Every breed has health concerns of one sort or another, unfortunately the Border Terrier is no exception. Dr. Eddie Houston is the Border Terrier Breed Health Co-ordinator, and his yearly reports can be found below.

BREED HEALTH REPORT 2025

As there have been no new conditions of note this year our areas of interest continue to be: Spongiform Leucoencephalomyelopathy (SLEM), Gallbladder Mucocoele (GBM), Late Onset Hereditary Cataract, Cushing’s Syndrome and Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome (CECS).

Fortunately, this has been another year where I haven’t received reports of any puppies being born with SLEM. However, there has been a steady stream of reported cases of Cushing’s, GBM and CECS and also a few cases of possible hereditary cataract.

GBM RESEARCH

This year a very interesting paper has been published by Dr. Jody Gookin and her colleagues at North Carolina State University regarding the means by which a mucocoele forms within the gallbladder and the striking similarity between these changes and those which were described in early studies of the gallbladders of children with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is the commonest lethal genetic disease to affect people of Caucasian origin and its effects are due to failure of a protein known as Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Protein (CFTR) which results in abnormal accumulation of sticky mucous at various sites throughout the body including the gastrointestinal tract. It has not been recorded in any species other than man. Experimentally piglets and ferrets have been genetically modified to prevent the expression of CFTR and mucocoele formation was seen in these animals.

CFTR helps control the movement of anions such as chloride and bicarbonate across mucosal surfaces. In the gallbladder mucus serves to protect the lining of the organ from bile, this being highly acidic. CFTR malfunction results in the production of poorly hydrated mucus which is thick and tacky and instead of breaking free forms gelatinous strands which eventually block the gallbladder, interfere with its ability to contract and may lead to its rupture.

Dr. Gookin and her team were able to demonstrate the absence of CFTR from the cells lining the gallbladders of dogs where the organ had been removed due to confirmed GBM and compare them with gallbladders taken from unaffected dogs from a wide range of breeds including those regarded as high or low risk for mucocoele formation and where CFTR could be demonstrated.

Genetic testing was also done which failed to show any significant differences in the coding for CFTR expression between affected dogs and the much larger number of unaffected which had been used as controls. The conclusion was that the failure of CFTR expression in dogs with GBM was not primarily genetic but acquired over the course of the animal’s lifetime. As yet unknown factors appear to trigger this. At present we known that dogs with endocrine disorders such as Cushing’s syndrome, diabetes and hypothyroidism are far more likely to develop GBM but there could be other dietary or drug related factors involved.

Obviously the abnormally high incidence of GBM in breeds such as Border Terriers implies a genetic predisposition towards these factors and there are many questions still to be answered but this research has done much to enhance our understanding of the condition.

BREED HEALTH STANDARD

By the end of last year, the Kennel Club had further refined their proposed new Breed Health Standard altering the categories from ESSENTIAL, ADVISED and OTHER to GOOD PRACTICE and BEST PRACTICE.

GOOD PRACTICE covered what were considered to be the most critical tests and BEST PRACTICE required breeders to perform these tests plus any others recommended for the breed.

For Border Terriers Hip Scoring and SLEM testing were both advised as BEST PRACTICE i.e. neither were considered significant enough to fall into the GOOD PRACTICE bracket. As the Breed Health Group questioned how significant an issue hip dysplasia is to our breed and as we were very concerned that no great importance was being attached to SLEM testing there was an ongoing correspondence between myself and the Health Department at the Kennel Club.

Our concerns were listened to and the matters were put on the agenda for a meeting of the Health Standard Advisory Panel which would include members who had orthopaedic expertise. The meeting was held early this summer and I am very pleased to report that the conclusions of this meeting meant that the Kennel Club’s stance has been revised on testing for both SLEM and hip dysplasia.

HIP SCORING

It was agreed that there is some uncertainty about the clinical relevance of radiographic hip scores in small breeds (under 10kg) with unexaggerated conformation. Hip Scoring will be removed from the Health Standard for our breed but retained as a point to be investigated within the Breed Health Conservation Plan while the clinical evidence is considered further. This may be reviewed next year.

SLEM TESTING

This had been assigned to Best Practice as the paper detailing the mutation responsible for this disease had not yet been published.

As Dr. Mellersh was one of those present at the Health Standard Advisory Panel meeting she was able to provide an overview of where her team are with the test and the update that the paper is due to be released very soon. Given the severity of the condition and the relatively high mutation frequency the group were happy to recategorise this test as a Good Practice test.

