Health concers of the Siberian Husky

Please keep in mind that the following information is based on personal experience and educational materials that we have read. We are not qualified medical personnel and you should check with your veterinarian or other qualified medical source for complete information and verification of information.

Fortunately, the Siberian Husky is very healthy for one of the larger dogs. It does not have many of the problems of the larger breeds. That doesn't mean that the breed doesn't have it's own set of problems as do all pure bred dogs. Your best defense against unhealthy dogs is to choose a breeder that tests for the more common problems and ask lots of questions. Some health issues do not have tests that can be done but the breeder does have knowledge of the dogs in their background. A reputable breeder will disclose their problems and what they are doing to correct them.

The Siberian Huskies biggest genetic problem is Juvenile Eye Cataracts. This is an inheritable eye disease that is passed on through recessive genes. Eye cataracts can occur as a puppy or as late in life as 6 years of age. Usually the onset of cataracts is between one and three years of age. It is important to ensure the parents of the puppies are examined and have a current CERF certificate. A substitute would be a SHOR certificate which is a unique registry to the Siberian Husky Club of America. Certificates are only valid for one year since eye disease can occur in previously cleared dogs. Even though both parents are cleared, that is no guarantee that your puppy will not have problems. Both parents can be clear of the disease and be carriers of the recessive gene that causes cataracts. Puppies may then develop the cataracts that the parents don't exhibit. Estimates of cataracts in Siberians range from 6 to 7 percent of tested dogs.

While not a big problem to Siberians, Hip Dysplasia is a huge issue to most large dog breeds. Hip Dysplasia in Siberian Huskies is less than 2 percent of tested dogs. Responsible breeders test the parents before breeding to ensure that the problem remains insignificant in Siberians. Tests on the hips are done after the dogs reach 2 years of age to ensure the joints are fully developed. It is a one time test and the evaluation is done by the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals, who maintains a registry of tested dogs. While the problem remains low in Siberian Huskies and some breeders may not do the test, it does tell you something about the breeder.

Epilepsy does occur and dogs with a close family history should not be bred. I am not aware of any statistics on epilepsy and it can usually be controlled with medication. While other issues may exist, they are not considered major problems with the breed and are not normally tested. Your best source for these would be the individual breeders. Please check our links page for CERF, SHCA, and OFFA.

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This page updated 31 October 2008