The #1 cause of death in all domestic dogs is us, people!

About a third of the dogs born in the U.S. never see their second birthday. They are euthanized as unwanted, abandoned or lost dogs in shelters, others die getting hit by a car when running loose. The cheapest form of health insurance is buying a leash, learning how to use it, and training your dog.

THE BIG HEALTH PICTURE

Individual dogs can be affected by a variety of ailments that affect longevity and quality of life. Among the most common problems are cancer, autoimmune disorders, hip and elbow dysplasia, allergies, thyroid disorders, bowel disorders, torsion and bloat, eye disorders including PRA, cataracts and entropia. It is always best to inquire with individual breeders as to what health problems may be more or less prevalent in the families of dogs from which their breeding stock come. No family of Bernese Mountain Dogs is free from health problems typically seen in the breed. Most breeders conduct genetic testing on dogs they are using for breeding purposes. Most breeders pay very close attention to selection of breeding pairs to minimize the occurrence of health problems. No breeder can offer you a 100% guarantee that the pup you get will not face health challenges.

LIFESPAN

The Swiss have a saying about the lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs.. They say, 'three years a young dog, three years a good dog, three years an old dog -... all else a gift from God*. At this time, the average age of a BMD at death is about 7 years, though many books say the average life span is 10 to 12 years.

BLOAT

Bernese Mountain Dogs have a body type which makes them susceptible to bloat, which can be a life threatening emergency medical situation. This can run in families.

EYE DISEASE

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a hereditary disease of the eye that has been identified in a few Bernese Mountain Dogs. The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) is an organization that collects data on dogs examined by members of the A.C.V.O. and registers those dogs that have been certified free of evidence of heritable eye disease CERF evaluates eyes for the presence of eye disease. Even though dogs have a CERF number (indicating that the parents are not affected (blind) nor have PRA) this does not totally guarantee that their offspring will be genetically clear of PRA. Cataracts are also found in some BMDs. There are many different types of cataracts. Some cataracts affect vision while others do not.

HEALTH RESOURCES

The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America maintains health resource pages offering in depth coverage a variety of health conditions and challenges affecting Bernese Mountain Dogs. Many Bernese can live long healthy lives. But, awareness of health issues by both breeders and owners is essential to enhance management and improve the quality of dog's lives. Genetics and health are interlocked in many cases so breeder understanding of health issues that exist in families of Bernese is essential if improvements in health and soundness are to be made over generations of breeding. Please visit the BMDCA Health pages for more information on Berner health issues.

BernerGarde maintains an open data base of health and orthopedic information for the Bernese. BernerGarde resources are accessible by contacting either BernerGarde or through any local club.

*Some of this information contained in this section is borrowed from the BMDCNV Resource Guide.