All Dog Breeds >>Health of Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The length of the spine can cause spinal problems and early arthritis in corgis, especially those that are overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight is the best way to ensure that a Pembroke lives a long, healthy life. Pembrokes have an average life expectancy of 11.5 years. Thus, Pembrokes, if not kept active or if overfed, can easily become obese. This condition can kill a Pembroke corgi particularly early, since biophysical stresses on the spine resulting from the weight of an over-sized belly can lead to secondary diseases such as osteoarthritis. Corgis are at risk of developing a disease called degenerative myelopathy, or DM. Research regarding DM is underway, and a test for DM has been developed and is available through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
The three scores are "at risk", "carrier" and "clear". Currently there are very few "clear" dogs and more "at risk" and "carriers". "Clear" Pems will not develop the disease nor pass it on to offspring. "Carrier" Pems will not develop the disease; however, one could possibly pass one copy of the gene to its offspring. "At risk" Pems have two copies of the gene, and therefore will pass one gene along to offspring. In addition, "at risk" Pems have a risk of developing the disease. In particular "at risk" Pems, the percentages of developing DM are not known at this time. Further research is being done. There is a free test for dogs over age 10 on the OFA site. This will be used for research by the University of Missouri and owners are encouraged to test their older dogs so that determination can be made as to why some dogs develop DM and some do not, in spite of having two copies of the gene.
Pembrokes are also at risk for hip dysplasia, Von Willebrand's disease and eye disorders. Von Willebrand's, a clotting disorder, is detected by a DNA test. It is eliminated by the avoidance of breeding carriers or affected Pembrokes to each other. One of the parents must be rated clear to avoid the disease. Both parents should have a recent passing CERF rating within one year before being bred to avoid eye problems such as persistent pupillary membranes (PPMs), retinal dysplasia or cataracts. Hip dysplasia is poly-genetic; more than one set of genes is involved. Having as many ancestors as possible tested and given at least a fair rating by OFA is the best way to avoid a dysplasic Pembroke, although this is no guarantee against it.