⛸️ Merle Border Collie Health Issues

Health Issues of Red Merle Border Collie. There are numerous health issues brought by the merle gene in dogs. First and foremost, it causes deafness and blindness, as well as UV sensitivity and a higher incidence of skin cancer. These are more observable in homozygous merles (MM) than heterozygous merles (Mm). Size. Most Border Collies will be longer than they are tall, with the average male growing to 20-23 inches in height and the average female growing to 18-21 inches in height. Both male and female Border Collies usually weigh between 30 and 45 pounds when they are full grown, but some can be as small as 25 pounds and some as large as 55 pounds. Colors: Black, white & tan; blue merle; blue merle & white; blue merle, white & tan; sable; sable & white; sable merle; white; sable merle & white; white merle. Suitable for: Adult-only homes, active families with older children. Temperament: Loyal, friendly, and active. Although Collies were a favorite of Queen Victoria, the Smooth Collie has Health: Collies are generally healthy dogs, but they can be prone to some health problems, such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and Collie eye anomaly. Collie History The bearded collie is a longhaired herding dog breed that hails from Scotland, where it was originally developed to work as a sheepdog, but today is much more widely owned as a pet and companion. The bearded collie is a medium sized breed, which stands up to 22” tall at the withers, and can weigh up to 27kg, with males being larger than females. Health and Genetics. The ABCA strongly encourages members to be aware of the health issues that affect Border Collies. While the Border Collie is generally considered a healthy breed, there are several genetic diseases that are both serious and common enough to be of concern. Breeders must carefully screen prospective parents to reduce or Posted October 19, 2009. Blue eyes are quite common in Border Collies and, according to Dr. Ackland, are not and never have been a problem of any kind health wise. The only problem lies in the eyes of the beholder and, if you are looking at the eyes when the dog is working you are missing the rest of the picture. Bordoodle dogs are a hybrid designer cross between the intelligent Border Collie and calm Standard Poodle. Their coats are long and wavy, and they can be high shedders that need plenty of grooming or clipping. An adult Bordoodle is smart, athletic, energetic and affectionate. Plenty of training and exercise during the day will give you a Possible Causes of Excessive Panting in Border Collies. Overexertion: Intense or prolonged physical activity. Overheating: Exposure to high temperatures, especially during summer. Anxiety or Stress: Situational factors like fireworks, new environments, or separation anxiety. Pain: Suffering from an injury or chronic condition like arthritis. However, this should be avoided at all costs as there are numerous health issues known to be associated with this double Merle Border Collie genetic combination. Those puppies that have the genetic predisposition of the double Merle gene have higher risks of being blind, deaf, or both compared to other puppies that have no predisposition to the The average Rough Collie’s lifespan is between 10 and 14 years. Unfortunately, the breed is prone to a large list of health problems, including drug sensitivities, progressive retinal atrophy, collie eye anomaly, epilepsy, and bloat. Drug Sensitivities. Rough Collies often have multiple drug sensitivity issues. If you do opt to get a blue merle Border Collie, make sure you buy him from a reputable breeder who will give you an insight into the dog’s health records. And if you adopt and fear your Collie might have some health issues – even blind and deaf dogs can be very happy and comfortable if you know a few tricks to make them feel safe. Sable Merle Border Collie. Both sable merle and blue merle coats are the result of the same merle trait. A canine with a sable merle coat has a merle pattern on top of a sable base color, which turns some of the dog’s typical black fur a bluish-gray. Puppies usually display the merle pattern more clearly than adult dogs. Slate Merle Border Collie source. The slate shade is more striking as the white, black, or blue coat color is diluted. Border Collies who have this coat has one parent who’s a merle, and the other has two recessive dilute genes. Slate merles are becoming popular, but it’s not an official color of the Border Collie as per the AKC. This Border Collie type has a typical double merle coat pattern. However, the full pigment on the nose and around the eyes suggests that she may in fact just be a high-white normal merle. It would be unusual for a double merle to have so much pigment. Here we have a probable harlequin double merle. Harlequins are merles with a modifier that .

merle border collie health issues