Health

In general, the Border Collie is a healthy breed but like all dogs, they have their own characteristic health conditions.

At Cuileann Border Collies we perform DNA checks on all our puppy’s parents to reduce the passing of known fatal or unwanted gene/health disorders. This information is available directly on our dog’s detailed web page. Please see our dogs section

The most common genetic disorders checked for with our Border collies are : CEA, IGS, MDR1, Raine, SN, NCL, TNS, GGD

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) / Choroidal Hypoplasia (CH) 

Collie Eye Anomaly is an inherited disease with a recessive mode of inheritance that results in abnormal development of the eye’s choroid. The disease can be mild or server, in the mild form of the disease, there is a thinning in the choroid layer of the eye but the dog’s vision remains normal, however, dogs with the mild form of the disease can produce severely affected offspring.

In the Severe form of the disease, the dog can suffer serious loss of vision, Colobomas can be seen around and at the optic nerve head as outpouchings in the eye tissue layers. Colobomas may lead to secondary complications such as partial or complete retinal detachments and/or growth of new but abnormal blood vessels with bleeding inside the eye. The disease can affect one or both eyes and can lead to vision loss although this disease rarely lead to complete blindness.

Cobalamin Malabsorption (Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome (IGS))

Cobalamin malabsorption (merslunf-Gräsbeck Syndrome (IGS)) refers to a genetic disorder by which the vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, fails to be absorbed from the intestine. Lack of cobalamin leads to changes in the hematopoietic system and to neurological symptoms due to irreversible damage of the brain and nervous system. Symptoms include anorexia, lethargy and failure to gain weight. Cobalamin malabsorption can be managed by supplementation with regular doses of cobalamin.

MDR1 Gene Varian / Ivermectin Sensitivity 

MDR1 is a genetic disorder found in many dog breeds. Affected dogs, when treated with certain common drugs such as Ivermectin and loperamide (Imodium), are unable to pump out these drugs from the brain resulting in poisoning and neurologic symptoms ranging from tremors, anorexia and excess salivation to blindness, coma and even death. Some of these drugs such as Ivermectins, which vets prescribe extensively for the treatment of parasite infections, are able to cause toxicity at 1/200th of the dose required to cause toxicity in healthy dogs.

Scientists discovered that these dogs lack a protein (P-Glycoprotein), which is responsible for pumping out many drugs and toxins from the brain, and that affected dogs show signs of toxicity because they are unable to stop drugs from permeating their brains. Researchers have identified that this condition is due to a mutation in the multi-drug resistance gene [MDR1].

Sensory Neuropathy ( SN )

Sensory Neuropathy (SN) is an inherited neurological disease affecting the Border Collie breed. The disease is characterised by degeneration of sensory and motor nerve cells. Symptoms begin between the age of 2 and 7 months and include: knuckling of the feet, wounds caused by self chewing or licking of the limbs due to lack of feeling, progressive loss of coordination (ataxia), progressive loss of sensation occurs in all limbs, urinary incontinence and regurgitation can occur in the later stages of the disease. Affected dogs are usually euthanized around the age of 2 years.

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis ( CL / NCL )

The clinical course includes increasing levels of agitation and possible outbursts of aggression, hallucinations, hyperactivity and epileptic fits. Most animals lose their ability to coordinate everyday muscular activities. As the extent of neurodegeneration increases, all affected dogs develop psychological abnormalities and ataxia.

Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome ( TNS )

TNS is a hereditary disease where the bone marrow produces neutrophils (white cells) but is unable to effectively release them into the bloodstream. Affected puppies have an impaired immune system and will eventually die from infections they cannot fight. Once thought to be rare, it is now believed that the disease goes undiagnosed for several reasons. Even when looking, blood counts do not always show lower than normal neutrophil (white blood cell) counts. Because it is an autoimmune-deficiency disease, young puppies present a variety of symptoms depending upon what infections they fall prone to. Thus many cases are not properly diagnosed and have just been thought to be “fading puppies”.The age of onset varies depending on which infection is involved at the time. Most puppies become ill before leaving the breeder but some do not have symptoms until later. Most affected puppies die or are euthanised by about 4 months of age.

Glaucoma and Goniodysgenesis (GGD)

Goniodysgenesis is a developmental abnormality of the eye’s anterior chamber which is strongly associated with glaucoma and blindness. This abnormality affects the drainage pathway and so fluid in the eye isn’t drained properly leading to increase in the pressure of fluid inside the eye (Intra Ocular Pressure IOP), which damages the optic nerve and may cause loss of vision.

GGD is caused by a mutation in Olfactomedin-like 3 (OLFML3) which has recently been identified by researchers at the The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studie and Mater Research Institute-UQ.
Symptoms include:severe pain in the eye, watery eye, high sensitivity to light, winking spasms, dilated pupils, raised third eyebrow, etc