List compiled from ''Control of Canine Genetic Diseases', by George A. Padgett DVM, published in 1998.
Cardigan Welsh Corgis, as a breed, are listed as having 32 known and documented inherited defects. This may seem like a lot until it is compared with some other more popular breeds such as the Poodle (all varieties), having 145 defects and the American Cocker, 116. Mixed breeds top the list at 220 due to their varied ancestries. This list was stated as not being definitive, so additional problems known to occur follow and there may be others which are still unknown.
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Key: D = Dominant, R = Recessive, P = Polygenic, X-R = Sex linked Recessive U = Undetermined, <,> = under, over, equal to age at onset
# |
System Affected, Disease - Symptoms | Type |
Age of Onset |
1 |
Behavioral, Excessive Aggression - Extreme forcefulness with other animals and/or people | U |
< 3 / Varies |
2 |
Endocrine, Hypothyroidism - Immune destruction of thyroid, lethargy, weight gain, dermatitis, alopecia | U |
< 2 |
3 |
Hematopoietic, Methemoglobinemia - Lethargy, weakness, tachypnea, cyanosis | R |
<6 mos |
4 |
Hematopoietic, VonWillibrand's - Reduced Factor VIII in blood, prolonged bleeding time | R |
<1 |
5 |
Heart/Vascular, Dilated Cardiomyopathy - Dyspnea, excersize intolerance, cough, heart sounds muffled | U |
< 6 |
6 |
Integumentary, Bullous Pemphigoid- Vesicular & bullous ulcers, affect mouth, axillae, groin or foot | U |
Varies |
7 |
Integumentary, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome- Loose, too thin, overelastic skin that tears easily | D |
< 10 wks |
8 |
Integumentary, Onychodystrophy - Loss of nails on one or more paws resulting in secondary infection | U |
< 5 |
9 |
Integumentary, Pemphigus Vulgaris - Erosive/ulcerative areas, groin, axillae, mucocutaneous junctures | U |
< 2 |
10 |
Integumentary, Perineal Hernia - Difficulty defecating & swelling lateral to anus | U |
< 8 |
11 |
Pancreas, Pancreatic Hypoplasia - Weight loss, diarrhea, correctable with endocrine supplement | R |
< 1 |
12 |
Neurologic, Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis (ATP C-Storage) Night blindness, confusion, aggression, ataxia | R |
> 1 |
13 |
Neurologic, Epilepsy - Seizures, often seasonal, can be progressive disorder, may not respond to treatment | U |
> 1 |
14 |
Neurologic, Sensory Ganglioradiculitis - Progressive disorder, loss of reflexes, hearing, voice, head tilt | U |
< 7 |
15 |
Ocular, Cataracts - Late onset or undefined, may result in partial or complete blindness | U |
Varies |
16 |
Ocular, CPRA - Centralized PRA, central vision loss, peripheral ok, some dogs may retain vision | U |
< 2 |
17 |
Ocular, Corneal Erosion Syndrome - Sudden ocular pain due to corneal ulcers | U |
< 6 |
18 |
Ocular, Dermoid - Patch of skin occurs on cornea | U |
< 1 |
19 |
Ocular, Entropion - Eyelid rolls inward causing eyelashes to rub eyeball | U |
< 1 |
20 |
Ocular, Glaucoma, inceases pressure in the globe of eyeball, undetermined causes | U |
< 3 |
21 |
Ocular, Lens Luxation - Partial or complete dislocation of lens | U |
< 1 |
22 |
Ocular, PPM, PHPV or PHTVL - Blood vessels in anterior eye chamber regress late or fail to regress normally | U |
< 3 mos |
23 |
Ocular, PRA - Progressive Retinal Atrophy - degeneration of retinal cells, complete blindness occurs | R |
< 1 / varies |
24 |
Ocular, Retinal Dysplasia (Folds) - Abnormal folds in retina | U |
< 1 |
25 |
Ocular, Retinal Dysplasia (Geographic Detachment) - Abnormal development & detachment of retina | R |
< 1 |
26 |
Skeletal, Cleft lip/palate - Fissure in roof of mouth and/or lip, may occur together or seperately | P/U |
birth |
27 |
Skeletal, Hip Dysplasia - Abnormal formation of the hip socket | P |
< 2 |
28 |
Skeletal, Intervertebral Disk Disease (IDD) - Rupture of vertebral discs, can result in paralysis | U |
> 1 |
29 |
Skeletal, Luxating Patella - Patella (kneecap) dislocates due to poor or improper structural development | P |
< 1 |
30 |
Skeletal, Premature Closing of the Radius - Causes bowing of front legs, may also cause bone misalignment | U |
< 1 |
31 |
Urinary, Cystinuria - Excessive cystine in urine, bladder stones | X-R |
< 1 |
32 |
Urinary, Ectopic Ureters - Ureters do not attach to bladder | U |
birth |
Additional Undocumented Health Problems, information mainly from cardi related sources.
