Health Conditions In The Norwegian Buhund

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Inherited Eye Diseases

The main concern with regards to Norwegian Buhund health is their propensity for inherited eye diseases such as cataracts. It is important that your breeder has their breeding stock evaluated for eye diseases by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist, beginning at 2 years of age (or younger if they choose) and continuing yearly until they are at a minimum of 6 years old (after which eye diseases such as cataracts are considered normal and a part of aging).

RECENT STUDY: Cataracts in the Norwegian Buhund-current prevalence and characteristics. Vet Ophthalmol. 2017 Sep;20(5):460-467. doi: 10.1111/vop.12449. Epub 2017 Jan 3. 

CONCLUSIONS:
The high prevalence of PNC in the breed reported 20 years ago persists. PNCs are not always visible in young dogs, and the rate of progression varies. The prevalence of other types of cataract is also high, but cataracts rarely cause loss of vision in this breed.

© 2017 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

WEBLINK: ​https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28044393

What does The Norwegian Buhund Club Of Amercia say about eye certifications, hip dysplasia and breeding?
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In the NBCA Code Of Ethics breeder's agree that they, "Shall ensure that bitches and dogs to be bred are in good health and have no known hereditary defects. Eyes and hips must be checked by accredited veterinarians and declared to be within acceptable limits.  OFA hip rankings must be Fair or above; PennHIP DI should be no greater than 0.6, subject to change as more Norwegian Buhunds are included in the PennHIP database and must have the OFA hip/PennHIP certificate and number.; FCI rankings must be A or B. OFA eye exam must be done within 12 months of the breeding with the number listed on the OFA Eye Certification Registry (OFA-ECR/CERF)."