The Shetland Sheepdog is a bright, lively dog with a fairly long lifespan, averaging twelve to fourteen years. However, the breed does have quite a few medical conditions that can end up being costly and even shorten their lives. It’s important to talk to any breeder you are thinking about adopting from to make sure they are doing the necessary tests on their breeding dogs. Whether you own a Sheltie or are thinking of getting one, it’s good to know what to watch for. The following are the top three health concerns for your Shetland Sheepdog.
#1 – Dermatomyositis
Also called DM or sometimes Sheltie Skin Syndrome – which is a false name as it affects several herding breeds – is a mysterious genetic disease that causes hair loss on the head, face, forelegs, and tail. It usually shows up around four to six months old and is often mistaken for mange. However, a deep tissue biopsy can determine if it is DM or not. Severe forms effect the muscles and dogs may have to be euthanized. Researchers have not been able to map it’s genetic marker in order to do a DNA test to see if a dog is carrier or has it. Puppies in the same litter can be affected or not afffected (for example my fourteen-year-old sheltie who is still going strong had a littermate with it). What they don’t know is if, for instance, my dog is a carrier, which is why a dog from a litter that had even one DM puppy should not be bred.
#2 – Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Shelties are at high risk for this congenital defect where the ductus arteriosus (a blood vessel connecting two major ateries in a fetus) stays open after birth, causing a reverse flow of blood through the open passage. This allows for increased blood flow to the lungs, or less common, blood will flow in the opposite direction through the vessel into the left side of the heart. If left untreated, most dogs die of heart failure within their first year of life. A strong heart murmur at the puppy’s first check-up is a warning sign of the defect.
#3 – Deafness
As they age, Shetland Sheepdogs are prone to hearing loss, which is not really a big deal. You can plan for it by teaching your dog hand signals as well as verbal cues prior to hearing loss. However, they can also have congenital deafness due to the degeneration of sensory inner ear structures. The likelihood of deafness is tied to coat color genetics and therefore there is an increased risk of deafness in Shelties with a lot of white in their coat. This is just one of the many reasons why no one should breed two merle-colored dogs together.
