---
title: "Shetland Sheepdog - Health and diseases | Pedibase"
description: "Lifespan (12-14 years), common diseases, vaccines and vaccination schedule, and prevention tips for the Shetland Sheepdog: the complete health guide."
canonical_url: "https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/shetland-sheepdog/health"
meta:
"og:description": "Lifespan (12-14 years), common diseases, vaccines and vaccination schedule, and prevention tips for the Shetland Sheepdog: the complete health guide."
"og:image": "https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/4208/berger_des_shetland.jpg"
"og:image:alt": "Dog and cat breeders near you"
"og:image:height": "630"
"og:image:width": "1200"
"og:title": "Shetland Sheepdog - Health and diseases"
"twitter:description": "Lifespan (12-14 years), common diseases, vaccines and vaccination schedule, and prevention tips for the Shetland Sheepdog: the complete health guide."
"twitter:image": "https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/4208/berger_des_shetland.jpg"
"twitter:title": "Shetland Sheepdog - Health and diseases"
---
> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+12
Health
# The Shetland Sheepdog's health
United Kingdom
The Shetland Sheepdog is generally hardy and robust, but regular veterinary monitoring remains essential. Certain ocular, joint, skin, endocrine or hereditary conditions are described in the breed and justify careful selection of breeding dogs.
Longevity
## Life expectancy
With an appropriate diet, regular activity, good hygiene and preventive veterinary follow-up, this dog generally lives between 12 and 14 years.
Constitution
## Is this a robust breed?
Despite its small size and refined appearance, the Shetland Sheepdog has a sturdy constitution. Its double coat protects it effectively from bad weather, while well-balanced activity maintains its musculature and overall balance.
Things to watch for
## What to look out for
Special monitoring of the eyes, hips, patellas, skin, thyroid, hearing and coagulation makes it possible to detect early the main disorders observed in the breed.
- Cataract: An opacification of the lens can gradually reduce vision and requires ophthalmologic monitoring.
- Collie Eye Anomaly: This hereditary disorder of ocular development can vary in severity, hence the value of screening.
- Progressive retinal atrophy: Progressive degeneration of the retina leads to vision loss and can progress to blindness.
- Hip dysplasia: Poor congruence of the joint can cause pain, lameness, and osteoarthritis.
- Patellar luxation: Intermittent or permanent displacement of the kneecap can lead to lameness and locomotor discomfort.
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: Damage to the head of the femur can cause pain and lameness in young dogs.
- von Willebrand disease: This hereditary clotting disorder increases the risk of abnormally prolonged bleeding.
- Dermatomyositis: This hereditary inflammatory condition mainly affects the skin and sometimes the muscles.
- Hypothyroidism: Insufficient production of thyroid hormones can cause fatigue, weight gain, and skin disorders.
- Deafness: A congenital or acquired decrease in hearing can be detected by a specialized examination.
Climate
## Tolerance to cold and heat
Its dense undercoat ensures good tolerance to cold and bad weather. It tolerates high heat less well: outings must then be scheduled during cool hours, with shade, water and without intense effort. Complete clipping is not recommended, because the double coat contributes to its protection.
Weight
## Prone to weight gain
Its activity level often limits weight gain, but portions must remain adapted to age, weight and actual energy expenditure. The silhouette, ribs and changes in weight must be monitored regularly, incorporating treats into the daily ration.
Everyday care
## Good habits to keep your pet healthy
- Have the eyes examined regularly and monitor any decrease in vision.
- Check the hips and joints during growth.
- Brush the coat weekly and daily during shedding.
- Check the ears, eyes, teeth and claws weekly.
- Keep vaccines, antiparasitics and veterinary check-ups up to date.
