B R E E D
I N F O

The Bernese Mountain Dog was always known as one of the breeds with the shortest lifespans, with an average life expectancy of 6 - 8 years. With responsible breeding the lifespan has increased to 8 - 10 years, but it is no longer uncommon to see Berners between 10 - 12 years of age.

A reported 10% of Berners have the risk of developing cancer, and 25% of these have the risk of developing histiocytic sarcoma. BUT, let's put this into perspective:

Great Danes: 10-25% risk of developing cancer (osteosarcoma).

German Shepherds: 50% older than 10 may die of cancer (hemangiosarcoma).

Boxers: 38.5% will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. 

Poodles: An estimated 40% will die from some form of cancer.

Rottweilers: Some studies show that this breed has the highest rate of cancer.

Golden Retrievers: One of the top five breeds most prone to cancer.

In the general dog population, 25-50% of dogs are expected to die from cancer.

This list is by no means to degrade other breeds, but merely for perspective. When you do your own research, you will find that the statistics vary tremendously. At the end of the day, we will never know if a specific dog will ever develop cancer. All we know is that every mammal, including humans, has an increasingly higher risk of developing cancer as they age. This should never deter anyone from getting a breed of dog that they have always dreamed of owning.

Both Hip Dysplasia (HD) and Elbow Dysplasia (ED) are found in all dog breeds. HD is more pronounced in Berners than ED. Researchers and breeders have tried to eliminate it for decades, but without success. The most important thing to know is that dysplasia is a natural process where joints degenerate with age, but owners can slow this process down.

A. GENETIC FACTORS

HD and ED are found in all breeds, especially large and giant breeds. Decades of strong breeding selection have resulted in only modest reductions in the incidence of HD and ED,  which shows the heritability of the trait is rather low.

B. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Many studies have shown that genetics only account for 15% of HD, which means that 85% result from non-genetic (environmental) factors. This is where responsible ownership comes in. There are four most important environmental factors in the development of dysplasia.

1. Joint Laxity:
   All normal puppies are born with perfect hips. When the hip socket becomes more lax as they grow, it becomes unstable which results in degenerative changes. These degenerative changes result in HD. Hip Dysplasia can be graded from mild to severe and affects all dogs differently. Some dogs have mild HD and severe pain, while others might have severe HD and no pain. 

What can you do?
If hips do not become lax, dogs do not develop HD. Hip laxity results from traumatic injury to the hips, overloading of the hips by weight (overweight), too much exercise (external forces on the hips), splaying of the hind legs on smooth surfaces, etc. Try and limit any of these above-mentioned scenarios.

2. Exercise:
   Exercise strengthens the muscles of the legs and pelvis which will increase the stability of the hip. However, when Berners below 18 months of age exercise too much, the external forces cause the hips to become lax and HD will develop. 

What can you do?
Do not exercise your Berner excessively before 18 months of age. Moderate exercise on soft ground is ideal. Try and keep puppies off slippery floors and away from stairs as these increase the risk of HD.  

3. Weight:
   Growing puppies need to eat enough to support their growth, but a skinny puppy is better than an overweight puppy. The heavier the dog, the greater the forces are on the joints which causes laxity and HD. 

What can you do?
Overweight puppies have a dramatically higher risk of HD. Obesity could well be the single most significant factor affecting the development of HD.

4. Nutrition:
   a) Calories: High-calorie food promotes fast growth and should be avoided.
   b) Nutrients: Large breed puppies need diets with carefully balanced calcium and phosphorous.

What can you do?
Do not supplement calcium, phosphorus, or protein without a vet's approval. Do not increase your puppy's calories if they are not underweight. You want your puppy to grow slowly so that the muscles and bones develop in sync. Feed reliable brands that are nutritionally balanced, such as Royal Canin, Hill's etc. Raw feeding must only be done with the necessary knowledge and guidance. 

CONCLUSION
In reality, HD cannot be avoided, only limited. The age and degree to which a Berner develops HD is mostly dependent on the owner.