Updated September 3, 2021
Most decisions to own a purebred dog are based entirely on positive aspects, like temperament, personality and lifestyle. These are important, but we should also focus on the negative, like what can go wrong.
Some people believe that genetic diseases are becoming more common in certain purebred dogs due to limited gene pools and close breeding. Regardless of whether this is true, genetic diseases are well-known and common and we should make ourselves aware of them. Read about diseases of cat breeds here.
How do I Know What Breeds My Dog Is?
Got a crossbreed and don’t know what the breeds are? Easy! Bring him or her in for a DNA test. All the breeds listed below can be detected. Visit our DNA test page for more information.
Which Genetic Diseases Are Common In Australia?
If you search for the genetic diseases of any dog breed, you’ll get a large and bewildering list. Which ones are important? Just because a disease is reported doesn’t mean it will happen to your dog!
I’m going to assume that if I haven’t seen the disease in over 20 years of practice, it’s fairly unlikely in your dog. Therefore, I’ve not included a disease if I haven’t seen it in that breed.
Data for these breeds originally came from the Sydney University LIDA DOGS database (no longer publicly available).
When there is a missing disease which I think is important and should be added, it appears at the end in italics. This isn’t good science, but my aim is to make a list relevant to you and your dog.
What’s wrong with the lists? See my comments at the end.
This list only includes dog breeds we see in Adelaide (yes, we’ve seen all these breeds!)
Guide To Inherited Diseases Of Dogs
First some general comments on the lists
All chondrodystrophoid breeds (Dachshunds, Corgis, Bassets, Beagles, Dandie Dinmont) are prone to spinal disc calcification and disc disease.
All deep chested dogs (Rottweiler, Great Dane, German Shepherd, Pointers, Setters etc) are prone to Gastric Dilation-Volvulus Syndrome.
All short-faced breeds are prone to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).
As well as the diseases I haven’t seen in a particular breed, I’ve excluded mild or trivial diseases, diseases of breeding dogs, the wide variety of rare eye diseases and behaviour problems. That means some dogs on my list have no entries.
Remember, this list is not complete and is only one vet’s impressions of what to watch out for. Want more information? Please ask us!
Dog Breeds
Italic = Andrew’s anecdotal additions
Afghan Hound
Airedale Terrier
- Acral lick dermatitis
- Acute moist dermatitis
Akita
- Cruciate Ligament Disease
- Hip Dysplasia
- Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome
Alaskan Malamute
- Atopic dermatitis
- Splenic tumours
American Staffordshire Terrier
- Cruciate Ligament Disease
- Distichiasis
- Atopic dermatitis
Australian Cattle Dog
- Hepatic Encephalopathy, Portosystemic
- Brachygnathia
- Prognathism
- MDR1 Mutation
- Osteochondritis dissecans
Australian Kelpie
Australian Koolie no LIDA entry!
Australian Shepherd
- Collie Eye Anomaly
- MDR1 Mutation
Australian Silky Terrier
- Tracheal collapse
- Patellar Luxation
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Periodontal disease
Australian Terrier
Basenji
Basset Hound
- Acute moist dermatitis
- Ectropion
- Entropion
- Pododermatitis
- Achondroplasia
Beagle
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Calcification of intervertebral discs
- Cancer, bladder
Bearded Collie
- Haemolytic Anaemia
- Addison’s disease
Bedlington Terrier
Belgian Shepherd Dog Lakenois & Groenendael Malinois Tervueren
Bernese Mountain Dog
- Malignant histiocytosis
- Lymphosarcoma
Bichon Frise
- Patellar Luxation
- White dog shaker syndrome
- Cushings Disease
- Haemolytic Anaemia
- Atopic dermatitis
- Sebaceous gland tumor
Border Collie
Border Terrier
- Cryptorchidism
- Atopic dermatitis
Boston Terrier
- Corneal ulcer, superficial
- Patellar luxation
Boxer
- Cardiomyopathy
- Sub-Aortic Stenosis
- Syncope
- Hypothyroidism
- Granulomatous colitis
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Gingival Hypertrophy
- Histiocytoma
- Mastocytoma
- Pododermatitis
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Corneal ulcer, superficial
- Cushings Disease
