On this site I would like to tell more about the diseases that can generally affect dogs and about those, which are typically affect Border collies. I hope it helps you to get a proper image about what to expect and look for when you buy a puppy, either this breed or another. I tried to gain all the information from accurate veterinary sources, mostly based on my veterinarian studies.
Hip dypslasia (HD):
In dogs, hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is important to note, that influences on the development and progression of hip dysplasia are concurrent with both genetic and environmental factors! The inheritance of HD is polygenetic, it means that we can't say for sure which gene causes it, thus we cannot test it, as a lot of factors can play a role in its development. Factors, like:
There are no cure for HD, so the only thing we can do is breeding selectively: taking out the affected dogs of breeding, and we do not breed with dogs whose relatives are also heavily affected with this deformation. |
Elbow dysplasia (ED):
It is a condition caused by the abnormal growth of cells, tissue, or bone. The condition is characterized by a series of developmental abnormalities that lead to malformation and degeneration of the elbow joint. There are two main causes that could lead to ED:
The dog can be affected/free on only one or on both elbows. With surgery, the condition can be better, but the affected dogs are usually taken out of breeding.
It is a condition caused by the abnormal growth of cells, tissue, or bone. The condition is characterized by a series of developmental abnormalities that lead to malformation and degeneration of the elbow joint. There are two main causes that could lead to ED:
- Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a type of inflammatory disorder that affects cartilage. When this happens, a dog's cartilage cells do not form properly, leading to unusually thick segments that break away from their connected bones
- This theory is of joint incongruity as a primary cause of the fragmentation or resulting lack of fusion (ununited). Congruency is important in the elbow joint because three bones must fit together smoothly to allow for a gliding movement in flexion and extension as well as internal and external rotation.
The dog can be affected/free on only one or on both elbows. With surgery, the condition can be better, but the affected dogs are usually taken out of breeding.
Shoulder dysplasia/Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD):
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a type of inflammatory disorder that affects cartilage. With OCD, a dog's cartilage cells do not form properly, leading to unusually thick segments that break away from their connected bones. It can affect any joints, elbow, shoulder, knee, etc. This is developmental disease occurs in rapidly growing medium to large breed dogs typically between 6 and 9 months of age, and may occur more often in male dogs. This disease is more common in dogs receiving too much energy and calcium in the diet. Studies have shown that limiting dietary intake of energy and calcium reduces the incidence of this condition, and of other developmental orthopedic conditions.
In shoulder dyplasia cases, the prognosis improves if surgery is performed early in the course of the disease, before secondary degenerative joint disease occurs. Even though we don't know much about the genetic background of OCD, affected dogs are recommended to be taken out of breeding.
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a type of inflammatory disorder that affects cartilage. With OCD, a dog's cartilage cells do not form properly, leading to unusually thick segments that break away from their connected bones. It can affect any joints, elbow, shoulder, knee, etc. This is developmental disease occurs in rapidly growing medium to large breed dogs typically between 6 and 9 months of age, and may occur more often in male dogs. This disease is more common in dogs receiving too much energy and calcium in the diet. Studies have shown that limiting dietary intake of energy and calcium reduces the incidence of this condition, and of other developmental orthopedic conditions.
In shoulder dyplasia cases, the prognosis improves if surgery is performed early in the course of the disease, before secondary degenerative joint disease occurs. Even though we don't know much about the genetic background of OCD, affected dogs are recommended to be taken out of breeding.
Ceroid lipofuscinosis (CL):
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis is a type of lysosomal storage disorder that results in accumulation of lysosomal storage bodies in the cells of many tissues of the affected animal.This leads to progressive degeneration of brain and eye cells and results in severe neurological impairment and early death.
Affected dogs appear normal at birth, but begin to exhibit symptoms early in life – around 1- 2 years of age. The age of onset and severity of the disease can vary greatly among individual dogs.The symptoms include progressive motor decline with seizures and loss of coordinated muscle movements, cognitive decline and abnormal behavior. Visual impairment may occur.
Due to the severity of the disease, affected Border Collies rarely survive beyond 26-28 months. There is no treatment or cure at this time.
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis is a type of lysosomal storage disorder that results in accumulation of lysosomal storage bodies in the cells of many tissues of the affected animal.This leads to progressive degeneration of brain and eye cells and results in severe neurological impairment and early death.
Affected dogs appear normal at birth, but begin to exhibit symptoms early in life – around 1- 2 years of age. The age of onset and severity of the disease can vary greatly among individual dogs.The symptoms include progressive motor decline with seizures and loss of coordinated muscle movements, cognitive decline and abnormal behavior. Visual impairment may occur.
Due to the severity of the disease, affected Border Collies rarely survive beyond 26-28 months. There is no treatment or cure at this time.
Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS):
TNS is an hereditary diesease where bone marrow produces neutrophils (white cells) but is unable to effectively release them into the blood stream. Affected puppies have an impaired immune system and will eventually die from infections they cannot fight. Most affected puppies die or are euthanized by about 4 months of age.
It is important to understand a carrier is not affected by this disease but if bred with another carrier puppies will be affected. A mating between a carrier and a clear dog will result in some puppies being clear and others being carriers but no puppies will be affected. When both parents are clear all puppies will be clear by parentage.
TNS is an hereditary diesease where bone marrow produces neutrophils (white cells) but is unable to effectively release them into the blood stream. Affected puppies have an impaired immune system and will eventually die from infections they cannot fight. Most affected puppies die or are euthanized by about 4 months of age.
It is important to understand a carrier is not affected by this disease but if bred with another carrier puppies will be affected. A mating between a carrier and a clear dog will result in some puppies being clear and others being carriers but no puppies will be affected. When both parents are clear all puppies will be clear by parentage.
Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA):
Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is a recessively inherited eye disorder that causes abnormal development of the choroid - an important layer of tissue under the retina of the eye. It can affect either one or both eyes. The primary problem is choroidal hypoplasia (CH). There is under-development (hypoplasia) of the eye tissue layer called the choroid.
Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is a recessively inherited eye disorder that causes abnormal development of the choroid - an important layer of tissue under the retina of the eye. It can affect either one or both eyes. The primary problem is choroidal hypoplasia (CH). There is under-development (hypoplasia) of the eye tissue layer called the choroid.
The symptoms and signs can vary greatly among affected dogs within one breed, between parent and offspring and even within a litter. Complications of severe disease can lead to vision loss, although this disorder only rarely threatens total blinding severely affected dogs, approximately 25% of dogs with CEA/CH, there are related problems with the health of the eye that can result in serious vision loss in some cases.
It is important to understand a carrier is not affected by this disease but if bred with another carrier puppies will be affected. A mating between a carrier and a clear dog will result in some puppies being clear and others being carriers but no puppies will be affected. When both parents are clear all puppies will be clear by parentage..
It is important to understand a carrier is not affected by this disease but if bred with another carrier puppies will be affected. A mating between a carrier and a clear dog will result in some puppies being clear and others being carriers but no puppies will be affected. When both parents are clear all puppies will be clear by parentage..