Breed & species guide

Abyssinian

3–5 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: Progressive retinal atrophy (rdAc)

African Grey Parrot

400–650 g · 40–60 years

Watch for: Hypocalcaemia (low calcium) causing seizures

African Pygmy Hedgehog

250–600 g · 4–6 years

Watch for: Wobbly hedgehog syndrome

Akita

32–59 kg · 10–13 years

Watch for: Hip dysplasia

Amazon Parrot

350–650 g · 40–60 years

Watch for: Obesity and fatty liver

American Quarter Horse

430–550 kg · 25–30 years

Watch for: HYPP (periodic paralysis) — DNA test

Arabian Horse

360–450 kg · 25–30 years

Watch for: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) — DNA test

Australian Shepherd

18–29 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: MDR1 drug sensitivity (ivermectin, loperamide)

Ball Python

1–2.5 kg · 20–30 years

Watch for: Respiratory infections

Beagle

9–14 kg · 10–15 years

Watch for: Obesity

Bearded Dragon

300–600 g · 10–15 years

Watch for: Metabolic bone disease (lack of UVB/calcium)

Bengal

3.5–7 kg · 12–16 years

Watch for: Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-b)

Bernese Mountain Dog

32–52 kg · 7–10 years

Watch for: Histiocytic sarcoma (very high cancer rate)

Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)

2–4 g · 3–5 years

Watch for: Fin rot

Border Collie

14–20 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: Collie eye anomaly

Boxer

25–32 kg · 10–12 years

Watch for: Boxer cardiomyopathy (ARVC)

British Shorthair

4–8 kg · 12–17 years

Watch for: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Budgerigar

30–40 g · 5–10 years

Watch for: Tumours (kidney and gonadal) are very common

Bulldog

18–25 kg · 8–10 years

Watch for: BOAS

Canary

15–30 g · 10–15 years

Watch for: Air sac mites

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

5.5–8 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (very common)

Chihuahua

1.5–3 kg · 14–16 years

Watch for: Patellar luxation

Chinchilla

400–600 g · 10–20 years

Watch for: Dental disease (overgrown cheek teeth)

Cockatiel

80–120 g · 15–20 years

Watch for: Fatty liver disease

Cockatoo (Umbrella / Sulphur-crested)

450–900 g · 40–70 years

Watch for: Feather destructive behaviour and self-mutilation

Cocker Spaniel

11–15 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: Ear infections (otitis externa)

Corn Snake

400–900 g · 15–20 years

Watch for: Respiratory infections

Crested Gecko

35–55 g · 15–20 years

Watch for: Metabolic bone disease

Dachshund

7–15 kg · 12–16 years

Watch for: Intervertebral disc disease (up to 1 in 4 affected)

Devon Rex

2.5–4 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: Congenital myopathy (Devon Rex myopathy)

Dobermann

27–45 kg · 10–12 years

Watch for: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Domestic Shorthair

3.5–6 kg · 12–18 years

Watch for: Obesity

Dwarf Hamster

20–50 g · 1.5–3 years

Watch for: Diabetes (especially Campbell's and winter whites)

Eclectus Parrot

350–550 g · 30–50 years

Watch for: Diet-sensitive: toe tapping / wing flipping on rich or supplemented diets

Fancy Rat

250–500 g · 2–3 years

Watch for: Respiratory disease (Mycoplasma)

Ferret

0.6–2 kg · 6–10 years

Watch for: Adrenal gland disease

Flemish Giant

6–10 kg · 5–8 years

Watch for: Arthritis and sore hocks

French Bulldog

8–13 kg · 10–12 years

Watch for: Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)

Gerbil

50–100 g · 2–4 years

Watch for: Tail slip (never hold by the tail)

German Shepherd

22–40 kg · 9–13 years

Watch for: Hip and elbow dysplasia

Golden Retriever

25–34 kg · 10–12 years

Watch for: Cancer (hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma)

