Entlebucher Health Issues

Health Concerns

Like any breed (or mix of breeds including designer mixes), Entlebuchers can have some health issues.

Advice for anyone interested in getting an Entle puppy: Ask for copies of the parent's health clearances. It's not enough for a breeder to tell you their dogs have had all their testing. Some "breeders" sell Entles at “bargain” prices..., they cut corners somewhere. If you are dealing with a responsible, quality breeder they will give you copies of test results and tell you how they give back to the breed by supporting education, rescue and health research. High standards and ethics are included in the purchase price of a puppy from a reputable breeder.

Health Concern Links

EUS- Entlebucher Urinary Syndrome    |    Cancer    |    Auto Immune Diseases
Hip Dysplasia    |    OFA- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
PRA/Cataracts/Glaucoma    |    CAER- OFA Eye Certification Registry
CCL / ACL tears    |     Patellar Luxation (about 3/4 down on page, great info)

Bayla was diagnosed with Idiopathic Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (ITP) at age 4. She survived and thrived in spite of it. AutoImmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) has also shown up in Entles, on occasion. The causes of immune diseases are largely unknown, though sometimes on an individual basis, a cause can be found. Causes can vary greatly from an infection to lepto or a tick borne disease, over vaccination and there are even breeds that seem more predisposed due to possible genetics. We were never able to establish a cause but we were able to move forward and successfully treat it! Immune diseases can affect all breeds or mixes of any age or sex. It's not considered a major problem in the Entlebucher breed. I mention it with the hope that awareness may help someone.

About the PRA Genetic Test

Don’t be fooled by a breeder that brags about having "a PRA free kennel." The genetic marker test was developed in 2004. ALL Entle breeders have “PRA free kennels” with PRA free puppies! Some breeders only keep or breed genetically typed "clear" dogs due to their own ignorance of genetics or lack of knowledge and understanding in the correct ways to utilize genetic health tests.

Educate yourself; learn the truth! A “clear" Entle does not have any advantage and is not superior to a "healthy carrier" Entle. In fact, neither type will ever develop or go blind from PRA. The facts are available on the NEMDA site, Paw Print Genetics site, and through many other reputable resources on and offline.

Ideally, breeders use genetic tests as just one of many considerations in choosing breeding pairs. Being a 'healthy carrier', does NOT affect the dog’s vision or quality of life, it only affects pairings for a breeding match. Quality breeders plan their litters with the intention to make conscientious decisions for improving the health, structure, vigor, and temperament of the breed. Breeding 'clear to clear' may be the best plan, IF the other considerations also complement both dogs. But breeders who keep only 'clear' Entlebuchers to breed 'clear/clear' exclusively, can do damage to the breed through their short sightedness and narrow focus!

As a breed we have evovled two decades past the development of the PRA genetic test. The most recent Eye Health Blue Book, shows less than a quarter of the breed's population are healthy carriers today. We live in a marvelous time of advancing genetic and DNA tests. There are many credible resources for breeders to educate themselves and understand how to utilize available genetic testing technologies. The best kind of breeder does what is right by the breed; not necessarily what is easy. Putting too much emphasis in breeding for one trait needlessly eliminates dogs from the gene pool and that loss of genetic diversity results in other health issues that will reveal themselves in the future (both short and long term).

Responsible, quality breeders do not usually make money on litters, especially with a rare breed like Entlebuchers! The reality is that breeding is a true passion and calling; not an economic venture. Breeding decisions that do not take into account the bigger picture (breed longevity and health), will result in problems that will be far greater than PRA ever was for Entlebuchers! There is much supporting evidence to confirm these facts.

Choose a Puppy from CHIC Certified Entlebucher Parents

The OFA created the CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) to partner with parent clubs for research and to maintain an open database of reported health testing. To be CHIC Certified, an entlebucher is screened for the basic health conditions recommended by the parent club (NEMDA). The health test results must be publicly available in the OFA database. OFA's database makes it easier for: breeders to research pairings, puppy buyer's to see accurate health testing results of the parents, breed clubs to identify, monitor, and educate about their breed's related health concerns, and it's a marvelous tool for all dog lovers who care about health!

Recommended health testing for Entlebucher Mountain Dogs: hips, annual eye exam, patella luxation, and PRA DNA test.

Having a CHIC certification number means that all the required breed specific health tests were performed and are publicly available. You can pull up the dog's OFA record and view their health test results for specifics. If an entle is breeding, a current eye exam within the last year needs to be in their record; if not, ask the breeder why not. The other three health tests are one and done but eye health can change and needs to be updated yearly. There are breeders that rationalize it is 'ok' to breed entlebcuhers with non-passing cataracts (not breeding options researched by OFA). This is largely contributing to increased eye issues in the breed.

We challenge, encourage and applaud you for doing your research. Knowledge is power- please empower yourself! There are no perfect or 100% clean, healthy pedigree lines of dogs. Just like people, we all have varying degrees of conditions that are specific to our families. All breeders have had health issues pop up and that does not make them a good or bad breeder; it is what they choose to do with the information that defines the breeder!

Weight Concerns

The best thing you can do for an Entlebucher is to keep them on the lean end of the weight spectrum! Entles are longer backed dogs with more substantial bone structure and they love food! Extra weight is an added stress burden which contributes to or can cause many health problems ranging from back, joint and muscular skeletal issues to heart, liver and other internal organ problems- even increased risks of some cancers. The increased risk of disease has been studied and shown to affect dogs carrying as little as 5 extra pounds. Overweight Entles are more prone to injury, especially ACL tears and debilitating early arthritis. Obese Entles are at far greater risk for other breed related health issues and can have a decreased life expectancy by up to 2-1/2 yrs or more.

If you come across listed weights, please remember those are just someone's guidelines. There are no weights listed in the Entlebucher breed standard. Individual Entles will vary in height, bone density, back length and proportions from "the ideal" of the breed standard. Do your Entle a favor and treat them as as an individual. Be observant and in tune to your Entle. Monitor their weight and modify their food intake by their metabolism, age, training requirements (using food rewards), and exercise needs.

Studies have shown that dogs kept lean, live longer and have fewer health concerns. Unfortunately there are so many overweight Entlebuchers that many owners are not good at judging what their dog should look like. Use the body condition guide shown to the right as a great way to determine what to look and feel for on your Entle. Please watch this short, informative video that demonstrates if your Entlebucher (or other dog) is a healthy weight.

We believe in the benefits of keeping our dogs at healthy weights all their lives. Doing dog sports has shown us firsthand, the effect a couple extra pounds has on an Entle. At one time or another we have felt prejudice or have given in to pressures to put additional weight on our Entlebuchers (usually for conformation showing). It has been harmful for them. Lucky for us and our Entlebuchers, the consequences have only been short term: soft tissue injuries, rehab and vet bills- it could have been much worse. Those lessons have taught us to do what is best for our dogs as individuals, regardless of what may be generally accepted, trendy, or popular.

Following are a few links containing enlightening information and research:
"Developmental Orthopedic Disease"- How rapid growth leads to skeletal abnomalities by Ed Kane, PhD
"Slow Growth Plan For Optimal Development of Large and Medium Breeds" by Rhonda Hovan
"Corpulent Canines?" - Excellent article by Chris Zink, DVM, PhD
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention- Website dedicated to articles, facts and resources for a healthy pet