Library of Diseases

  • The following diseases and defects were reported by Shiloh Shepherd owners and included in our last breed-wide health survey, but this doesn't necessarily mean that they are the only diseases that our dogs could carry.
  • If your dog has a disease or defect that's not listed we also need to know about it, please fill out our Survey and  give us that information also.  We're in the process of adding pages to this site where you'll be able to get information about all the diseases and defects listed on the table below.  Eventually you'll be able to click on the defect name to see a definition of the disease as well as additional links to other websites containing more information.
Some definitions to help you understand what this table is showing...

Age of Onset - The dog's age at the time the disease is noticed.
Mode of Inheritance - The method by which a trait is inherited. 
  • R - Recessive.  A matched pair of genes (one from each parent) must be present in order for the dog to actually have a disease or defect.  If the dog only has one of the genes, it will not have the disease, but could pass that gene on to future generations.
  • Poly - Polygenic, meaning that more than one gene is involved in producing the phenotype.
  • Und - Undetermined, meaning that the method by which the trait or disease is inherited isn't known at this time.
Defect Frequency - The number of dogs reported in the last health survey that were reported to have each of the listed defects or diseases.
Guesstimated Carrier Frequency - A "guesstimate" of the percentage of dogs that are carriers of a given defect or disease.
Please note that the percentages listed below were from the breed-wide health survey that was done in 2003, we are planning on doing another health survey in the near future to see how things have changed over the years.
Disease (or Defect) Name
Age of Onset
Mode of Inheritance
Defect Frequency
0/100
Guesstimated Carrier Frequency
Acral Mutilation Syndrome
Varies
Und
0.6
14.2
Addison's Disease
<5 yrs
Und
0.3
10.2
Aggression
<3 yrs
Und
1.4
20.8
Bloat / Torsion
<7 yrs
Und
3.6
30.6
Canine Sprue
<9 yrs
Und
0.6
14.2
Cataracts
<3 yrs
R
0.3
10.2
Cryptorchidism
<3 mos
R/Und
1.1
10.2
Demodicosis
<1 yr
Und
3.3
29.6
Degerative Myelopathy
5-14 yrs (usually 8-9)
Und
0.3
10.2
Elbow Dysplasia
Value
Value
Epilepsy
>1 yr
R/Und
0.3
10.2
Glycogen Storage Disease
<12 mos
R
0.3
10.2
GSD Foot Pad Syndrome
<11 mos
Und
0.3
10.2
Hip Dysplasia
<2 yrs
Poly
11.2
44.2
Hypertropic Osteodystrophy
8 mos
Und
0.6
14.2
Hypothyroidism (autoimmune thyroiditis)
<8 yrs
R
0.6
14.2
Idiopathic Canine Colitis
<8 yrs
Und
3.1
29.5
Idiopathic Onychomadesis
Birth
Und
0.3
10.2
Imperfect Detention
<5 mos
R/Und
3.7
30.8
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
<1 yr
Und
0.6
14.2
Megaesophagus
<6 mos
Und
0.6
14.2
Mitral Valve Defect
<1 yr
Und
0.3
10.2
Non-fusion of the Anconeus (UAP)
<1 yr
Und
0.3
10.2
OCD (FCP / OCD)
<1 yr
Poly
0.3
10.2
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
<1 yr
Und
0.3
10.2
Overshot
<1 yr
R/Und
3.7
30.8
Pancreatic Hypoplasia
<1 yr
R
6.1
36.5
Panosteitis (Pano)
<18 mos
Und
13.8
46.6
Patent Ductus Arteriosis
Birth
Poly
0.6
14.2
Pemphigus Vulgaris
<2 yrs
Und
0.3
10.2
Pemphigus Erythematosus
>4 yrs
Und
0.3
10.2
Perianal Fistula
<8 yrs
Und
0.6
14.2
Premature Closure Ulna
<1 yr
R
0.3
10.2
Pulmonic Stenosis
<1 yr
Poly
1.4
14.2
S.I. Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome
<1 yr variable
Und
7.9
40.3
Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)
<1 yr
R/Und
0.3
10.2
Selective IgA Deficiency
Birth
Und
0.3
10.2
Spina Bifida
Birth
Und
0.3
10.2
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
<13 mos
Und
0.3
10.2
Subaortic Stenosis
<1 yr
Poly
1.4
20.8
Symetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy
<8 yrs
Und
0.3
10.2
Undershot
<1 yr
Poly
0.3
10.2
Uroliths (Struvite)
<9 yrs
Und
0.3
10.2
To learn more about the methodology used on our health survey,
as well as the terminology used here in this webpage
please read, "Control of Genetic Diseases" by Dr. George A. Padgett DVM.

We owe a special debt of thanks to Dr. Padgett for working with Tina Barber.