There are a number of genetic conditions that can occur in the Pembroke Welsh corgi. They can be free, carrier or affected.
A dog that is "free" does not have the gene for this condition, and therefore cannot pass it on to its offspring.
A dog that is a carrier has 1 copy of the gene. This condition usually does not manifest itself, but he can pass on this gene to his offspring.
A dog that is affected has 2 copies of the gene. The dog then has this condition and will therefore suffer or develop it.
These conditions can easily be tested using a DNA test, for example from Embark.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurological disorder of the spinal cord in dogs. This condition breaks down the so-called "insulating layer" of the nerve pathways. As a result, the control of the muscles often decrease, first in the hindquarters. This ultimately leads to reduced movement and even complete paralysis later in life. Often the final choice is euthanasia. DM is often compared to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans.
Exercise-induced collapse
Exercise induced collapse (EIC) is a nervous system disorder in which dogs collapse after (extreme) exercise. In this condition, there is a fault in the nerve transmission from nerve cell to muscle cell. This causes the muscles to relax. It happens that only the hind legs weaken, causing the dog to fall through its hindlegs. But if all the muscles relax, the dog cannot move at all. Then he collapses on his legs and lies on the ground. During such an attack the dog is conscious. However, the dog's temperature can rise sharply during an attack, the cause of this is unknown. However, a body temperature that is too high can be life-threatening or even fatal for a dog. An attack lasts five to twenty-five minutes. The dog then slowly recovers and can walk again.
These dogs can therefore never play, run or exercise safely.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, RCD3
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an eye disease that first affects the rods in the eyes. This makes the dog's vision worse at dusk. Ultimately, this disease also affects the cones and the dog gradually becomes blind.
Von Willebrand disease, type 1
Von Willebrand's disease (VWD) is a blood clotting disorder. A deficiency or incorrect functioning of a protein involved in blood clotting, the Von Willebrand factor (VWF), causes problems with blood clotting. This protein provides a connection between the platelets and the blood vessel wall and is involved in the activation of other clotting factors. Dogs that lack or are abnormal in this protein have impaired blood clotting, which causes wounds to heal poorly and heavy bleeding can occur. Depending on the extent of the deficiency of this clotting factor, the symptoms vary from minor to very serious. Carriers of this gene may also have clotting problems.
X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency
X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) is an inherited immune disorder that disrupts the development of white blood cells. Puppies do not develop their own resistance to infections and are extremely susceptible to all kinds of bacteria and viruses. When the immune substances from the mother's milk are depleted, the puppies develop various infections and symptoms. They die between 6 and 10 weeks of age.
There are also a number of skeletal abnormalities that can occur in the Pembroke Welsh corgi. Unfortunately, there are no tests for this, but these conditions have a hereditary factor but also an environmental factor. Using X-rays we can see whether a dog has this abnormality or not.
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia (HD) is an abnormality of the hip joint in dogs that causes an abnormal shape (dysplasia) of the joint. The joint parts do not fit together properly, causing instability in the frame and wear of the cartilage. The condition has a hereditary basis and on top of that, a high growth rate and excess weight can worsen the situation.
Elbow dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia (ED) is a collective name for various joint disorders of the elbow. This is due to pressure differences in the elbow. The four different forms are: loose coronoid process (LPC), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), loose anconeal process (LPA) and elbow incongruity. All conditions lead to damage to the elbow joint with osteoarthritis. Elbow dysplasia leads to lameness, which manifests itself throughout the dog's development. The condition is usually visible around the age of six to twelve months, but it can also only manifest itself later in life as a result of worsening osteoarthritis.
8th Lumbar vertebra
Normally dogs have 7 lumbar vertebrae. However, sometimes a dog congenitally has 8 lumbar vertebrae (L8). Often there is an extra vertebra in front of the sacrum. This can lead to changes in the range of motion and stability of the back and increases the risk of conditions such as spondylosis and deformities.
Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra
Lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) is a congenital, abnormally shaped vertebra between the last normal lumbar vertebra and the first normal sacral vertebra. These are the vertebrae at the end of the spine, before it merges into the tail. The LTV has the appearance of both a lumbar and a sacral vertebra. There are various classification systems in veterinary medicine for the LTV, based on the external characteristics. In some cases there is an 8th lumbar vertebra (L8).
The dog does not have to be bothered by the abnormal vertebra itself, but the dog has a greater chance of developing clinical symptoms of the so-called cauda equina syndrome (narrowing of the lumbosacral spinal canal). Characteristic symptoms of this are pain and restriction of movement of the hindquarters, causing the dog to have difficulty jumping, climbing stairs and getting up, reduction in the strength of the hind legs, sometimes even paralysis, tail weakness and incontinence.
