Module 2.4: Health – A Primer on Other Health Risks

A Breeder’s Clinical and Genetic Overview

 Immune-Mediated Disease in the Bedlington Terrier

Immune-mediated disease is not among the most common Bedlington conditions, but when it appears, it can be serious, sudden, and confusing for new breeders. Because it is less predictable than Copper Toxicosis, it requires thoughtful record-keeping and pedigree awareness.

What Do We Mean by “Immune-Mediated”?

Immune-mediated disease occurs when the dog’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues.

Rather than one single disorder, this is a category that includes:

• Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)
• Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMTP)
• Immune-mediated polyarthritis
• Autoimmune thyroiditis
• Immune-related skin disease

1️⃣ Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)

 What happens: The immune system destroys red blood cells.

Signs:

• Pale gums
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Rapid decline

Inheritance:

• No single gene identified
• Believed to be polygenic with environmental triggers
• May cluster in families

Breeder concern:
If two or more closely related dogs develop IMHA, the line should be examined carefully before continuing breeding.

2️⃣ Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMTP)

What happens:
The immune system attacks platelets.

Signs:

• Bruising
• Petechiae (small red dots on skin)
• Nosebleeds

Inheritance:

• No DNA test
• Likely complex inheritance

What happens:
The immune system attacks platelets.

Signs:

• Bruising
• Petechiae (small red dots on skin)
• Nosebleeds

Inheritance:

• No DNA test
• Likely complex inheritance

3️⃣ Autoimmune Thyroiditis

This is one immune-mediated disease that can and should be screened for.

Testing:

• Thyroid panel
• Thyroglobulin autoantibody testing (TgAA)

Submit results to:
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

Inheritance:

• Familial tendency
• Polygenic inheritance suspected

Important Note:
Dogs may test normal at 2 years old and become positive later. Recheck periodically in breeding animals.

Is There a Known Gene?

No single mutation (like COMMD1 for Copper Toxicosis) has been identified for immune-mediated disease in Bedlingtons.

Instead:

• Inheritance is likely complex (polygenic)
• Environmental triggers may include:
• Vaccination timing
• Infection
• Hormonal shifts
• Stress

This makes management harder than simple recessive disorders.

What Is Often Overlooked

1️⃣ Age of Onset

Immune diseases often appear:

• 3–8 years of age
• After a dog has already been bred

Tracking health only to age 2 is insufficient.

2️⃣ “Isolated Case” Thinking

Breeders sometimes dismiss a case as “just bad luck.”

Patterns to watch:

• Multiple autoimmune issues in one pedigree
• Thyroid disease plus IMHA in related dogs
• Early unexplained deaths

3️⃣ Overuse of Popular Sires

If a popular stud dog carries polygenic immune susceptibility, the problem can quietly expand through the gene pool. 

4️⃣ Lack of Open Reporting

Unlike Copper Toxicosis, there is:

• No reporting
• No central DNA test

Responsible breeders must communicate openly.

Practical Breeding Recommendations

✔ Maintain detailed health records for at least 3 generations
✔ Track longevity and cause of death
✔ Screen breeding dogs with OFA Thyroid testing
✔ Avoid repeating breedings that produced autoimmune disease
✔ Be cautious doubling up on lines with immune issues
✔ Keep vaccination protocols thoughtful and veterinary-guided

An Important Perspective

Immune-mediated disease in Bedlingtons is:

• Not rampant
• Not predictable by a simple test
• Not fully preventable

But it can be reduced through:

• Honest communication
• Conservative breeding decisions
• Long-term health tracking

Final Guidance to New Breeders

Copper Toxicosis is hopefully managed with DNA testing.

Immune-mediated disease requires something more difficult:

Judgment, patience, and integrity.

Preservation breeding is not only about eliminating known mutations — it is about guarding against subtle genetic weaknesses that may take years to reveal themselves.

Renal Cortical Hypoplasia (RCH) & Other Kidney Disease

Kidney disease in Bedlingtons is thought to be far less common than CSD, but when present, it can be devastating — especially because it often appears in young dogs and may not be predictable by a simple DNA test.

Responsible breeders must understand both Renal Cortical Hypoplasia (RCH) and other renal disorders that may occur in the breed.

