HEALTH

HEALTH OF THE BORDER COLLIE

​Border Collies are a relatively healthy breed, but health issues are present in Border Collies.  Reputable breeders are working hard to minimize these diseases within the breed.  Hip dysplasia, deafness, Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL/NCL), Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS), noise phobia, and epilepsy are some of the most common health concerns in Border Collies.  Testing is available for some of these diseases, but some (like epilepsy) have no test and breeder knowledge is currently the best source of information for this issue.  

​Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) afflicts millions of dogs each year and can result in debilitating osteoarthritis of the hip. Many affected dogs will suffer from osteoarthritis, pain, and lameness, costing owners and breeders millions of dollars in veterinary care, shortened work longevity, and reduced performance.  More information is available on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and PennHip websites. 

http://www.offa.org/search.html 
​http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Default.aspx?alias=research.vet.upenn.edu/pennhip 

Border Collies can be deaf.  Hearing can be tested by conducting a BAER test.  

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/baerexpl.htm 

Eye disease can occur in Border Collies.  Disease can be identified via a yearly examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist. 

http://www.vmdb.org/cerf.html 

The genetic diseases CEA, CL/NCL, and TNS are present in the Border Collie Breed.  Dogs can be tested for this disease and may be normal, disease carriers (can pass the gene on, but do not have the disease), or affected.  More information regarding these diseases can be found on the Border Collie Health website.  

http://bordercolliehealth.com/