Vaccination
## Shetland Sheepdog vaccinations: schedule
Which vaccines does a Shetland Sheepdog need? Like all dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs should receive their core vaccines from 8 weeks of age: CHPPi (core vaccine) and Leptospirosis. Puppies receive their initial Shetland Sheepdog vaccinations in several shots spaced 4 weeks apart, followed by a first booster at 1 year. Depending on their lifestyle (hunting, hiking, boarding, travel, region), your veterinarian may add vaccines against Rabies, Kennel cough, Piroplasmosis, Lyme disease and Leishmaniasis.
| Vaccine | Primary vaccination | First booster | Then | For whom? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CHPPi (core vaccine)Core Distemper, Rubarth hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza | 8 weeks · 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | All animals |
| LeptospirosisCore Leptospirosis (bacterium transmitted by rodent urine and stagnant water) | 8 weeks · 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | All animals |
| RabiesDepending on lifestyle Rabies | 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | Mandatory for travel abroad, categorized dogs, most boarding kennels and shows |
| Kennel coughDepending on lifestyle Bordetella bronchiseptica and parainfluenza | 8 weeks | 1 year | every year | Dogs attending boarding kennels, daycares, dog clubs and shows |
| PiroplasmosisDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne babesiosis | 5 months · 6 months | 1 year | every year | Hunting dogs, dogs living in rural or wooded areas, dogs highly exposed to ticks |
| Lyme diseaseDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne borreliosis | 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | Hiking dogs, hunting dogs, forest areas of the East and the Center |
| LeishmaniasisDepending on lifestyle Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies | 6 months | 1 year and 6 months | every year | Dogs living or staying in the South of France, Corsica and the Mediterranean basin |
Adult Shetland Sheepdog booster shots are given annually for leptospirosis and rabies. For distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus, a booster every three years is often enough after the first booster. Your veterinarian will tailor the schedule to your dog's actual risk.
Which boosters does your Shetland Sheepdog need?
Enter your companion's age to see which vaccines are due now and when the next boosters are needed.
[Plan booster shots](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-and-cat-vaccination-schedule?breed=shetland-sheepdog)
Choosing well
## Adopting a healthy Shetland Sheepdog
Before breeding, it is recommended to have the hips and eyes checked, notably for Collie Eye Anomaly and progressive retinal atrophy. Depending on the lines, the veterinarian may also advise tests concerning von Willebrand disease, dermatomyositis or other known hereditary conditions.
This information is for guidance only and doesn't replace advice from a veterinarian. If you have any concerns about your pet's health, consult a professional.
## The best prevention starts with a good breeder
Choose a breeder who screens their breeding animals for inherited conditions. We'll help you find one.
[Find a breeder](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-shetland-sheepdog)
## Compare Shetland Sheepdog with other breeds
- [Shetland Sheepdog vs. Rough Collie](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare/shetland-sheepdog-vs-rough-collie)
## Discover other breeds
[Bearded Collie
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/bearded-collie)
[Border Collie
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/border-collie)
[Smooth Collie
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/smooth-collie)
[Rough Collie
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/rough-collie)
[Old English Sheepdog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/old-english-sheepdog)
```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#website","@type":"WebSite","description":"Find dog and cat breeders near you. France's leading breeder directory, with an interactive map, breed information, and verified reviews.","inLanguage":"en","name":"Pedibase","url":"https://www.pedibase.com","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#identity"},"translationOfWork":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#website"}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/shetland-sheepdog/health#webpage","@type":"WebPage","description":"Lifespan (12-14 years), common diseases, vaccines and vaccination schedule, and prevention tips for the Shetland Sheepdog: the complete health guide.","name":"Shetland Sheepdog - Health and diseases","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/shetland-sheepdog/health","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/shetland-sheepdog/health#breadcrumb"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en#website"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/shetland-sheepdog/health"]}],"primaryImageOfPage":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/4208/berger_des_shetland.jpg","width":1200,"height":630,"inLanguage":"en","contentUrl":"https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/4208/berger_des_shetland.jpg"}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#identity","@type":"Organization","description":"Pedibase is a free directory of dog and cat breeders that helps prospective owners find a registered breeder near them.","email":"contact@pedibase.com","name":"Pedibase","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/","contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","email":"contact@pedibase.com"},"logo":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#logo"},"parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Aurion","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1 rue Pasteur","postalCode":"72000","addressLocality":"Le Mans","addressCountry":"FR"}},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/pedibase","https://www.instagram.com/pedibase_app"]},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/shetland-sheepdog/health#breadcrumb","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Home","item":"https://www.pedibase.com/en","position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Dogs","item":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breeds","position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Shetland Sheepdog","item":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/shetland-sheepdog","position":3},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Health","position":4}]},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#logo","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Pedibase","contentUrl":"https://www.pedibase.com/logo.svg","inLanguage":"en","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/logo.svg"}]}
```