Briard
British Bulldog
- Facial fold dermatitis
- Folliculitis
- Furunculosis
- Muzzle pyoderma
- Hypoplasia of trachea
- Dystocia
- Squamous cell carcinoma
Brittany
Bull Terrier
- Acral lick dermatitis
- Furunculosis
- Squamous cell carcinoma
Bullmastiff
- Gastric dilation volvulus syndrome
Cairn Terrier
Cane Corso no LIDA entry
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Chronic Valvular Disease (CVD)
- Keratitis sicca
- Patellar luxation
- Atopic dermatitis
- Anal sac impaction
- Otitis externa
- Syringomyelia
Chihuahua
- Patellar luxation
- Hydrocephalus
- Periodontal disease
Chinese Crested Dog no entry
Chow Chow
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
Clumber Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
- Ectropion
- Haemolytic Anaemia
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- Anal sac impaction
- Lip fold dermatitis
- Otitis externa
Cocker Spaniel – American
- Allergies
- Ectropion
- Entropion
- Lip fold dermatitis
- Otitis Externa
- Pododermatitis
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- Anal sac impaction
Colllie – Rough & Smooth
- Collie Eye Anomaly
- Haemolytic Anaemia (Rough)
- Nasal solar dermatitis
- Discoid lupus erythematosus
- MDR1 Mutation
Curly Coated Retriever
Dachshund (Smooth, Long, Wire)
- Achondroplasia
- Brachygnathia
- Calcification of intervertebral discs
- Cushings Disease
- Vasculopathy
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Dachshund Miniature
- Cushings Disease
- Vasculopathy
- Achondroplasia
- Brachygnathia
- Calcification of intervertebral discs
- Gastric dilatation volvulus syndrome
Dalmatian
- Hypothyroidism
- Allergies
- Demodicosis
- Atopic dermatitis
- Folliculitis
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Urolith, urate
Dobermann
- Cardiomyopathy
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Hypothyroidism
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Cervical vertebral malformation
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
- Flank sucking
Dogue De Bordeaux no LIDA entry
- Anal sac impaction
- Fold dermatitis
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
- Ectropion
- Haemolytic Anaemia
- Lip fold dermatitis
Finnish Lapphund no LIDA entry
Finnish Spitz
Flat Coated Retriever
Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
Fox Terrier (Wire)
Foxhound
- Spinal osteochondrosis
French Bulldog
- Facial fold dermatitis
German Shepherd Dog
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Gastric torsion
- Pancreatic insufficiency, exocrine
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Cellulitis (folliculitis and furunculosis)
- Perianal fistulas
- Fragmented Coronoid Process
- Haemangiosarcoma
- Hip Dysplasia
- MDR1 Mutation
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
- Osteosarcoma
- Post-operative infection (TPLO)
- Ununited anconeal process
- Epilepsy
- Pannus
- Lumbosacral stenosis
German Shorthaired Pointer
- Fibrosarcoma
Golden Retriever
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Acral lick dermatitis
- Acute moist dermatitis
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Fragmented Coronoid Process
- Hip Dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
Great Dane
Greyhound
- Megaoesophagus
- Cryptorchidism
- Periodontal disease
Griffon Bruxellois
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
- Patellar Luxation
- Shoulder abnormalities
Harrier
Havanese
Hungarian Vizsla
Irish Setter
- Gastric dilatation volvulus syndrome
- Gastric torsion
- Acral lick dermatitis
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Folliculitis
- Hip Dysplasia
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
- Ununited anconeal process
Irish Wolfhound
Italian Greyhound
- Cryptorchidism
- Combined radial and ulnar fracture
- Patellar luxation
Irish Terrier
Italian Spinone
Jack Russell Terrier
Japanese Chin
Keeshond
- Von Willebrand’s disease
Kerry Blue Terrier
King Charles Spaniel
Labrador Retriever
- Acral lick dermatitis
- Acute moist dermatitis
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Cruciate Ligament Disease
- Fragmented Coronoid Process
- Hip Dysplasia
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
- PRA
- Epilepsy
Lhasa Apso
Maltese
- Hepatic Encephalopathy, Portosystemic.
