Prevalence of Diseases and Other Hereditary Traits in Aussies
The list of genetic issues below was developed from data submitted to the ASHGI Comprehensive Breed Health Survey conducted in 2009-2010. These issues are known to be inherited. Items are listed roughly in order of frequency. Keep in mind that the number of affected individuals for any given item indicates a significantly higher number of individuals that carry genes for it. Some rarer issues known to occur in the breed are unlisted because they went unreported in the survey.
Extremely Common ( 10% or more of dogs reported)
- MDR1 (the mutation also is reported to be found in over 50% of Australian Shepherds by the Veterinary Clinical Pathology Lab at Washington State University )
- Autoimmune diseases (all types)
- Moderate to severe allergies (mild allergies can occur in almost any individual)
- Hip Dysplasia
- Missing teeth
Very Common (4-9%)
- Umbilical hernia
- Cataract
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Epilepsy
- Retained testicles
- Elbow dysplasia
- Spondylosis (while generally not considered a breed genetic issue, this can be inherited; the frequency of reports make that a possibility.)
Common (2-3%)
- Bad bites (overshot, undershot, wry and anterior crossbite)
- Distichiasis
- Demodectic mange
- Food intolerance
- Cruciate ligament rupture (may be acquired or genetically predisposed)
- Ear infections (probably related to allergies)
- Excess white markings
- Natural-bobtail related defects (kinked tails, transitional vertebrae, birth defects avoidable by not breeding NBT x NBT)
- Lymphoma
- Laryngeal paralysis
Uncommon (1%)
- Progressive rod cone degeneration (a form of progressive retinal atrophy)
- Collie eye anomaly
- Dilute (dilution of black or liver pigment, does not include “dilution spots”)
- Osteochondritis desicans of the shoulder
- Pelger-Huet Anomaly positive
- Renal dysplasia
- Urate crystals
- Iris coloboma
- Yellow color
Rare (<1%)
- Cushing’s disease
- Persistent pupilary membrane (iris-to-cornea or iris-to-lens only – other forms do not significantly impact vision)
- Congenital heart vessel defects (includes patent ductus arteriosus and persistent right aoritic arch)
- Patellar luxation
- Muscular dystrophy