Puppy First, Health First
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The big picture
Australian Shepherds typically live 12–15 years.
The breed's parent club says only a small share of Aussies have problems such as hip dysplasia, cataracts or epilepsy, and no more than other healthy breeds. Most Aussies screened for elbow problems have normal elbows, and most eye exams come back normal too.
A few everyday habits do a lot of the work.
This page covers the conditions the breed is known to be prone to, DNA tests, checkups, typical eye treatment costs and a care plan by life stage.
Worth knowing
Each entry starts with a condition the breed is known to be prone to, then what you might notice and what helps.
This list is not exhaustive or official. Keep asking your veterinarian as your puppy grows.
Many Aussies carry an inherited gene change that makes some common drugs risky.
In a dog with the gene change, some sedatives, an anti-diarrhea medicine or high doses of certain parasite drugs can cause a serious reaction. Drooling, trembling, wobbliness or vomiting after a new medicine needs a vet at once.
A cheek-swab test shows your dog's status. Share the result with every vet before sedation or new medicines.
Several inherited eye problems run in the breed. They include cloudy lenses (hereditary cataract), a flaw at the back of the eye from birth (collie eye anomaly) and a slow loss of sight (progressive retinal atrophy).
Cataracts usually appear in adult dogs, and the slow loss of sight often starts with poor night vision.
A yearly exam by a vet eye specialist catches changes early. DNA tests cover the main forms of all three.
In hip and elbow dysplasia, the joint forms loosely as a puppy grows, which can cause pain and limping.
Your vet can check the hips and elbows with X-rays as your dog grows.
Keep your puppy lean, with low-impact exercise until it is fully grown. Weight control and exercise also help a dog with sore joints later in life.
Deafness from birth is linked to the merle gene, above all in double merles, puppies that get merle from both parents.
A mostly white head, blue or small eyes and a poor response to sound can be signs.
A BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) hearing test gives a definite answer.
Epilepsy causes repeated seizures, and it runs in some Aussie families.
Watch for seizures in adult dogs.
Have any seizure checked by your vet. Tell the vet your dog's drug-sensitivity result before it starts any new medicine.
Degenerative myelopathy is a spinal cord disease that slowly weakens the back legs in older dogs.
Watch for weak or scuffing back legs, usually from about 8 years of age.
A cheek-swab DNA test shows whether a dog is at risk. Tell your vet early if the back legs seem weak or clumsy.
Less common
Small spots on the back of the eye (multifocal retinopathy) can show up in young pups.
Extra eyelashes in the wrong place (distichiasis) show up on eye exams.
Strands of tissue left across the eye (persistent pupillary membranes) are fairly common and show up on eye exams.
Some merles are born with a gap in the iris (iris coloboma) or very small eyes (microphthalmia).
A brain disease called neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis can cause clumsy steps and loss of sight.
DNA tests
A cheek-swab DNA test checks for a number of health problems that run in Aussies. They include the drug sensitivity and hereditary cataract. They also cover collie eye anomaly, progressive retinal atrophy and degenerative myelopathy. Each result is clear (no copies of the gene change), carrier (one copy) or at risk (two copies). For most of these, a carrier is healthy. At risk means a higher chance, not a diagnosis, and some at-risk dogs never show signs. Two tests work a little differently. With the drug sensitivity, one copy can already cause a reaction. With the cataract test, one copy can be enough to cause cataracts, though not every dog with it gets them.
Of Aussies tested through OFA for the drug sensitivity, about 1 in 5 had one copy of the gene change, and a few had two. Owners choose which results to send in, so this is about tested dogs, not every Aussie. Since even one copy can cause a reaction, keep your dog's result in its vet records and share it with each new vet.
Other tests check for multifocal retinopathy and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.
Checkups your dog will get
Care plan by life stage
Planning for Australian Shepherd vet costs
These are typical published costs for treating what an Australian Shepherd vet exam looks at and the conditions the breed is known to be prone to. Each range shows where it comes from and when, and your own vet's estimate will differ.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist's first exam (consultation fee only) | $198–$350 | per visit | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee) | 2023–2026 |
| Eye tests before cataract surgery (ERG and eye ultrasound) | $500–$1,300 | per workup | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Missouri, Tennessee) | 2025–2026 |
| Cataract surgery, one eye | $3,800–$5,500 | per eye | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2023–2025 |
| Cataract surgery, both eyes under one anesthetic | $5,600–$6,700 | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2025 |
Planning for pet insurance
When you are ready to compare plans, here is one option for Pawrade buyers.
Only with Pawrade, you receive a pet insurance policy with no waiting period included for immediate accident or illness coverage, 1 month, with every puppy.† You activate it by calling MetLife; instructions arrive with your travel details. Continuing MetLife coverage after the first month is strongly recommended.
View the MetLife 30-day offer →†NH, NY, RI, SC and TN residents excluded. Activated by calling MetLife; coverage begins immediately following policy activation. See the offer for full terms.
Whichever plan you look at, read the policy before you buy. Check the waiting periods, how it defines a pre-existing condition, and its deductible, reimbursement percentage and annual limit.
A waiting period is how long after you buy a pet insurance policy before a claim counts.
| Policy | Accidents | Illness | Joints |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetLife policy included with your Pawrade puppy† | None | None | None |
| MetLife, bought directly | None | 14 days | Not listed |
| Industry standard | 0–14 days | 14–30 days | 6–12 months |
| Nationwide | 14 days | 14 days | Not listed |
| Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Embrace | 2 days | 14 days | 6 months |
| Figo | 1 day | 14 days | Not listed |
What the Veterinary Health Report checks
The breeder's licensed vet checks your puppy before it goes home. The vet follows PetPay's exam standards, and the results go in your puppy's Veterinary Health Report.
