Health & Husbandry

There is no breed of dog without its health issues, from the giant sighthounds with osteosarcoma to a host of breeds suffering with hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, heart problems, and list goes on and on. 

The Lundehund is prone to varying forms of gastrointestinal (GI) problems, to include protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and intestinal bowel disease (IBD).  The level of affliction is as varied as the diseases themselves.  Some of the dogs will show signs of 1 of the diseases above.  Others will present with multiple problems.  Still others will remain asymptomatic for years.  One common belief is that all Lundehunds do carry a gene that makes them prone to GI problems.

We take our role very, seriously when it comes to advising on such matters and want to make certain what we project is indeed what we, the NLAA, Inc. and its members, think and feel is the right thing.  As owners and/or breeders, we will reflect on our own experience, not attempt to advise you as if we are medical experts.  To do so would be irresponsible and dangerous.

There is a small group of Lundehund owners who, before the establishment of the NLAA, coined the phrase "Lundehund Syndrome" in an effort to paint an all encompassing picture of the Lundehund GI problems.  Please take note that this term is NOT found in any official medical textbooks. 
(We will acknowledge it has been published in a veterinary magazine.  Please note, however, this article was sponsored in part by the same group mentioned above.)

As the national breed Parent Club, it is our duty, in cooperation with the scientific and medical communities, to establish a recognized regime of annual testing (as an example, here is the list for the Soft-Coated Wheaton Terriers).  This testing is an ethical responsibility of owners and breeders to help determine what causes the varying levels of disease.  Here are a few of the tests that some Lundehund owners & breeders are voluntarily using:

The list of diseases above are not unique to Lundehunds.  Here are other breeds that also are carriers / sufferers:

Two good sites for canine health information

American Kennel Club - Canine Health Foundation

Canine Health Information Center

A concerned Lundehund owner sent us this link -- good information on IBD