| # | System Affected, Disease - Symptoms | Type | Age of Onset |
| 1 | Alimentary, Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (Bloat, Gastric Tortion)- distention, unproductive vomiting, often fatal | U | < 7 |
| 2 | Deafness, Dominant Merle gene linked - occurs in some offspring of merle to merle breedings | D | < 3 mos |
3 |
Heart/Vascular, Patent Ductus Ateriosis (PDA) - Failure of a fetal vessel in the heart to close after birth, heart murmer | P |
birth |
| 4 | Immune, Atopic Dermatitis - allergic dermatitis, may be seasonal | U | < 1 |
| 5 | Immune, Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia - Immune system attacks blood cells, anemia, possible death | U | < 4 |
| 6 | Immune, Demodicosis- localized. Generalized Demodicosis is thought to be inherited | U | < 1 |
| 7 | Integumentary, Achondroplastic Joint Laxity - Puppies late getting on feet and walking, may include CHD | R U | < 3 mos |
| 8 | Integumentary, Inguinal Hernia, outpouching of skin in inguinal ring (stomach inside flank), may contain viscera | R | < 6 mos |
9 |
Liver/Pancreas, Pancreatic Hypoplasia or Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) - Weight loss & cronic diarrhea, variable severity | R |
< 1 yr |
10 |
Neurologic - Degenerative Myelopathy - progressive paralysis due to spinal cord degeneration | U |
> 7 |
| 11 | Ocular, Convergent/Divergent Strabismus- one or both eyes turn inward or outward, (crossed eyes) | U | < 1 |
| 12 | Reproductive, Cryptorchidism - one or both testicles absent due to retention in abdomen or inguinal region | R/U | < 3 mos |
| 13 | Reproductive, Dystocia - difficulty whelping for number of reasons, uterine inertia, oversized pup, narrow pelvis, etc. | U | giving birth |
| 14 | Reproductive, Resorbtion of Litter - may occur any time during pregnancy, may or may not be inherited | U | Pregnancy |
15 |
Reproductive, Anasarca ('water' or 'walrus' puppy) - puppy retains water making it oversized, usually requires c-section. | U |
< birth |
| 16 | Skeletal, Brachury - much shorter than expected tail length | R | < 6 mos |
17 |
Skeletal, Anury - completely absent tail | R |
birth |
18 |
Skeletal, Crooked Tail - abnormal bend/kink in tail, minor show fault but may be linked to other spinal problems | U |
< 3 mos |
| 19 | Skeletal, Dewclaws, hind - extra toes may appear on one or both hind feet, show fault only | D | birth |
| 20 | Skeletal, Luxation of carpus - Knuckling over of one or both front legs, varies in severity | U | < 1 |
| 21 | Skeletal, Osteochondritis Dessicans (FCP-OCD), affecting elbow, known in Pembroke Welsh Corgis | P | <1 (±7-10 mos) |
| 22 | Skeletal, Overshot- upper jaw extends beyond lower jaw, tooth misalignment, show fault | U | < 1 |
| 23 | Skeletal, Retained Desciduous teeth - one or more 'baby' teeth retained/lost very late, affects tooth alignment | U | < 1 |
| 24 | Skeletal, Undershot - lower jaw level with or protrudes beyond upper jaw, tooth misalignment, show fault | P | < 1 |
Many of these disorders are considered rare in cardigans, but others are more common. Recessive disorders are the most difficult to eliminate since a majority of them do not activate until the dog is older or past breeding age. A recessive gene is not clearly visible in a healthy, unaffected dog who might carry just one copy of the gene. It will only be discovered when two dogs who have the same recessive are mated and produce one or more puppies with two copies of the gene and this is when a problem occurs. Some problems with a recessive gene like PRA now have a genetic test to determine carrier status.
Sharing information about carrier status for recessive genes is the most important part of the breeding process.
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