Rough Collie Health Guide
Back to Rough Collie OverviewUnderstanding the health profile of the Rough Collie helps owners make informed decisions about screening, insurance, and preventive care. Like many pedigree breeds, the Rough Collie is prone to certain hereditary and acquired health conditions, most notably Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), and Epilepsy. With attentive care, most Rough Collies can be expected to live 14–16 years.
Conditions Affecting Rough Collies
- Category: Eye Typical onset: 3-8 years Est. treatment cost: £0 (management only)
PRA is a group of hereditary diseases causing progressive degeneration of the photoreceptor cells in the retina. It leads to night blindness first, followed by complete blindness. There is no treatment, but DNA tests exist for many forms.
Key symptoms: Night blindness (early sign) · Reluctance to enter dark rooms · Dilated pupils · Reduced daytime vision · +1 moreFull details, symptoms & treatment - Category: Eye Typical onset: Birth Est. treatment cost: £200-£1,500
CEA is a hereditary congenital eye defect affecting collie breeds. It ranges from minor choroidal hypoplasia (mild, no vision loss) to colobomas, retinal detachment, and intraocular haemorrhage causing blindness. Severity does not worsen after birth.
Key symptoms: Choroidal hypoplasia (pale areas in retina) · Colobomas (holes in retinal structures) · Retinal detachment · Intraocular haemorrhage · +1 moreFull details, symptoms & treatment - Category: Neurological Typical onset: 1-5 years Est. treatment cost: £500-£2,000/year
Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in dogs, characterised by recurrent seizures. Idiopathic (genetic) epilepsy is the most frequent form in young to middle-aged dogs with no underlying structural brain lesion.
Key symptoms: Generalised seizures (paddling, loss of consciousness) · Focal seizures (facial twitching, fly-biting) · Post-ictal confusion · Sudden falling · +1 moreFull details, symptoms & treatment - Category: Dermatological Typical onset: Under 6 months Est. treatment cost: £400-£2,000/year
Dermatomyositis is an inherited inflammatory condition affecting the skin and muscles. It begins with skin lesions on pressure points and the face in young dogs and can progress to generalised skin disease and muscle atrophy causing difficulty eating and walking.
Key symptoms: Skin lesions on face, ears, and legs · Muscle wasting, especially of masseters · Difficulty eating in severe cases · Scarring and pigmentation changes · +1 moreFull details, symptoms & treatment
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