What health issues are of concern in the mini Aussie?
In general, mini Aussie are relatively healthy. However, certain issues are of concern and should be discussed with your breeder. The most common problem currently recognized in the Aussie and mini Aussie are various hereditary eye anomalies, like iris and retinal colobomas and juvenile cataracts, the more severe of which can lead to blindness. The common approach to preventing these conditions is through certification of unaffected breeding stock by the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF). Potential owners should search for a breeder who has cleared both sire and dam of a litter and, ideally, the puppies at around 8 weeks of age. Hip dysplasia, a crippling defect of the hip joint, has been recognized in almost every single breed of dog and is found in mini Aussies. Most breeders perform radiographs and seek certification from the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) or PennHIP. It is necessary that all breeders cooperate in the effort to certify breeding stock in order to secure a
