal. The test results should be placed in the dog’s file at the veterinarian’s office so the vet can make the proper drug choices in treating the dog. A dog testing normal/normal does not have the mutation and can handle drugs at the proper dosing. Dogs testing normal/mutant or mutant/normal have one copy of the mutation, and can have problems from slight to severe with the “problem” drugs. Dogs testing mutant/mutant will have the greatest reaction to the drugs.

Other diseases that affect the Australian Shepherd breed, that do NOT have a preventive screening testing at this time:

1)      Epilepsy
2)      Cancer
3)      Allergies/ Autoimmune disorders

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A breeder can do every available health test, but cannot guarantee a puppy without any health diseases.
Be knowledgeable, and choose a breeder looking out for the best future of the breed.