PRA can present itself in dogs between 3–9 years old. As the cells deteriorate (atrophy) over time, a dog’s vision will deteriorate as well-eventually resulting in incurable blindness. These degenerative diseases affect the photoreceptors in a dog’s retina, which are are responsible for helping dogs see better in low light, detect movement, and detect color. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a term used for a group of eye diseases. There are also surgical treatment options that can help improve mobility. Management options include medications, joint supplements, and therapies. If you have adopted an Australian Shepherd or are not able to obtain any parent documentation, you can still get your dog screened for hip and elbow dysplasia to know their risk as they grow.ĭogs with hip or elbow dysplasia need special care as they age the amount of care will depend on the severity of the dysplasia. When purchasing an Australian Shepherd puppy, check to ensure the proper Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) screening or that a PennHIP screening has been performed on the puppy’s parents.
It’s very important that breeders obtain certified screening for these genetic conditions prior to breeding any Australian Shepherd to reduce the risk of passing these conditions on to their puppies. These conditions occur when either the hip or elbow joints develop improperly, resulting in malalignment. Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are inherited conditions that sometimes affect Australian Shepherds. However, they are predisposed to a few health issues more common to the breed.
Australian Shepherd Health IssuesĪs generally healthy dogs, the average Australian Shepherd lifespan is 12–15 years.
With their lifestyle and temperament being so high-energy, pet parents of Australian Shepherd dogs need to be considerate of their joint and hip health to ensure healthy mobility at all life stages. However, with early socialization, they can live harmoniously with cats, children, and other dogs. But they might also like to chase moving objects-such as children, cats, cars, and other wheeled objects like scooters, bikes, and golf carts. They are known to be smart and loyal dogs that are typically friendly but can sometimes take a bit of time to warm up to strangers.ĭue to their herding background, Australian Shepherds can have a prey drive and love games like fetch and Frisbee.
Caring for an Australian ShepherdĪustralian Shepherds are high-energy dogs that love to have a job. While tail docking can be done to prevent working dogs from tail-related injuries, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) opposes docking for purely cosmetic reasons. Most Aussie puppies have their tails docked at a young age, though this practice is controversial. Standing between 18–24 inches tall, the average Australian Shepherd weight is 40–65 pounds when full-grown, with males being generally larger than females.Īustralian Shepherd tails can be naturally bobbed, or they can be born with full-length tails. They were originally bred to be used as working dogs and still have a strong drive to get jobs done and please their people. Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent and active medium-sized dogs with natural herding instincts and muscular and agile builds.
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