1️⃣ Renal Cortical Hypoplasia (RCH)

What It Is

Renal Cortical Hypoplasia is a developmental kidney disorder in which the renal cortex (the functional filtering portion of the kidney) fails to develop fully.

• Affected dogs have:
• Fewer functioning nephrons
• Reduced filtering capacity
• Progressive kidney insufficiency

Age of Onset                                               Typically:

• 3 months to 2 years of age, occasionally later in mild cases

This is important because:
Many affected dogs show signs before or shortly after breeding age, but some mildly affected dogs may survive longer.

Clinical Signs

• Poor growth or “failure to thrive”
• Excessive drinking (polydipsia)
• Excessive urination (polyuria)
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Elevated BUN and creatinine

Diagnosis

Definitive diagnosis often requires:

• Renal biopsy
  or
• Necropsy (post-mortem histopathology)

Mode of Inheritance

Evidence suggests:

• Likely autosomal recessive
• No DNA test currently available
• Familial clustering observed

Because there is no direct test, breeders must rely on:

✔   Pedigree analysis
✔   Open disclosure
✔   Longevity tracking

2️⃣ Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) – Non-Developmental

Not all kidney failure in Bedlingtons is RCH.

Other causes include:

• Chronic interstitial nephritis
• Secondary kidney damage (toxins, infection, systemic illness)
• Age-related degeneration

Important Distinction

RCH:

• Developmental
• Often early onset
• Structural abnormality

CKD:

• May occur later in life
• Can be secondary to other disease
• Not necessarily inherited

Breeders must avoid assuming every renal case is genetic — but also must not ignore patterns.

3️⃣ Juvenile Renal Disease (Broader Category)

Sometimes young Bedlingtons are labeled with “juvenile renal disease.”

This umbrella term may include:

• RCH
• Renal dysplasia
• Severe congenital nephron deficiency

True renal dysplasia involves:

• Abnormal differentiation of kidney tissue
• Persistent fetal structures

These diagnoses require pathology confirmation.

4️⃣ What Is Often Overlooked by Breeders

❗ 1. Early Mild Elevations in Kidney Values

Young dogs with:

• Slightly high creatinine
• Borderline urine specific gravity

Should not be dismissed.

Trend data over time matters.

❗ 2. Small Size and “Poor Doing” Puppies

A consistently undersized puppy in multiple litters from the same pairing may signal more than just variation.

❗ 3. Longevity Is a Genetic Marker

A healthy Bedlington lifespan:
12–16 years

If multiple related dogs:

• Die before age 8
• Develop kidney failure before 10

That pedigree deserves scrutiny.

❗ 4. Assuming “It Was Just Bad Luck”

If:

• Two littermates develop kidney disease
  or
• Multiple half-siblings show renal issues

The risk is not random.

5️⃣ Screening Recommendations for Breeders

While no DNA test exists, you can implement smart monitoring.

Before Breeding:

✔ Baseline serum chemistry (BUN, creatinine, SDMA)
✔ Urinalysis with specific gravity
✔ Blood pressure measurement (if available)
✔ Review longevity of parents and grandparents

For Puppies Produced:

Encourage puppy buyers to:

• Perform early wellness bloodwork
• Monitor urine specific gravity
• Report all kidney diagnoses back to breeder

6️⃣ Relationship Between Copper Toxicosis and Kidney Disease

While Copper Toxicosis primarily affects the liver, severe systemic illness can secondarily affect kidneys.

However:

RCH is not caused by COMMD1 mutation.

They are separate issues.

7️⃣ Genetic Management Without a Test

When a likely RCH case appears:

✔ Do not repeat the breeding
✔ Avoid doubling up on that pedigree combination
✔ Consider removing parents from breeding depending on severity and pattern
✔ Consult experienced preservation breeders

Remember:
Autosomal recessive disorders may hide for generations.

8️⃣ Ethical Perspective

The hardest part of kidney disease management is this:

There is no simple “clear” or “carrier” status.

This requires:

• Conservative breeding
• Honest communication
• Long-term record keeping
• Willingness to retire dogs

Preservation breeding demands restraint.

Final Guidance to Bedlington Breeders

Copper Storage Disease taught this breed the importance of DNA testing.

Kidney disease teaches something deeper:

Not every inherited disease comes with a laboratory answer.

You must breed with:

• Eyes open
• Records intact
• Ego removed