Breed-related diseases in dogs and cats: which breeds are prone to what
People usually choose a breed for how it looks and how it behaves. What comes with it is a set of risks the owner only learns about in the consulting room, usually a year or two later.
This is not a reason to avoid a pedigree animal. It is a reason to know in advance where to look, and not to miss the point where a problem is still cheap to solve.
The clearest example: pugs
A 2022 British VetCompass study compared the health of pugs with all other dogs using clinical records. The figures are striking:
- brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome – 53.9 times the risk compared with other breeds
- narrowed nostrils – 51.3 times
- corneal ulceration – 13 times
- skin fold dermatitis – 11 times
The researchers' overall conclusion is blunt: pugs differ from other dogs in 75% of common disorders, and from a health point of view can no longer be considered a "typical dog".
Brachycephalic breeds: a short muzzle, long problems
Brachycephalic breeds include pugs, French and English bulldogs, boxers, pekingese, and among cats Persians and exotics. A shortened skull means the soft tissue of the nose and throat has not gone anywhere, but there is less room for it.
In the clinical records of British practices the syndrome is recorded in 26.5% of pugs, 20% of French bulldogs and 19.5% of English bulldogs. But when breathing was measured with instruments instead of relying on the owner's complaint, about half turned out to be affected.
The gap has a simple explanation: owners get used to snoring and laboured breathing and treat them as "a breed trait". In reality they are a symptom.
Red flags: the dog snores at rest, wheezes after a short walk, copes badly with heat, sleeps with its neck stretched out, gums turn blue after exertion.
Hip dysplasia in large breeds
Dysplasia is malformation of the joint, which leads to arthritis with age. It is assessed by X-ray on the FCI scale: A is normal, B near normal, C mild dysplasia, D moderate.
A 2022 study shows how much breeds differ. Among labradors 70% had perfect joints (grade A), while among German shepherds only 32% did. Mild or moderate dysplasia (C and D) was found in 11% of labradors, 15% of golden retrievers, 15% of shepherds and 17% of Bernese mountain dogs.
Red flags: the dog struggles to get up after sleeping, moves both hind legs together in a bunny hop, avoids stairs, will not jump into the car, sits down lopsided.
Maine Coons and heart disease
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – thickening of the heart wall – is far more common in Maine Coons than in non-pedigree cats. A Swedish study of asymptomatic Maine Coons found signs of myocardial thickening in 9.5-26.2% of the animals, depending on the assessment criteria.
The key word is asymptomatic. The cat looks healthy until the disease shows itself suddenly. A genetic test for the MYBPC3 mutation exists for the breed, although research shows the mutation is not the only cause, and a negative test does not guarantee the cat will not develop cardiomyopathy.
Red flags: laboured breathing at rest, open-mouth breathing, sudden weakness or paralysis of the hind legs, the cat tiring quickly during play.
Table: breed and what to watch for
| Breed | Main risk | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Pug | Brachycephalic syndrome, corneal ulcers, fold dermatitis | Snoring at rest, laboured breathing after 5 minutes of walking, squinting one eye |
| French bulldog | Brachycephalic syndrome, spinal problems | Wheezing, heat intolerance, weakness in the hind legs |
| English bulldog | Brachycephalic syndrome, skin folds | Laboured breathing, soreness between folds, overheating in summer |
| German shepherd | Hip dysplasia | Bunny-hop gait, difficulty rising after sleep, will not jump into the car |
| Golden retriever | Dysplasia, cancer in later life | Limping after exercise, any lumps under the skin |
| Bernese mountain dog | Dysplasia, short lifespan | Stiff movement, tiring quickly |
| Labrador | Tendency to obesity, joints | Weight, limping, an "always hungry" appetite |
| Maine Coon | Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy | Laboured breathing, sudden hind-leg weakness, fast breathing at rest |
| Persian, exotic | Brachycephaly, watery eyes, eye problems | Constant eye discharge, mouth breathing |
What an owner can do about it
Know your breed. Half of all late presentations come down to "we thought that was just how they are". A pug's snoring and a shepherd's stiffness are not personality, they are symptoms.
Keep the weight down. Extra kilograms are the cheapest way to accelerate dysplasia and worsen a brachycephalic dog's breathing. It is the one risk factor an owner controls completely.
Do the basic screening on time. Joint X-rays for large breeds, a cardiac ultrasound for Maine Coons and sphynxes, a breathing assessment for brachycephalic dogs. Once while the animal is young, then as the vet advises.
Ask the breeder about the parents' tests. A responsible breeder shows joint scans and cardiac screening results without being asked twice.
Important: what insurance covers and what it does not
This needs to be said plainly, because it is the most common misunderstanding.
A PetPolis policy covers injuries and accidents: a fracture, a dislocation, a fall from a height, a bite from another animal, a road accident, damage to internal organs. Hereditary and chronic conditions – dysplasia, cardiomyopathy, brachycephalic syndrome – are not an insured event, they are a predictable feature of the breed.
The good news: there are no breed restrictions. A pug or a shepherd is insured on exactly the same terms as a non-pedigree animal, with no veterinary examination and no loading on the premium. All you need is the pet passport and a microchip.
In practice that means you handle breed risks with prevention and a screening plan, and a sudden injury with a policy. One does not replace the other.
The short version
- Pugs have 53.9 times the risk of brachycephalic syndrome compared with other breeds, and differ from other dogs in 75% of common disorders
- The syndrome is recorded in 26.5% of pugs and 20% of French bulldogs in clinical records, but around half are affected when breathing is actually measured
- 70% of labradors have perfect joints, against only 32% of German shepherds
- Signs of heart muscle thickening are found in 9.5-26.2% of outwardly healthy Maine Coons
- Weight is the one risk factor an owner controls completely
- Insurance covers injuries, not hereditary disease – but there are no breed restrictions when you sign up
Sources
- Health of Pug dogs in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections (VetCompass, 2022)
- Royal Veterinary College: epidemiology of brachycephaly, VetCompass data
- Prevalence of Primary Radiographic Signs of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs (2022)
- Prevalence of myocardial hypertrophy in asymptomatic Swedish Maine Coon cats
- Prevalence of MYBPC3 mutations in Maine Coon cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Ukraine has no national register of breed-related disease, so the figures above come from British, Swedish and Italian studies. This material is for information only and does not replace a consultation with a veterinarian.