Do Belgian Malinois have health problems?

1. Hip and/or elbow dysplasia: These are the two most common skeletal diseases in dogs, in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. This prevents the joints and sockets from properly meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Unlike in hip dysplasia, where the main problem is joint instability, the abnormalities seen in elbow dysplasia often result in pieces of bone and/or cartilage breaking loose and irritating the joint tissues. Over time, the rubbing can cause a variety of complications, such as pain, lameness, and secondary osteoarthritis. Surgery can fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis. If you are rescuing a Belgian Malinois, have them checked out by a vet to see if they are prone to getting dysplasia, so you know what they can handle in terms of activities and exercise.

1. Eye problems: Belgian Malinois can potentially face a trio of eye issues. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a degenerative disease affecting the retina, eventually leads to blindness. Pannus, an eye condition that presents as a pink mass on the cornea, will create scarring across the eye and cause blindness if untreated. And cataracts, a common condition that causes cloudiness in the eye, will obstruct vision.