GENETIC DISEASES

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Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord.  It begins around age 10 with weak muscles in the rear legs and progressively gets worse until the dog is paralyzed.  Affected dogs inherit the gene for the disease from BOTH parents.  Not all dogs who carry two copies of the gene actually develop the disease.  Carriers are dogs with only one copy of the gene and can NOT develop the disease.  Symptoms begin late in life around 10 years of age with an unsteady wobbly gait. As the disease progresses the rear legs become weak and eventually the dog is unable to walk.  Responsible breeders test their adults and do not make matings which might result in puppies who could develop the disease. We test all our dogs for DM and plan matings so puppies do not develop DM.

Von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD1) is a blood clotting disorder found in multiple breeds of dogs.  It may cause prolonged bleeding after an injury and bruising. There are multiple mutations that cause the disease in dogs.  Pembroke Welsh Corgis can be affected by the type 1 mutation which is the mildest form and they MUST inherit the gene for the disease from BOTH parents to be affected.  Carriers are dogs with only one copy of the gene and can NOT develop the disease.  Symptoms include abnormal bleeding, bleeding gums, blood in feces or urine, nosebleeds and easy bruising. Responsible breeders test their adults and do not make matings which might result in puppies who could develop the disease.  We test all of our dogs for vWD1 and plan matings so puppies do not develop vWD1.

Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) is a disease where dogs lose control of their muscles following periods of extreme exercise.  Dogs with this disorder become wobbly 5-25 minutes after extreme exercise and may collapse and even die if exercise is continued. Affected dogs inherit the gene for the disease from BOTH parents.  Carriers are dogs with only one copy of the gene and can NOT develop the disease.  Symptoms normally show up between 5 months to 3 years of age.  Most attacks last 5 to 25 minutes but some dogs die immediately after an attack.  Thankfully exercise regimes can be altered and these dogs can lead long normal lives.  Responsible breeders test their adults and do not make matings which might result in puppies who could develop the disease. We test all of our dogs for EIC and plan matings so puppies do not develop EIC.

The info about these diseases has been borrowed from harmancorgis.com