What diseases are Norwegian Buhunds prone to?

• Hip and/or elbow dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. They are similar diseases in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. The abnormal shape prevents the joints and sockets from adequately meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Though the main complication with hip dysplasia is joint instability, the abnormalities present in elbow dysplasia often result in pieces of bone and/or cartilage breaking loose and irritating the joint tissues. Over time, the rubbing from dysplasia can cause a variety of issues, such as pain, lameness, and secondary osteoarthritis. Surgery can fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis. If you are rescuing a Norwegian Buhund, have them checked out by a vet to see if they are prone to dysplasia.

• Cataracts: Cataracts are imperfections of the eye that cause opacity on the lens. A dog with cataracts will have eyes with a cloudy appearance and impaired vision. The cataract may be small and unnoticeable to both you and your dog, but it can also grow to the size of the entire lens and can cause blindness. Cataracts usually occur in old age and sometimes can be surgically removed to improve vision.

• Cerebellar ataxia: Norwegian Buhunds have a genetic mutation for this neurological disease which affects a dog’s balance and coordination, but there is now a DNA test for this.