Prevalence of Diseases and Other Hereditary Traits in Aussies
Rev. 
March 2013
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