National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association

Health and Genetics

Welcome to the Health & Genetics page, the NEMDA home for information about Entlebucher well-being and the latest research on breeding and health. If there is a casual Entlebucher owner, we have yet to meet them. This breed is so wonderful, so smart, so…extra that it elicits a strong passion for the breed from their humans. We know that the health and wellness of your dog is a top priority, and the Health & Genetics Committee is here to be a resource.

General Health

The Entlebucher breed is quite small in North America and are overall very healthy dogs. With the goal of assisting breeders in reducing genetic disease as the breed grows, we are diligent in tracking any distinctive health issues that have been consistent enough to earn our concern. On our radar has been: Orthopedics (bones & joints), Renal (kidney, ureters, bladder etc), Eye (cataracts, glaucoma, PRA-prcd), Immune (AIMA, allergies), Ears (cleaning, dork ear), and General Health (swimmers tail). Of these issues, Orthopedics, Renal, Eye and Autoimmune diseases cause the most distress to the dogs and their owners. Read about each of these concerns below.

Orthopedic Hip/Knee Issues: NEMDA BCOE Breeders are required to obtain OFA (Orthopedic Foundation of America) hip evaluations of all breeding stock. Many of our breeders suggest all their offspring obtain OFA evaluations regardless of breeding status. Results of these evaluations help our breeders understand and monitor the prevalence and incidence of Hip Dysplasia in the Entlebucher breed. In the past 20 years of evaluations, OFA reports that statistically, 80% of the Entlebuchers evaluated have received passing evaluations from the OFA. More information on Hip & Knee issues in Entlebuchers can be found here: https://nemda.org/Hip-and-Knee-Issues

Eye Health: Regrettably, eye diseases and conditions occur in Entlebucher Mountain Dogs and NEMDA highly recommends Entlebuchers receive an annual eye exam along with their routine health exam. Glaucoma, Cataracts and Progressive Renal Atrophy (PRA) are the eye issues Entlebuchers face. In addition to helping fund research on treatment, NEMDA also works to test for possible eye maladies prior to breeding. At this time, we can selectively breed to eliminate PRA but Cataracts and Glaucoma remain as serious threats. Reach out to us at health@NEMDA.org for immediate assistance and please check https://nemda.org/Eye-Health for all up-to-date news in this area.

Renal: Entlebucher Ureter (EU) is a disease of the renal/urinary system caused by a congenital abnormality at the "trigone" or junction of the ureter and bladder. Clinical presentations can range from no clinical signs, occasional leaking of urine, constant dribbling of urine, all the way to renal failure and death. The most common clinical presentation is slight urine leaking with occasional bladder infections. Treatment can vary depending upon the severity of the abnormalities. At this time, we believe the genetic heritance involves more than a single gene, which makes identifcation difficult. Because of the 'silent' nature of the disease it is hard to track the disease in breeding lines. We do not yet have screening or grading of breeding dogs to predict or prevent this malady in offspring. For more information on diagnosis and treatment, visit: https://nemda.org/Entlebucher-Urinary-Syndrome

Immune: Auto-Immune Mediated Anemia (AIMA) and allergies have been identified in a number of Entlebuchers but are not common problems in our breed. AIMA is a disease where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks red blood cells. It can be very serious although in some cases, a low dose steroid can 'turn down' the immune response and allow for a normal, active life. Allergies can be a significant issue for dogs and their families. Often it is difficult to determine what is causing the extreme itching in order to avoid those allergens. Owners have had some success with changing to a limited ingredient diet and alternative veterinary treatment.

With all of the information above discussing ailments we have seen in Entlebuchers, we would be remiss if we did not point out that these issues are rare and that we also have not seen anything consistent in the following areas: lungs & airways, heart, organs (liver, spleen, pancreas), brain & nervous system. Our breed remains quite healthy, overall.

Raising a Healthy Entlebucher

Exercise

The intensity Entlebuchers display in their love for you extends to their pursuit of physicality! Getting plenty of exercise is key for an Entle’s physical and mental health. These dogs can really play and run and fetch until you tell them it’s time to hit their “off” switch and the key is helping them regulate themselves. Entlebuchers most certainly need exercise every day but what is the best way to exert these fantastic dogs while keeping them safe?

Walks- a typical Entlebucher can enjoy up to a 3 mile walk in comfortable temperature.
Running- short distances at moderate speed is fine for our short legged friends but running distances could cause strain on legs and hips.
Fetch- boy oh boy
Frisbee- We advise against playing frisbee. The long length of an Entlebucher body makes the jumping in this activity ripe for injuries like torn CCLs.

