Australian Shepherds generally live to about 12 years of age but like any dog, have certain health considerations to watch for.
Australian Shepherds can suffer from hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia affects the hip joints and can cause mild to severe crippling. Hip dysplasia is hereditary and does not always present with symptoms; some dogs have the illness but seem to be physically unaffected. Hip dysplasia is diagnosed by x-ray and cannot be done until the dog is two years of age however lameness can be present at 6 months of age up until the dog is in its senior years. Recent statistics show that about 1 in 15 Aussie Shepherds are affected with hip dysplasia.
There are a few eye conditions that can affect the Aussie Shepherd. Progressive Renal Atrophy (PRA) is a serious hereditary ailment that eventually causes total blindness. Both parents must have the PRA gene for a pup to develop it, and the illness may not be present until later in the dogs life. Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is another hereditary illness that can affect the Aussie Shepherd. CEA can lead to complete blindness if the retina detaches but mostly causes coloboma. Coloboma makes the pupil appear to extend into the iris of the eye causing a jagged edge appearance. This affects breed standards as the ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) requires a perfectly positioned and well defined pupil. Juvenile cataracts are another eye condition that can affect the Aussie Shepherd which also leads to blindness.
Aussie Shepherds can also suffer from osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) which is a degeneration of the bone underlying the cartilage layer of joints. This condition usually appears between ages 6 – 9 months, when the dog is growing. OCD usually presents as a limp in one leg as it affects the shoulder, ankle or elbow joint. If the dog has a parent with OCD, it is much more likely to suffer from the ailment, however physical trauma can also be a contributing factor to developing the condition.
Aussie Shepherds can also suffer from inherited deafness, which causes hearing loss in one or both ears weeks after birth, and epilepsy; but these ailments are not very prevalent.
Many of the health considerations an Australian Shepherd can come down with are hereditary so it is always important to ensure your pup comes from a reputable breeder and that the parents have had the proper medical testing done.
Australian Shepherds can suffer from hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia affects the hip joints and can cause mild to severe crippling. Hip dysplasia is hereditary and does not always present with symptoms; some dogs have the illness but seem to be physically unaffected. Hip dysplasia is diagnosed by x-ray and cannot be done until the dog is two years of age however lameness can be present at 6 months of age up until the dog is in its senior years. Recent statistics show that about 1 in 15 Aussie Shepherds are affected with hip dysplasia.
There are a few eye conditions that can affect the Aussie Shepherd. Progressive Renal Atrophy (PRA) is a serious hereditary ailment that eventually causes total blindness. Both parents must have the PRA gene for a pup to develop it, and the illness may not be present until later in the dogs life. Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is another hereditary illness that can affect the Aussie Shepherd. CEA can lead to complete blindness if the retina detaches but mostly causes coloboma. Coloboma makes the pupil appear to extend into the iris of the eye causing a jagged edge appearance. This affects breed standards as the ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) requires a perfectly positioned and well defined pupil. Juvenile cataracts are another eye condition that can affect the Aussie Shepherd which also leads to blindness.
Aussie Shepherds can also suffer from osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) which is a degeneration of the bone underlying the cartilage layer of joints. This condition usually appears between ages 6 – 9 months, when the dog is growing. OCD usually presents as a limp in one leg as it affects the shoulder, ankle or elbow joint. If the dog has a parent with OCD, it is much more likely to suffer from the ailment, however physical trauma can also be a contributing factor to developing the condition.
Aussie Shepherds can also suffer from inherited deafness, which causes hearing loss in one or both ears weeks after birth, and epilepsy; but these ailments are not very prevalent.
Many of the health considerations an Australian Shepherd can come down with are hereditary so it is always important to ensure your pup comes from a reputable breeder and that the parents have had the proper medical testing done.