Focus
Eyes
Discharge · Vision problems · Eyelash problems · Cherry eye
05 Focus
Ears and hearing
Debris or discharge · Ear mites · Signs of infection · Hearing
06 Focus
Mouth and bite
Teeth and jaw alignment · Bite (overbite or underbite)
07
Skin and coat
Fleas and ticks · Hair loss · Signs of infection
08
Kneecaps
Kneecaps that slip, and how much (grade)
09
Hips
Hip pain
10
Hernias
Belly-button (umbilical) hernia · Groin (inguinal) hernia
11
Soft spot on the skull
An open soft spot, and its size
12
Body condition and weight
Body condition score · Weight
13 Focus
Reproductive organs
Both testicles in place (males) · Extra skin folds around the vulva (females)
14
History of vomiting or diarrhea
Any history of vomiting or diarrhea (reported, not examined)
15
Stool test for parasites
Fecal flotation test, with any treatment given
16
Past surgery and notes
Any past surgery · The vet's explanation of anything abnormal
With a light and a hand-held scope, the vet checks both eyes for any obvious cloudiness or other sign of a vision problem.
An eye that is visibly small or a gap in the colored part of the eye is something a veterinary eye specialist can confirm. Some Aussie eye defects are present from birth and linked to the merle gene, so an early look at the eyes is worth having on record.
The vet checks how the puppy responds to sound and notes any hearing difficulty.
A mostly white head, blue or small eyes and a poor response to sound can be signs of a double merle, a puppy from two merle parents. Deafness from birth is linked to the merle gene, and a BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) hearing test gives a definite answer.
The vet checks how the upper and lower teeth meet.
In male puppies, the vet checks that both testicles have come down.
With a light and a hand-held scope, the vet checks both eyes for any obvious cloudiness or other sign of a vision problem.
An eye that is visibly small or a gap in the colored part of the eye is something a veterinary eye specialist can confirm. Some Aussie eye defects are present from birth and linked to the merle gene, so an early look at the eyes is worth having on record.
The vet checks how the puppy responds to sound and notes any hearing difficulty.
A mostly white head, blue or small eyes and a poor response to sound can be signs of a double merle, a puppy from two merle parents. Deafness from birth is linked to the merle gene, and a BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) hearing test gives a definite answer.
The vet checks how the upper and lower teeth meet.
In male puppies, the vet checks that both testicles have come down.
Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no single exam can find everything. The exam is a strong early indicator and a documented starting point that your own vet builds on.
Health guarantee
Every Pawrade puppy comes with a health guarantee administered by PetPay, independent of the seller. The terms are on the health guarantee page.
Customers Love Us!
Casey · Australian Shepherd“Casey is a well mannered Aussie has adjusted to our home and our girls pups are spoiling him rotten. The nanny service was great in keeping us updated on his arrival. Received clean bill of health from vet . Best Christmas present ever”
Australian Shepherd Puppies for Sale
Frequently asked questions
Australian Shepherds are known to be prone to a drug sensitivity, hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy and a spinal cord disease called degenerative myelopathy. They are also prone to several inherited eye problems, including hereditary cataract, collie eye anomaly and progressive retinal atrophy, and to deafness linked to the merle gene. DNA tests, a yearly eye exam, a lean weight and sharing your dog's drug-sensitivity result with every vet help you stay ahead of them.
Copy link to this questionHip and elbow dysplasia, where the joint forms loosely as a puppy grows, run in the breed. Of hip X-rays graded by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), about 6 in 100 were rated dysplastic. For elbows it was about 5 in 100, most of them the mildest grade. Owners choose which X-rays to send in, so this describes screened dogs, not every Aussie. Keep your puppy lean, with low-impact exercise while its joints are still growing.
Copy link to this questionDeafness from birth is linked to the merle gene, and the main concern is double merles, puppies that get merle from both parents. A mostly white head, blue or small eyes and a poor response to sound can be signs. A BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) hearing test is the accepted way to check.
Copy link to this questionMany Aussies carry an inherited gene change that makes some common drugs risky. In a dog with the gene change, some sedatives, an anti-diarrhea medicine and high doses of certain parasite drugs can cause serious reactions. A cheek-swab test shows your dog's status, and even one copy of the gene change can cause a reaction. Share the result with every vet before sedation, new medicines or parasite products.
Copy link to this questionCheek-swab tests cover the drug sensitivity, hereditary cataract, collie eye anomaly, progressive retinal atrophy and degenerative myelopathy. Tests also exist for multifocal retinopathy, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis and several other conditions. A carrier of a recessive condition is healthy, and an at-risk result means a higher chance, not a diagnosis.
Copy link to this questionA yearly exam by a veterinary eye specialist is a good habit, because hereditary cataracts usually appear between 2 and 7 years of age. Some eye problems, such as collie eye anomaly and a gap in the iris, are present from birth, so an early puppy eye check is worth having.
Copy link to this questionAustralian Shepherds typically live 12–15 years. In the senior years, keep exercise regular but gentler.
Copy link to this questionWatch for weakness or scuffing in the back legs, which can be a sign of degenerative myelopathy, usually from about 8 years of age. Joint stiffness, new lumps, weight loss and cataracts are worth a vet visit too.
Copy link to this questionKeep your Aussie lean and busy, book a yearly eye exam, brush the coat weekly, and make sure every vet knows its drug-sensitivity result.
Copy link to this questionYour vet can choose parasite products and doses that suit your dog's drug-sensitivity result. Among parasite drugs, high doses of ivermectin, milbemycin and moxidectin are on the list of drugs a sensitive dog can react to. Bring your puppy's result to the first vet visit, or ask about a cheek-swab test.
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