- Patellar Luxation
- White dog shaker syndrome
- Periodontal disease
- Sebaceous gland tumour
Manchester Terrier
- von Willebrand Disease
Maremma Sheepdog no LIDA entry
Mastiff
Miniature Pinscher
Newfoundland
- Atopic dermatitis
- Cruciate Ligament Disease
- Fragmented Coronoid Process
- Hip Dysplasia
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
- Ununited anconeal process
Old English Sheep Dog
- Haemolytic Anaemia
- Hip Dysplasia
- MDR1 Mutation
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
Papillon
Pekingese
- Facial fold dermatitis
- Calcification of intervertebral discs
- Distichiasis
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- Pigmentary keratitis
- Ulcerative keratitis
Poodle (Miniature)
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Cushings Disease
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Otitis Externa
- Pododermatitis
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Sebaceous gland tumor
- Patellar luxation
- Periodontal disease
Poodle (Standard)
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Hip dysplasia
Poodle (Toy)
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Cushings Disease
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Sebaceous gland tumour
- Patellar Luxation
- Epilepsy
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (X-linked)
- Periodontal disease
Portuguese Water Dog
Pug
- Allergies
- Demodicosis
- Atopic dermatitis
- Entropion
- Facial fold dermatitis
- Tail fold dermatitis
- Cervical disc disease
- Corneal ulcer, superficial
- Distichiasis
- Encephalitis
- Epilepsy
- Keratitis sicca
- Collapsed trachea
- Stenotic nares
- Pigmentary keratitis
Puli
Pyrenean Mountain Dog
- Acute moist dermatitis
- Hip Dysplasia
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
Pomeranian
- Patellar Luxation
- Tracheal collapse
- Periodontal disease
Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Dermoid Sinus
Rottweiler
- Fragmented Coronoid Process
- Cruciate Ligament Disease
- Hip Dysplasia
- Haemangiosarcoma
- Osteosarcoma
Saluki
Samoyed
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hepatic Encephalopathy, Portosystemic
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
- Hip Dysplasia
Schipperke
Schnauzer (Standard)
Schnauzer (Miniature)
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Hepatic lipidosis
- Cushings Disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Allergies
- Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
- Hepatic Encephalopathy, Portosystemic
- Hypercholesterolaemia
- Atopic dermatitis
- Comedo Syndrome
- Urolithiasis
- Pancreatitis
- Periodontal disease
Scottish Terrier
- Allergies
- Atopy
- Atopic dermatitis
- Folliculitis
- Achondroplasia
- Craniomandibular Osteopathy
- Scotty cramp
Sealyham Terrier
Shar Pei
- Vasculopathy
- Allergies
- Atopy
- Demodicosis
- Ectropion
- Entropion
- Fold dermatitis
- Folliculitis
- Furunculosis
- Otitis Externa
- Pododermatitis
- Hip Dysplasia
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
- Patellar Luxation
- Blepharospasm
- Amyloidosis
- Gastric dilatation volvulus syndrome
Shetland Sheepdog
Shiba Inu
- Acute moist dermatitis
- Allergies
Shih Tzu
Siberian Husky
- Hepatic Encephalopathy, Portosystemic
- Discoid lupus erythematosus
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Protein losing nephropathy
- Allergies
- Dermatitis, atopic
St. Bernard
- Cardiomyopathy
- Gastric dilatation volvulus syndrome
- Hepatic Encephalopathy, Portosystemic
- Ectropion
- Cruciate Ligament Disease
- Hip Dysplasia
- Osteochondrosis dissecans
- Osteosarcoma
Staffordshire Bull Terrier no LIDA entry!
Swedish Vallhund no LIDA entry
Tenterfield Terrier no LIDA entry
Tibetan Spaniel no LIDA entry
Tibetan Terrier
- Cataract
- Diabetes mellitus
- Microphthalmia
Weimaraner
West Highland White Terrier
- Cushings Disease
- Hepatitis, Chronic Active
- Allergies
- Atopic dermatitis
- Furunculosis
- Pododermatitis
- Seborrhea
- Westie armadillo syndrome (it really says this!)
- Craniomandibular Osteopathy
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- White dog shaker syndrome
Welsh Terrier
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)
Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)
- Cervical disc disease
- von Willebrand Disease
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Whippet
- Cryptorchidism
White Swiss Shepherd
- likely similar list to German Shepherd
Yorkshire Terrier
- Cushings disease
- Hepatic Encephalopathy, Portosystemic
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
- Patellar Luxation
- Hydrocephalus
Why Is This Dog Disease List Not Perfect?
- Some data comes from dogs in other countries. No doubt, due to local gene pool variations, there are going to be some Australian differences.
- You also won’t get much idea of how common or rare each disease is. For that reason I made this smaller list with only the diseases we see regularly.
- Not all diseases will be known to affect a certain breed. For a disease to make the list, someone has to have documented its increased prevalence in a breed. That’s not easy and is usually only done by university researchers. We can expect mild or rare diseases to be under-reported, especially in rare breeds.That’s why I added my own extras in italics, even though I know they are going to be less reliable.
- Rarer dogs appear to have fewer entries than common dogs like Labradors without necessarily being more healthy.
- There are breeds missing. We’ve contacted Sydney uni to ask why the English Staffy, Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux, Koolie, Chinese Crested, Finnish Lapphund, Maremma Sheepdog, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Swedish Vallhund, Tenterfield Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel aren’t included. Stay tuned.
- If you think there are a lot of diseases for your breed, have a look at the list of human genetic diseases and you’ll see this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.