The Mudi is largely considered to be a healthy breed. That said, in the past, health testing and transparency about the health of the breed has been limited. As we continue to learn more about this breed, some of the more prominent issues we see are:
•Neurological: Epilepsy, Idiopathic Head Bobbing Syndrome, and various other nonspecific neurological issues (sometimes, presenting as temperament issues). *Note*: idiopathic epilepsy can present with its first seizure anywhere between puppyhood and 7 years of age (typically after that, new onset seizures are due to tumours).
•Allergies: both food and environmental
•Ocular: Juvenile Cataracts - leading to early blindness
•Skeletal: luxating patellas, hip dysplasia, transitional vertebrae
•Behavioural issues (I lump these into health issues as ultimately, it does affect the quality of life of the dog): intense reactivity, fear issues, separation anxiety, resource guarding, human and/or dog aggression, same-sex aggression
•CDA: colour dilution alopecia in dilute (ash or ash-brown) dogs
Some breeders are working hard to bring more light to Mudi health, and to avoid these issues as much as possible. This is being done by publicly completing various health testing on their breeding stock, and, researching pedigrees. However, even when all of this is done, there is always a chance that an ailment of sorts may crop up.
The reality of it is, that even with the most careful practices - in a breed like the Mudi where the gene pool is so small, it’s a matter of time before some of these issue crop up in every kennel. It’s important to remember that these are living beings and we can’t absolutely control every genetic variant, nor can we eliminate every relative of an ill dog in such a small gene pool. Therefore, finding a breeder who is honest and will be supportive of you through thick and thin is imperative. Additionally, due to the same, I cannot in good conscience offer a health “guarantee” for these issues, but rather, I undertake to be supportive and understanding should they pop up, and to be public with any issues that do arise in my lines.
•Neurological: Epilepsy, Idiopathic Head Bobbing Syndrome, and various other nonspecific neurological issues (sometimes, presenting as temperament issues). *Note*: idiopathic epilepsy can present with its first seizure anywhere between puppyhood and 7 years of age (typically after that, new onset seizures are due to tumours).
•Allergies: both food and environmental
•Ocular: Juvenile Cataracts - leading to early blindness
•Skeletal: luxating patellas, hip dysplasia, transitional vertebrae
•Behavioural issues (I lump these into health issues as ultimately, it does affect the quality of life of the dog): intense reactivity, fear issues, separation anxiety, resource guarding, human and/or dog aggression, same-sex aggression
•CDA: colour dilution alopecia in dilute (ash or ash-brown) dogs
Some breeders are working hard to bring more light to Mudi health, and to avoid these issues as much as possible. This is being done by publicly completing various health testing on their breeding stock, and, researching pedigrees. However, even when all of this is done, there is always a chance that an ailment of sorts may crop up.
The reality of it is, that even with the most careful practices - in a breed like the Mudi where the gene pool is so small, it’s a matter of time before some of these issue crop up in every kennel. It’s important to remember that these are living beings and we can’t absolutely control every genetic variant, nor can we eliminate every relative of an ill dog in such a small gene pool. Therefore, finding a breeder who is honest and will be supportive of you through thick and thin is imperative. Additionally, due to the same, I cannot in good conscience offer a health “guarantee” for these issues, but rather, I undertake to be supportive and understanding should they pop up, and to be public with any issues that do arise in my lines.