Border Collie Health

Border Collies are generally considered to be a relatively healthy dog breed. However, like all animals, they are susceptible to conditions that can affect their health and welfare. Many of these disorders are inherited – passed on to a dog from its parents. Fortunately, within the last 30 years, researchers have developed tests for a large number of diseases that Border Collies can inherit. DNA testing can identify which dogs are affected by (display themselves) or carry (not affected, but can pass on the genetic mutation to puppies) these diseases. X-Rays can also detect some structural disorders. An ethical breeder uses both DNA testing and X-Rays to determine which dogs should or should not be bred together, to have the greatest chance of producing healthy puppies.

border collie club of south australia
testing information for breeders & puppy buyers
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The above document will list the most current DNA and X-Ray tests available for Border Collies (as of December 2021). Some tests have been available for many years, whilst some have emerged only recently. For breeders, links for laboratories providing tests will also be provided at the end of the document.

It should be noted, however, that some conditions are not yet testable, as the genetic mutations that are responsible for causing these is not yet known. As a result, these conditions cannot be fully prevented by DNA testing. Ethical breeders who have a deep understanding of the ancestry, or lines, of their breeding dogs can try to prevent these disorders by avoiding using affected dogs or lines with related symptoms. These conditions will also be listed.

The Border Collie Club of South Australia (BCCSA) recommends that:

1. Ethical breeders undertake all key tests, avoid breeding dogs who are both carriers of a
single condition or a carrier to an affected dog, and begin to adopt emerging tests into
their breeding practises to do their best to avoid producing affected puppies.

2. Ethical breeders carefully research and know their lines in an attempt to avoid producing
dogs with untestable conditions.

3. Puppy buyers look for breeders who can provide evidence of testing their parent dogs
for the key conditions at minimum, so they can be assured their new puppy won’t be
affected by most preventable conditions.

Terminology Used on DNA Disease Panels

​While the reports from different DNA companies differ, the results for each disease or trait should be reported as:

Normal/Clear - 2 normal copies of the gene. This means that the tested dog is completely free of the disease/trait and does not carrying the mutant gene which will produce the disease.

Carrier - positive one copy. This means that the tested dog has one normal and one mutant copy of the gene. The dog does not have the disease but carries a copy of the gene which may be passed on to their progeny (see diagram).  A dog that is a carrier of a disease can be mated with another that is clear and all of the progeny from this litter will be free of the disease, some progeny can be carriers. Under no circumstances should a carrier of a disease be mated with another carrier or affected for the same disease.

At Risk/Affected - positive two copies. Dogs has two copies of the mutant gene.  A dog which is at risk/affected  will either have or develop the disease during its lifetime. For CEA and EAOD ONLY can be bred with another dog that is clear of the same disease and all of the puppies from the mating will be not affected but will all be carriers.
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Clear by Parentage - where both parents have been DNA tested clear for that disease.  This should only be relied upon where parentage of the pup has been confirmed by DNA profiling.  It is advisable to test all breeding stock prior to breeding.

THE GREAT WEIGHT DEBATE

Carol Price via Collieology. Click on image for full article.

We are often asked, 'what is the ideal weight for a Border Collie?'
Our answer first and foremost is that the number on the scales is not the best indicator for your dog's health - let's shift our focus from comparing weight as a number, to overall body condition instead.
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Being told your dog is overweight can be an emotional time for an owner, because we often equate it with the 'body-shaming', embarrassing feeling of hearing it as a human, or that we are being told we are irresponsible, unfit owners. Our dogs, on the other hand, are not offended. They simply rely on us to ensure that we are taking the best care of them that we can, which includes keeping them in optimal condition to avoid injury or extra stress on their hearts and joints and allow them to live an active life for as long as possible. Since we are the ones who control what they eat and when they eat it, we are the ones best placed to control and either avoid or work to rectify weight issues.

Border Collie body conditions given their often longer coats can be harder to diagnose by sight given the majority of charts show short haired dogs where bone definition is clear. To indicate your dog's optimal condition or healthy weight we recommend using feel as well as sight using the following key points:

WAIST, RIBS & PELVIC BONES - Look at your dog from above. You should be able to identify a clear 'waist' between the ribs and hips. When you run your hands lightly along the ribs and across their bottom/hip area, you should be able to feel them easily. If you have to press harder or can feel fat over the ribs, or your dog does not have an easily discernable waist, your dog is likely to be overweight and you can take action to drop a few kilograms. If your dog's ribs or pelvic bones are visibly protruding, they may be underweight and as such investigation can be undertaken to identify any environmental factors such as stress, health factors such as illness, or simply adjust their diet accordingly.

BELLY - Now look at your dog from the side. You should see a clear 'tuck up' where their belly tapers at an angle from their ribs up to their groin area. If their belly sags down or you can not see or feel (a big one to remember given some coats can be so big - use your hands!) a defined 'tuck up', then that is again an indicator that your dog is likely to be overweight. Please keep in mind, that overweight dogs are becoming so common that overweight can actually appear more normal to people, and many owners of ideal weight Border Collies have been told that their dogs are underweight by well-meaning onlookers. The above graphic is an excellent reference and will hopefully set some minds at ease with regard to their dog's condition and be an easy point of reference when trying to get a dog to a healthy weight.