Australian Kelpie

• Progressive retinal atrophy refers to a family of eye conditions which cause the retina’s gradual deterioration. Night vision is lost in the early stages of the disease, and day vision is lost as the disease progresses. Many dogs adapt to the loss of vision well, as long as their environment stays the same.
• Cryptorchidism. This is a condition where one or both of the testicles fail to descent. Both descended and undescended testicles can be removed through neutering.
• Patellar luxation occurs when the bones of the patella are not aligned properly and as a result slip in and out of place, causing pain and an abnormal gait. Mild cases generally do not require treatment and do not impact too much on the dog’s life, but severe cases may require surgery.
• Hip Dysplasia. This is a hereditary condition and common in many breeds where the hip doesn’t develop as it should, often resulting in prolonged limping and eventually lameness in later life.
• Cerebellar abiotrophy is an inherited neurological disease resulting from certain neurons in the cerebellum dying off, affecting balance and coordination. The disease begins to affect the dog shortly after it is born and usually becomes noticeable before the age of 6 months, though some dogs may not show signs until they are older. There is no cure – the only way to ensure a healthy Kelpie is to know for sure that its parents are not carriers.

Not all conditions are covered by Pet Insurance. For details of Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance cover, refer to the Product Disclosure Statement.