This is much more sensible and means that all breeders must remain vigilant and not become complacent about SLEM testing. Remember, CARRIERS or animals of UNKNOWN status must only be mated to one which is CLEAR. If one member of a breeding pair is CLEAR then affected pups will not be born. With a reliable DNA test available there is no excuse for anyone to produce affected pups.

Hip scoring remains at the discretion of the individual breeder.

CANINE GENETICS RESEARCH GROUP

Last year I highlighted the severe financial pressures being faced by the Group and the threat to its existence following the unexpected withdrawal of financial support by the Kennel Club and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.

Thanks to the support of the canine community the Group are still going and continuing their invaluable work. The Canine Genetics Research Group have secured several research grants this year which will help considerably with funding for the next couple of years. They have also continued to grow their Canine Genetic testing service which has further increased income and are in a considerably better financial situation than last year.

However, there is still a funding deficit and the need to secure a regular income remains a priority. One of their initiatives has been to introduce a Friends of the CGC scheme whereby any interested individual may set up a direct debit for £5 or more monthly and become a Friend of the CGC. I would encourage as many of our community as possible to become involved as the more who make a small regular contribution the greater the guaranteed regular income. Their work continues to be of tremendous value to the entire canine community and is a cause worthy of our support. Details of how to join may be accessed via their website on www.canine-genetics.org.uk.

HEALTH SURVEY

This year we have had 73 responses to our ongoing health survey including 4 from overseas, 2 from Canada, 1 from the USA and 1 from Australia.

Thank you to everyone who completed one of our questionnaires. It is much appreciated and the survey is an excellent way of monitoring what is happening health wise within our breed. Details of healthy dogs are very welcome as these do help to put things into perspective. It would be great if as many owners as possible continued to fill in these questionnaires which can be accessed on the Breed Health Group website, www.borderterrierhealth.org.uk. Forms may be completed online or downloaded and sent directly to myself.

A wide range of conditions were reported and 12 of the forms related to dogs which had no known health issues. A few had multiple and complex ailments but of the 63 owners, who ventured an opinion, the vast majority (51) rated their dog as being healthy with only 13 regarding their pet as unhealthy.

BREAKDOWN OF REPORTED CONDITIONS

ENDOCINE (15)

Diabetes (5), Cushing’s syndrome (8), Hypothyroidism (1), Diabetes insipidus (1)

DIGESTIVE (25)

Pancreatitis (4), Inflammatory bowel disease (6), Liver tumour (1), Gallbladder issues (14) of which10 were mucocoeles, 3 were sludge and 1 was a distended gallbladder.

NEUROLOGICAL (18)

CECS (11), Epilepsy (1), Deafness (3), Brain tumour (1), Vestibular disease (1), Canine cognitive dysfunction (1)

NEOPLASIA (12)

Testicular (1), Spindle cell (1), Lipoma (1), Warts (1), Brain (1), Liver (1), Epulid (1), Oral not specified (1), Lymphoma (1), Unspecified (3)

ORTHOPAEDIC (17)

Osteoarthritis (8), Metatarsal fracture (1), Intervertebral Disc Disease (1), Spinal spondylosis (1), Perthe’s disease (1), Patellar luxation (1) -bilateral, Lumbo-sacral stenosis (1), Anterior cruciate rupture (3) of which 1 was unilateral and 2 were bilateral

REPRODUCTIVE (1)

Testicular tumour (1)

BEHAVIOURAL (14)

Aggression/reactivity (8), Anxiety (2), Hyperactivity (1), Excessive prey drive (1), Excessive barking (1), Inappropriate scent marking (1)

URINARY (3)

Incontinence (1), Crystalluria (1), Urinary calculi (1)

DENTAL / ORAL (9)

Tooth extractions (6), Lingually displaced canines (1), Epulid (1), Unspecified tumour (1)

OCULAR (9)

Cataracts (6), Corneal ulcer (1), Conjunctivitis (1), Distichiasis (1)

DERMATOLOGICAL (11)

Otitis externa (6), Allergic dermatitis (3), Skin tumour (2)

CARDIOVASCULAR/PULMONARY (3)

Heart murmur (2), -unspecified, Pulmonary fibrosis (1)

Overall, there is nothing in these results to change our opinion that the Border Terrier is basically a healthy breed and probably fares better in this area than most. It is concerning to see that again a number of dogs are reported as being aggressive. This is not a breed characteristic and is not one which we wish to have associated with our dogs. Genetics make a sizeable contribution to temperament so please have this as a priority when planning pairings. Most puppies will go to pet homes and life will be less challenging and more enjoyable for both sides if they have a sound temperament.

Eddie Houston B.V.M.S, M.R.C.V.S

Breed Health Co-ordinator

Previous Health Reports

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