Health Problems That Run in Certain Breeds

Generations of selective breeding gave us the dogs and cats we know today, from the Great Dane to the Chihuahua and from the Siamese to the Persian. Breeding for a particular look or job also concentrated certain genes, and with them certain diseases. A breed's risks don't mean a particular animal will get sick. They tell you where to look first, which screening tests are worth doing, and which early signs deserve a prompt vet visit.

The clearest way to see the pattern is by body system, because many breeds share the same weak spot for the same reason.

Airways: the flat-faced breeds

Bulldogs, French bulldogs, pugs and boxers in dogs, and Persians and Himalayans in cats, have been bred for short skulls and flat faces. The soft tissue of the nose and throat didn't shrink to match, so many of these animals have narrow nostrils, a long soft palate and a cramped windpipe. Vets call the result brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, or BOAS. Loud snoring, noisy breathing at rest, gagging and tiring quickly on walks are common signs that owners often accept as normal for the breed.

These animals struggle to cool themselves by panting, so heat is a serious risk, and they are more likely to have problems under anesthesia. Keeping them lean helps their breathing considerably. In more severe cases, surgery to widen the nostrils and shorten the soft palate can make a large difference.

Joints and spine

Hip and elbow dysplasia, in which the joint forms loosely and wears unevenly, is common in large breeds such as Labrador and golden retrievers, German shepherds, Rottweilers and Bernese mountain dogs. It can show up as a bunny-hopping gait, difficulty rising or reluctance to climb stairs, sometimes in dogs under a year old.

Long-backed breeds such as dachshunds, corgis and basset hounds are prone to intervertebral disc disease, in which a spinal disc bulges or ruptures and presses on the spinal cord. A dog that suddenly yelps when picked up, hunches, won't climb stairs or wobbles on its back legs needs a vet the same day, because pressure on the spinal cord can lead to paralysis.

Small breeds such as Yorkshire terriers, Pomeranians and Chihuahuas often have luxating patellas, a kneecap that slips out of place. It may look like the dog skips for a few steps on three legs and then carries on normally.

In cats, the Scottish fold's folded ears come from a gene mutation that affects cartilage throughout the body. Many fold cats develop painful joint changes, particularly in the legs and tail, and several veterinary organizations have spoken against breeding them.

Heart

Dobermans have a high rate of dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle weakens and enlarges, often without outward signs until it is advanced. Boxers are prone to an inherited heart rhythm disorder and to a narrowing below the aortic valve. Cavalier King Charles spaniels have one of the highest rates of mitral valve disease of any breed, and many develop a heart murmur by middle age.

In cats, Maine coons and ragdolls carry known genetic mutations linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart muscle. Sphynx and British shorthairs are also overrepresented. Cats with heart disease often show no signs until they have trouble breathing or suffer a blood clot that paralyzes the back legs, so screening matters more than watching for symptoms.

Kidneys, eyes and skin

Persians and related breeds can inherit polycystic kidney disease, in which cysts gradually replace healthy kidney tissue. A DNA test exists, and responsible breeders use it. Collies, Shetland sheepdogs and Australian shepherds can carry a gene mutation, MDR1, that makes certain common drugs, including some parasite treatments, dangerous to them. A cheek-swab test identifies carriers, and the result is worth telling every vet who treats the dog.

Hairless Sphynx cats need protection from sunburn and cold and regular baths to remove oily buildup. Wrinkled breeds such as shar-peis and bulldogs get infections in their skin folds if the folds aren't kept clean and dry.

Cancer

Golden retrievers, boxers, Bernese mountain dogs and flat-coated retrievers all have higher than average cancer rates. A long-running study of golden retrievers in the US has been following thousands of dogs since 2012 to understand why. For owners of these breeds, the practical step is to check any new lump promptly rather than waiting to see whether it grows.

Mixed breeds

Mixed-breed animals generally benefit from a wider gene pool, but they can still inherit the problems of the breeds in their background, particularly when one breed dominates or when two parent breeds share the same weakness. A dog with German shepherd ancestry still merits attention to its hips. Commercial DNA tests can suggest a pet's ancestry and flag some single-gene conditions such as MDR1, though their breed estimates for mixed dogs are less precise than the marketing implies.

What owners and buyers can do

Before buying a purebred puppy or kitten, ask the breeder for the health testing done on both parents, and check it rather than accepting a verbal assurance. In the US, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals publishes hip, elbow, heart, eye and DNA results in a searchable database, and PennHIP offers a separate hip evaluation. For cats, ask about DNA tests for the conditions known in that breed and echocardiograms for breeds at risk of heart disease.

For any pet, tell your vet the breed or likely mix, and ask which screenings make sense and at what age. Keep your pet lean, since extra weight worsens joint, airway and heart problems alike. If you are considering insurance, arrange it while your pet is young, because conditions diagnosed before cover starts are usually excluded.