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Health

(This has been extracted from the article by Dianne Schoenberg (link to full article)

How long do they live?

Their average lifespan is usually around 10-12 years, which is pretty typical for a large breed. What inherited problems do they have?

Any dog (purebred or mixed-breed) may be carrying genes that cause inherited problems. The advantage with purebreds is that careful breeding can reduce the incidence of these problems over time. Briards are generally a pretty healthy breed but the following disorders (all of which are known or suspected of having a hereditary basis) can be of concern.

Hip dysplasia

Briard’s are among the breeds hard-hit by hip dysplasia, with around 20% of the x-rays submitted failing to pass. It is recommended that all animals to be bred be x-rayed to make sure they are free of dysplasia before breeding.

Bloat.

This has been known to occur in all deep-chested breeds. The stomach or other internal organs may torsion (twist) and become blocked off. Symptoms include panting, non-productive retching, and/or a hard, distended abdomen. Bloat is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention; surgery is most often needed for the animal to have any chance at survival. There may be hereditary factors that predispose certain animals towards bloat, but if so the exact mode of inheritance is unknown.

Poor temperament

Shyness, shy-sharpness and aggressiveness unfortunately do occur in Briards and may have a genetic basis. However, this is NOT correct temperament for the breed: the standard states the temperament should be "wise and fearless, with no trace of timidity." While Briard’s are typically not very interested in strangers, that does not mean they should shy away or be aggressive toward them. If you are considering buying a Briard, it is a good idea to see both parents if you can and ask yourself, "Do these dogs have the kind of temperament I want to live with?" If there is any question in your mind about the temperament of the parents, DO NOT BUY THE PUPPY.


Also it might be helpful to question the breeder in detail about the kind of temperament they feel is appropriate for a Briard. If they seem to feel that shyness or aggressiveness is acceptable temperament, it might be better to pass on dealing with that breeder.

Progressive retinal atrophy

There are two forms this disorder which can appear in Briards: central progressive retinal atophy (cPRA) as well as generalized PRA. Both are rare in the US but are more common in other areas in the world--in particular, it has been reported that 5 out of 6 Briards in the U.K. are either carriers or affected by cPRA. In both cases, the gene that causes this disorder is a simple recessive, meaning that a parent can produce a puppy afflicted with the disorder even although they themselves are asymptomatic. Dogs affected with either cPRA or PRA will go blind in adulthood. There is no cure.

Autoimmune thyroiditis

Dogs with low thyroid levels may be sluggish, have coat problems, and/or have problems with fertility. Treatment consists of daily medication.

Stationary night blindness

Unlike progressive retinal atrophy, this is a disorder that is present in early puppyhood & is not progressive (thus the "stationary"). Affected dogs are unable to see in low-light conditions. It is also believed to be caused by a recessive gene. It can not be diagnosed on a standard eye exam (i.e. a CERF examination) although it is detectable by electroretinogram (ERG).

Allergies and skin problems

Some Briards may be allergic to fleas or certain foods. Again, exact mode of inheritance is not known.

Cancer

Unfortunately too many lovely Briards are being lost to cancer these days; lymphosarcoma seems to be the most common kind. It is not known at this time whether or not cancer has a hereditary basis in Briards, but this is likely to be an area of interest and research in the future.