Health
Belgian Sheepdogs are a remarkably healthy, long-lived breed and are prone to few inherited diseases. But no breed is completely free of genetic risks, nor is there evidence that mixed-breed dogs are healthier than purebred dogs.
Epilepsy is perhaps the single most serious genetic disorder afflicting Belgian Sheepdogs and Tervurens. It is estimated that the prevalence of epilepsy in these breeds is between 9-17%, depending upon the geographic location of the population studied. The disease is highly heritable, although the mode of inheritance is still not known. There is no genetic test for epilepsy in the Belgian breeds, and it is unlikely a test will be available in the near future. The best approach for reducing incidence of the disease is for breeders to scrupulously investigate their lines for affected dogs and known carriers. Then avoid breedings that have multiple affected dogs and carriers in the most recent generations.
There is some evidence that progressive retinal atrophy, a serious eye disease, and gastric cancer may affect Belgian sheepdogs at higher rates than the general population, but much more research into the genetics of these diseases.
We are commited to testing dogs used in our breeding program for hip and elbow dysplasia, eye disease, and doing our best to minimize epilepsy risk through a comprehensive program of pedigree research. We will submit health test results to open databases such as OFA and CERF. We welcome inquiries about the health status of our dogs from potential puppy buyers and other breeders.
Current health test results for Obsidian Belgian Sheepdogs and dogs used in our breeding program. Updated September 2010. For further information on OFA and CERF test certificates, see the individual dog's profile on the "Our Pack" page.
.Name |
Sex |
Birthday |
Hips |
Elbows |
Eyes |
Seizures |
Chilko |
F/spayed |
12/24/00 |
X |
X |
X |
No |
Glace Noire Rocket |
M/neutered |
10/15/01 |
X |
X |
passed-punctate cataract |
No |
Rogue Gaia Kuymal** |
M/intact |
12/20/03 |
Good |
Normal |
passed-punctate cataract |
No |
Kaponomana Heart of Obsidian ** |
F/intact |
04/20/07 |
Good |
Normal |
passed-punctate cataract |
No |
| Glace Noire Great Gusto * | M/intact |
03/28/06 |
Excellent |
Normal |
passed |
No |
* Dog not owned/bred by Obsidian; ** Dog satisfies requirements for Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) registration; X - Test not performed
Note on punctate cataracts: posterior punctate cataracts are a defect in the back of the lens. The defect may be significant and become progressively worse, or be so minor as to have no effect on a dog's vision. The defect apparently is a regressive inherited trait with less than 1% incidence in Belgian sheepdogs. We are somewhat at a loss to explain how three of our dogs have been diagnosed with this defect, especially since Rocky, Rogue, and Heart are out of different lines. The punctate cataracts in our dogs are extremely small and the opthomologist has assured us that they do not affect vision, nor should the diagnosis affect our breeding plans. Feel free to contact us for more details.