[read more], Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons Shetland Sheepdog: Health Issues & Personality. Elbow dysplasia and luxating patella rates are between 2 and 3%. Shetland Sheepdogs are full of life, nimble, and clever. As with many purebred dogs, both the Shetland Sheepdog and Poodle can be prone to a number of health issues which may also affect their mixed breed offspring. General Health Information for your Shetland Sheepdog Dental Disease. Inherited deafness can occur in Shelties, especially those with a lot of white on their head. It is believed to have been created by mixing two breeds: King Charles Spaniel and the. Collie eye anomaly (CEA) - dogs should be tested 2. More information on autoimmune thyroiditis can be found at the following links: Results coming from all laboratories are posted on the OFA website... For an excellent discussion on the topic... More information about elbow dysplasia... National Specialty Educational Opportunities, Additional Reading – Potentially Inherited Disorders, Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist, Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) program, www.caninehealthinfo.org/brdreqs.html?breed=SS, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) website, Text Of Boston Globe Article Oct. 17, 1909, Shetland Sheepdog History by Charlotte McGowan. Eye, hip, DNA, and thyroid tests are advised. Become your dog's health care champion! In general, Shetland Sheepdogs are hearty, long-lived dogs, but like any living creature, health issues may arise. But other orthopedic diseases are more common, including luxating patella (loose knees), hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. While Shelties are, on the whole, very healthy, there’s a number of conditions that can affect them. Shetland Sheepdogs are usually considered to be athletic, healthy, sturdy little dogs. Most of the health problems to which the Shetland Sheepdog is prone can be grouped into categories such as eye problems, inherited health problems, and musculoskeletal issues. Shelties are affected by a particularly severe form of Von Willebrand's that leaves them at risk of bleeding to death from very minor injuries or during surgery, and dogs with Multiple Drug Sensitivity can have fatal reactions to a number of common veterinary drugs. Unfortunately, your Shetland Sheepdog is more likely than other dogs to have problems with her teeth. Shetland Sheepdogs: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em. in Shetland Sheepdogs Shelties suffer few health problems Shelties are generally healthy, especially when they have been bred with care. (For specific information on Shetland Sheepdogs, see: www.caninehealthinfo.org/brdreqs.html?breed=SS ). Sometimes it's easier to train your puppy (or adult dog) when you can see the correct training techniques in action. If your dog has a mutant gene called mdr1, he cannot pump these drugs out of his brain, which results in neurological toxicity. Concerned breeders of Shetland Sheepdogs are striving to breed healthy Shelties and decrease the incidence of heritable diseases in the breed. Shetland Sheepdog are subjects to some potential medical problems throughout the course of their life according to Dr Brooks. He is typically highly intelligent and easy to train in obedience and agility. Health Problem: Likelihood: Treatment Cost Estimate: Mitral Valve Disease of the Heart: Medium: $300 – $800: Patellar Luxation: High: $300 – $2,000: Dental Disease: Nice. Here are my concerns... [read more], Feed Homemade Dog Food Without Needing To Make It Merle Shetland Sheepdog Health. Many Shelties are blind or vision-impaired, from hereditary eye diseases like collie eye anomaly, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), coloboma, eyelash abnormalities, and a particularly severe and painful form of corneal dystrophy. According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, up to 19% of Shetland Sheepdogs have low thyroid levels. Current research says, "The AGE at which you spay can be vitally important to your dog's future health." The Shetland sheepdog is generally thought of as a robust and hardy little dog, and not one that is particularly fragile or prone to developing minor ills. As a pure breed, Shetland Sheepdogs are more susceptible to genetic health issues than mixed breed dogs. The Sheltie needs a house with a garden and plenty of exercise every day. The best pet insurance company I've found is... [read more], Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not? we are delighted with this beautiful girl who is a dream to live with, not a bad bone in her body so relaxed and happy to try anything , more news of following shows when she gets to another show xx Fortunately, a simple DNA test is available so you can find out at any time whether your Shetland Sheepdog has von Willebrand's disease, carries it, or is completely clear of it. Stem from autoimmune diseases that attack the skin ( derma ) and (. Deafness can occur in Shelties issues may arise current research shows that the issue is not simple! Merle should not be br… the Shetland Sheepdog dog has 4 to 5 defective.. The Sheltie needs a house with a lot of white on their head on!: DannyShultz Via Flickr # 1 – Dermatomyositis drugs that may affect with. 80 % of Shetland Sheepdogs are one of the herding group, the American Shetland Sheepdog is more likely other. 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