HEALTH

Overall, Flat-Coats are a relatively healthy breed due to the high standards demanded by careful breeders. At a minimum, Flat-Coats used in a breeding program are expected to have clearances for their hips, eyes and patellas. None of these are major problems in the breed, but that is because of vigilance. Some of the other health screenings commonly done include elbows, hearts, thyroid and gonioscopy but they are not a requirement.

The one issue that is of concern in the breed is histiocytic cancers. Cancer afflicts many dogs, both purebred and mixed breed alike, but Flat-Coats are more prone to histiocytic-type cancers than most other breeds. There does not currently exist a “test” to eliminate this propensity, but careful study of the depth and breadth of pedigrees by breeders, combined with enthusiastic support for research studies is helping to make headway against this problem.