Recently, the deaths, without apparent cause, of three Belgian Shepherd puppies aged between 6 and 8 weeks prompted the scientific community to intensify its research, which led to the identification of the causative mutation of the cardiomyopathy that causes juvenile mortality in the Belgian Shepherd (March 2020).

The symptoms observed for this disease are variable from one individual to another and include: vomiting, dyspnoea, enlarged heart, difficulty in movement, tremors.

The mutation is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion, which means that if both parents are healthy carriers of the mutation then 25% of their puppies are likely to be affected by the condition.

The authors of the study tested 471 Belgian Shepherds. Of those tested, 128, ie 27%, were identified as healthy carriers of the mutation, meaning that they do not show symptoms but are at risk of passing on the condition to their offspring.

It is therefore advisable to test Belgian Shepherds for this mutation in order to avoid reproduction between 2 healthy carriers and, above all, to avoid having sick puppies. However, it is strongly advised to keep healthy carriers in the breeding schemes, as long as they breed with a non-carrier, in order to keep the genetic variability in the breed.