This breed is generally healthy and hardy. Schnauzers can still be prone to a few hereditary issues.
Hyperlipidemia
This is a condition where there are abnormally high levels of fat in the blood. These include cholesterol and triglycerides. In a study investigating the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in Miniature Schnauzers, it was found that nearly a third of the study group had triglyceride concentrations that were higher than the reference range for healthy dogs.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis in dogs occurs when there is inflammation of the pancreas, responsible for the production of digestive enzymes and insulin. Risk factors include a high fat diet, obesity and trauma to the organ. Since Schnauzers are prone to hyperlipidemia, it is thought this condition may be associated with symptoms of pancreatitis.
Cataracts
Often occurring in our senior pets, cataracts cause clouding of the lens and will lead to vision loss as the impaired lens affects the passage of light to the retina. In a healthy eye, light passes through the lens and focuses on the retina to send a sharp image to the brain. Causes of cataracts are often hereditary, but also include diabetes, advanced age, trauma, or retinal disease.
Liver Shunts
Miniature Schnauzers are at risk of liver shunts. Portosystemic shunts are abnormalities of the vascular system where the blood vessels carrying protein and nutrients are bypassing the liver, going directly into the systemic circulation instead. Most portosystemic shunts are congenital. Dogs and cats with this condition tend to have smaller than normal livers as their liver development is impaired with the lack of nutrients.
Urinary Stones
This breed has a predisposition to forming bladder stones in dogs, usually struvite or calcium oxalate. Bladder stones, especially calcium oxalate stones, require surgery to remove. Medical management afterwards is lifelong and involves using a prescription diet to reduce the risk of occurrence.