Goldfish

100–400 g · 10–25 years

Watch for: Ammonia/nitrite poisoning from poor water quality

Great Dane

50–79 kg · 7–10 years

Watch for: Gastric dilatation-volvulus (highest-risk breed)

Green-cheeked Conure

60–80 g · 15–25 years

Watch for: Feather destructive behaviour

Greyhound

27–40 kg · 10–14 years

Watch for: Osteosarcoma

Guinea Pig

0.7–1.2 kg · 5–7 years

Watch for: Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) — cannot make their own

Hermann's Tortoise

0.5–2 kg · 50–80 years

Watch for: Metabolic bone disease and shell pyramiding

Holland Lop

1.4–1.8 kg · 7–12 years

Watch for: Ear infections and wax build-up (lop ears)

Jack Russell Terrier

6–8 kg · 13–16 years

Watch for: Primary lens luxation

Koi

2–7 kg · 25–35 years

Watch for: Koi herpesvirus (KHV) — notifiable in some countries

Labrador Retriever

25–36 kg · 11–13 years

Watch for: Hip and elbow dysplasia

Leopard Gecko

45–80 g · 15–20 years

Watch for: Metabolic bone disease

Lionhead

1.4–1.7 kg · 7–10 years

Watch for: Wool block (hairballs)

Lovebird

40–60 g · 10–15 years

Watch for: Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD)

Macaw (Blue-and-gold / Scarlet)

0.9–1.3 kg · 35–60 years

Watch for: Proventricular dilatation disease (macaw wasting)

Maine Coon

5–9 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (MYBPC3 mutation)

Maltese

2–4 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: Patellar luxation

Mixed breed dog

5–40 kg · 10–15 years

Watch for: Risks depend on parent breeds

Netherland Dwarf

0.9–1.2 kg · 8–12 years

Watch for: Dental malocclusion (short skull)

Norwegian Forest Cat

4–9 kg · 14–16 years

Watch for: Glycogen storage disease type IV

Persian

3–5.5 kg · 12–17 years

Watch for: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD1)

Pomeranian

1.5–3.5 kg · 12–16 years

Watch for: Tracheal collapse

Pony (Shetland / Welsh)

150–300 kg · 25–35 years

Watch for: Laminitis

Poodle (Miniature / Toy)

3–7.5 kg · 12–18 years

Watch for: Patellar luxation

Poodle (Standard)

18–32 kg · 10–18 years

Watch for: Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism)

Pug

6–8 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: BOAS

Quaker Parrot

90–120 g · 20–30 years

Watch for: Fatty liver disease

Ragdoll

4.5–9 kg · 12–17 years

Watch for: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (MYBPC3 mutation)

Red-eared Slider

0.5–1.5 kg · 20–30 years

Watch for: Vitamin A deficiency (swollen eyes)

Rottweiler

35–60 kg · 9–10 years

Watch for: Hip and elbow dysplasia

Scottish Fold

3–6 kg · 11–14 years

Watch for: Osteochondrodysplasia — painful joint disease in ALL folded-ear cats

Shetland Sheepdog

7–12 kg · 12–14 years

Watch for: Collie eye anomaly

Shiba Inu

8–11 kg · 13–16 years

Watch for: Allergies / atopic dermatitis

Shih Tzu

4–7.5 kg · 10–18 years

Watch for: BOAS

Siamese

3–5 kg · 15–20 years

Watch for: Amyloidosis (liver)

Siberian Husky

16–27 kg · 12–14 years

Watch for: Juvenile cataracts

Sphynx

3–5 kg · 12–15 years

Watch for: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (common)

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

11–17 kg · 12–14 years

Watch for: L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA)

Syrian Hamster

100–175 g · 2–3 years

Watch for: Wet tail (proliferative ileitis)

Thoroughbred

450–550 kg · 25–30 years

Watch for: Gastric ulcers

Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)

10–14 kg · 12–13 years

Watch for: Intervertebral disc disease

Yorkshire Terrier

2–3.5 kg · 11–15 years

Watch for: Patellar luxation

Zebra Finch

12–20 g · 5–10 years

Watch for: Air sac mites