General Info.
This is a generally healthy, long-lived breed, often living to 13 or 14 years. As with most breeds, Briards used for breeding should have their hips x-rayed for hip dysplasia, a sometimes crippling disease of one or both hips.
Probably the most serious and most common health problem in Briards is bloat or gastric torsion. This is a life-threatening condition in which the stomach fills with gas and flips over, strangling the blood supply to the lungs, heart, and digestive system. Many Briards die from bloat if the condition is not diagnosed and treated quickly. All owners of large, deep-chested dogs should practice proper feeding and exercise management to prevent bloat. Extensive research has been unable to pinpoint the cause of bloat, but experience indicates it is a result of heredity and environmental influences.
Briards were previously thought to have suffered with CPRA and have been tested for this condition accordingly. However in the last couple of years it has come to light that Briards have not had CPRA but have another congenital eye disorder called Congenital Stationery Night Blindness - click here for further information on CSNB.
Information on poisoning from Chocolate/Grapes/Raisins - Click here