Diet & Body Condition

Research has shown that all dog food is not created equal. Animal byproducts and other things that should not be in food have become common as pet care has become big business. To ensure the long-term health of our Entlebuchers, here are some things we look for when making choices about food. As with humans, fresh food provides better nutrition than highly processed food. There are many ways to feed your dog - we suggest you avoid the 'cheapest' grocery store kibble, look for a product made by a local company (vs. overseas), check the ingredients for actual 'meat' content and watch for additives (flavour enhancers, desiccants, emulsifiers). Give them vegetables, especially the scraps as you prepare salad, or frozen mixed vegetables. Like toddlers, anything frozen is more fun! Even 10% fresh food on top of their regular kibble makes a difference to their health.

The most important thing you can do to improve and maintain a healthy dog is to avoid over feeding. Obesity is a pet epidemic, especially in North America. Know your pet's appropriate weight from the vet's office and limit their ration to maintain this weight. You can literally add years to their lives in this way alone. They will be less prone to other disease and live a healthier life, be more active and definitely have more fun.

Household cleaners, anti-freeze and many other products can cause toxicity in dogs. Always keep these items secure where your dog can not access them. Certain “human” foods can also be toxic for dogs. You might be inclined to slip your Entle a bite of burger now and then but some foods can cause your dog abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or could even be lethal. A more exhaustive list can be found here but we like to point out the following poisonous foods to avoid:

Onion, onion powder, garlic
Grapes
Raisins
Chocolate - dark is worse
Alcohol
Aspartame, Xylitol, Birch sugar

Don't leave your sugar-free gum and candy out in the vehicle with your dog. Always lock up chocolate in the fridge. Raisins can be particularly toxic - keep those in dog proof locations. If your dog has ingested any of the above, we recommend calling your vet or the Pet Poison Hotline immediately.

Mental Health

Entlebuchers are often called “The Smiling Dog” for the delightful grin on their faces and keeping these enthusiastic yet highly sensitive smiling is a big part of a healthy Entlebucher life. Entlebuchers like to have a job to do - after all, they were bred to herd livestock in the Swiss Alps! If they are not given a job, they will make up their own jobs (often ones you may not want them to do, like herding the entire family or sneaking into the garbage!). Entlebuchers have a focused intensity and love structure and routine. You may have noticed by now that your dog wants to be with you all the time and whatever you think is fun, they think is fun. Don't stress about finding a herd of cattle for your dog, but do include them in your regular routine. Their job can be bringing in the mail, collecting the laundry, or just alerting you to deliveries. Be excited with them so that they know they are appreciated for their contribution to the 'pack'.

Entlebuchers that do not receive sufficient socialization opportunities as young pups can develop significant mental health challenges. They may be afraid of any woman, any one with a hat, all mobility equipment for example. Make sure that you expose your dog to as many human situations as you can, while they are young, if possible. It is never too late to work on sensitivities - if you give them a treat every time that annoying dog comes by, the one that they bark their head off about, and redirect their attention to you and the treat, you can change their programming. You will need the treats when the dog approaches but you can avoid the barking.

Open Houses

In our efforts to bring the latest and most relevant Entlebucher health topics directly to you, we host online Open Houses. They are livestreamed and then archived on the NEMDA YouTube channel, free for members to attend and feature researchers, veterinarians, and other experts discussing issues facing Entlebuchers and their families. Some previous topics include: Tick Talks, the Prevention and Rehabilitation of CCL Injuries, and the Health Benefits of not spaying or neutering. Browse our past Open Houses and sign up for the upcoming event here.

Research

Research and data play a vital role in achieving our goal of healthy and sustainable breed growth. The number of Entlebuchers in North America is quite small and do not attract big research dollars. The Health & Genetics Committee stays abreast of research being done by 3rd party veterinarians and experts in the field and shares that information with our members. For example, we hosted an Open House on CCL Injuries and Prevention and invited a veterinarian who specializes in these types of issues after hearing from members that this was a concern with the Entlebuchers.

How do we know what is important to Entlebucher owners? The reason we can bring accurate and actionable information to you is through our data collection and research. Which brings us to our next topic, health surveys and updates from you.

Health Survey

An incredibly valuable way we can come together on the NEMDA platform is with information sharing. Please consider contributing to the NEMDA database and share your personal experiences with your Entlebucher’s health. This information is vital in identifying consistencies across the breed with health concerns AND positioning ourselves to best support our members. Click here to get started.

Health Testing

Summary of the OFA, the tests required for breeding, how to order the tests, find a practitioner and send the results to OFA. We could have an explanation of CHIC as well.