Health

The Mudi is a relatively healthy breed with a life expectancy of 12 – 15 years. Some individuals may present conditions that can be found in other breeds, such as allergies, thyroid or heart problems.

Idiopathic Epilepsy, unfortunately, a growing concern in the breed. As there is no test to confirm that seizures and tremurs in Mudis are linked to this inheritable disease, owners and breeders should also be transparent with occurences and diagnosis. It is important for breeders to understand the chances of epilepsy the for prospective pairings and endeavour to minimise the risk of more cases.

RECOMMENDED HEALTH TESTS

(Reference: Mudi Directions: Health Testing)

FOR ALL MUDIS

All tests listed below are of equal importance and should be considered as mandatory for Mudis intended to be used in breeding.

#1 Eye Exam:

The most commonly reported eye conditions in the breed include distichiasis and cataracts. Less clinically significant conditions, such as punctal atresia and persistent pupillary membranes, are also observed. Eye tests are recommended once a year from the age of one year to 10 years.

#2 Orthopedic exams:

Hips, Elbows – British Veterinary Association (BVA) health screening schemes.

Patella (Putnam) scoring, Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LTV) spine assessment

#3 Thyroid panel screening: yearly for breeding males and females; every 2-3 years for non-breeding Mudis

#4 DNA panel: to avoid merle x merle breedings or to screen for recessive genes. There are no Mudi-specific DNA tests available – please use any of these Embark, MyDog, Optimal Selection, Wisdom (links are provided below)

Recommended Health Testing for the Mudi : – Hip dysplasia screening – Elbow dysplasia screening – Eye examination

Please note that additional health conditions, for which no routine screening tests are currently available, may also occur within the breed. These may include, but are not limited to, epilepsy, allergies, autoimmune disorders, and other emerging or less well-characterised conditions. Owners of affected dogs are encouraged to notify the Mudi Club of the UK so that these conditions can be monitored and recorded to support ongoing breed health research.

A directory of BVA eye panelists is available here: https://www.bva.co.uk/canine-health-schemes/eye-scheme/find-an-eye-panellist/

Spinal radiographs can be submitted to International Nordic Canine Organisation Committee for evaluation: https://www.incoc.fi/en/incoc-5/

As spinal assessment requires additional radiographic views, owners should consult their veterinary surgeon in advance to ensure the correct imaging is performed, in accordance with the following guidelines: https://www.incoc.fi/en/how-to-take-ltv-radiographs/https://www.incoc.fi/en/how-to-take-va-radiographs/