Genetic Weakness in Collies

The collie is from the herding group of dogs and is strong, active, loyal and agile, according to the American Kennel Club. Collies can suffer from genetic weaknesses, the most common being eye disease. The eye diseases that affect collies are collie eye anomaly and progressive retinal atrophy. Another genetic disease in collies is canine cyclic neutropenia, according to the Collie Health Foundation.

  1. Collie Eye Anomaly

    • Collie eye anomaly is a series of genetic eye weaknesses in collies. It presents itself before the birth of the puppies. The eye anomalies include choroidal hypoplasia, which is an abnormality of the color pigments in the lining of the eye. This condition is the least harmful genetic eye weakness in collies and usually does not affect vision, according to the Collie Health Foundation.

      Another eye anomaly referred to as staphyloma, ectasia or coloboma causes bulging in the collie̵7;s optic disc. Vascular disease, also known as tortuous blood vessels, is another genetic eye weakness causing less blood to flow to the eye or hemorrhaging.

      If collies do not exhibit these genetic weaknesses at birth, they will not develop the conditions later in life. Collies that test positive for these anomalies are at risk for blindness or hemorrhaging as they age.

    Progressive Retinal Atrophy

    • Progressive retinal atrophy is a genetic disease that can affect collies as they age. The disease causes the breakdown of the dog̵7;s retina, resulting in total blindness. One or both eyes can become diseased. An early symptom of this disease is night blindness, which causes the dog to walk into objects in low lighting. Responsible breeders have greatly lessened the existence of PRA in collies because they eliminate breeding collies with this gene, says the Collie Health Foundation.

    Canine Cyclic Neutropenia

    • Canine cyclic neutropenia, also known as the grey collie syndrome, is a genetic blood disorder, which both parents pass on to offspring. Puppies suffering from this genetic disorder are small and weak with light gray or beige skin. Canine cyclic neutropenia prevents the puppy from producing red and white blood cells on a cycle of every 10 to 12 days. Most puppies with this genetic disease die within two years, according to the Collie Health Foundation.

    Precautions

    • Testing collie puppies for the collie eye anomaly at 5 or 6 weeks old is standard practice among collie breeders. An ophthalmologist dilates the eye and examines the eye̵7;s interior. Both of the parents must carry the gene for CEA for the puppy to exhibit symptoms. Most collie breeders avoid breeding dogs that carry the CEA gene to minimize weakening the collie breed, says the Collie Health Foundation.

      If you are considering a collie as a pet, make sure the breeder gives you the results of the puppy's eye exam, especially if you plan on breeding collies.