Border collie: genetic conditions, DNA tests and health budget
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
The border collie is a broadly sturdy, hardy dog, but the breed carries several well-identified hereditary diseases, most now detectable by DNA test. Knowing them helps you pick a puppy, guide prevention and size your health budget. All our pointers are in the dog care and grooming section, with the full profile on the border collie page.
Contents · 5 sections
Collie eye anomaly
Collie eye anomaly (CEA) is a frequent hereditary eye malformation in the breed. A study by Marelli and colleagues, published in 2022 in Veterinary Record Open, quantified the frequency of the NHEJ1 gene mutation responsible for this condition in a dog population (see the study). A simple DNA test of breeding stock avoids at-risk matings.
Neutropenia and storage diseases
Trapped neutrophil syndrome (TNS) is a hereditary immune deficiency: Mizukami and colleagues showed in 2013, in The Veterinary Journal, a high frequency of the mutant allele in the border collie (see the study). Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, a neurodegenerative disease, is linked to a CLN5 gene mutation identified by Melville and colleagues in 2005 in Genomics (see the study). Both are recessive: two tested, clear parents cannot produce an affected puppy.
The role of DNA tests before buying
The good news is that most serious border collie diseases are detectable. A serious breeder provides test results for their breeding stock (CEA, TNS, CL, MDR1 drug sensitivity). It is the best prevention lever, far more effective than any curative care.
What health budget to anticipate
A border collie from tested lines costs little in hereditary care, but its boundless energy exposes it to injury and accidents. Our guide to pet insurance for dogs helps decide whether cover pays off, and our page on insuring a border collie spells out the items to cover first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the border collie a fragile breed?
No, it is rather a robust breed, but a carrier of several specific hereditary diseases that should be screened by DNA test in breeding stock.
Which DNA tests should I ask the breeder for?
At minimum collie eye anomaly (CEA), trapped neutrophil syndrome (TNS), ceroid lipofuscinosis (CL) and MDR1 drug sensitivity.
Should a very active border collie be insured?
Its athletic lifestyle raises the risk of injury and joint surgery: accident-and-illness cover is often relevant for a working dog.
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This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Dogs universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.