The average life expectancy of a Miniature Schnauzer is between 12 and 15 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.
Like so many other breeds the Miniature Schnauzer is known to suffer from a few hereditary health issues which are worth knowing about if you are planning share your home with one of these active and good-looking dogs. The conditions that seem to affect the breed the most include the following:
- Mycobacterium Avian Complex (MAC) – test available
- Demyelinating Polyneuropathy – test available
- Renal Dysplasia (RD)
- Hereditary cataracts (HC) – dogs should be tested before being used for breeding purposes
- Congenital hereditary cataracts (CHC)
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) – BVA/KC test available
- Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) - DNA Test Available
- Diabetes
- Urolithaisis
- Von Willebrand disease (VWD)
- Schnauzer comedone syndrome – and more specifically a form of follicular dermatitis
- Fatty Tumours
- Adenomas
More about Mycobacterium Avian Complex (MAC)
Sadly Mycobacterium Avian Complex is a fatal condition that affects dogs when they are quite young. It is a sort of "tuberculosis" and studies suggest that the condition could well be what is known as "zoonotic" which in short means it can cross from species to species including being transmitted to humans. The most susceptible being very young children and anyone who has a compromised immune system which includes the elderly. With this said there has never been a case of a person having contracted the disorder from an animal which includes from a dog to a person.
More about Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Three years ago the mutation that causes demyelinating polyneuropathy was identified thanks to the efforts of the University of Bristol the Animal Health Trust and the University College London which now means Miniature Schnauzers can be DNA tested for the disease. It was found that the condition is an autosomal recessive disorder and that dogs typically show symptoms of having the disease when they are around 3 months old with the clinical signs getting progressively worse as time goes on.
More about Renal Dysplasia
Miniature Schnauzers are predisposed to developing renal dysplasia (RD) which is a condition that negatively impacts the development of a dog's kidneys. It is known that the disorder can either be inherited or acquired and unfortunately there is no cure and as such the prognosis for any dog diagnosed with RD is always very poor with dogs succumbing to the disorder.
More about eye issues in the breed
Miniature Schnauzers are predisposed to suffering from several eye issues which includes congenital hereditary cataracts (CHC) hereditary cataracts (HC) and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and because there are no DNA tests available for the breed reputable breeders and other people who intend on breeding from their dogs should have them eye-tested and to screen all litters they produce. It is mandatory for all KC Assured breeders to have stud dogs tested under the BVA/KC eye scheme and dogs should be tested annually for both HC and PRA. All Miniature Schnauzer puppies should be eye-screened by breeders for congenital hereditary cataracts between the ages of 5 - 8 weeks and before they are sold to prospective owners.
It is worth noting that dogs need to be around 6 months old and sometimes even older before they can be diagnosed as suffering from hereditary cataracts which are often referred to as "juvenile" cataracts and that all Miniature Schnauzers must be eye tested before being used for breeding purposes.
Dogs may not show any signs of suffering from progressive retinal atrophy (generalised) until they are around 1-year old although some dogs may show signs of having a problem when they are as young as 6 months old whereas others might not show any symptoms until they are 6 years old. In the Miniature Schnauzer the earliest a dog has been recorded as suffering from the condition is when the dog was 3 years old.
More about Comedone syndrome
Why some Miniature Schnauzers develop Comedone syndrome remains a mystery. The condition is also known as Schnauzer Bumps with lumps developing along a dog's spine which are frequently filled with pus when an infection takes hold. When dogs spend more time in the sunlight studies have shown they suffer fewer outbreaks of Schnauzer Bumps.
What about vaccinations?
A Miniature Schnauzer would have been given their first vaccination before being sold but it is up to their new owner to ensure they are given a follow-up shot. The vaccination schedule is as follows:
- 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination
There has been a lot of discussion about the need for dogs to have boosters. As such it's best to talk to a vet before making a final decision on whether a dog should continue to have annual vaccinations which are known as boosters.
What about spaying and neutering?
These days a lot of vets recommend neutering and spaying Miniature Schnauzers when they are anything from 6 to 9 months old with some vets preferring to wait until a dog has matured that much more before they undergo the procedures.
What about obesity problems?
Miniature Schnauzers are known to like their food and as such they are prone to putting on weight a little too easily. As such it's important to keep an eye on a dog's waistline and to adjust their food and daily exercise accordingly. Obesity is a real problem and can shorten a dog's life by several years.
What about allergies?
As previously mentioned Miniature Schnauzers are predisposed to suffering from a condition known as Comedone Syndrome and when an outbreak flares up the lumps along a dog's back need to be treated to avoid an infection taking hold. As such a quick trip to the vet would be in order so a dog can be examined and the right sort of treatment set in place to prevent an infection taking hold. Common triggers include the following:
- Environment
- A reaction to certain chemicals commonly found in household cleaning products
- Seasonal allergies which includes pollen and grasses
- Food which includes certain meats and cereals often used as ingredients in commercially produced dog food
- Tick and flea bites
- Dust mites
- Mould
Participating in health schemes
All responsible breeders would have their puppies eye-tested to confirm they are clear of congenital hereditary cataracts and can be tested when they are between 6 to 8 weeks old. Dams and Sires should also have been eye-tested annually to establish they are clear of hereditary cataracts congenital hereditary cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy under the BVA/KC Eye Scheme.
Miniature Schnauzers can be eye tested for hereditary cataracts when they are around 6 months old onwards although it is also possible to have a dog eye-tested for the condition when they are 2 years old too.
When it comes to progressive retinal atrophy Miniature Schnauzers can be eye-tested when they are 2 years old and onwards.
What about breed specific breeding restrictions?
Aside from the standard breeding restrictions that cover all Kennel Club registered breeds there are currently no other breed specific breeding restrictions in place for the Miniature Schnauzer.
What about Assured Breeder Requirements?
It is mandatory for all Kennel Club Assured Breeders to have stud dogs tested using the following schemes and they strongly recommend that other breeders follow suit:
- Eye testing
The Kennel Club also strongly recommends that all breeders use the following schemes before using a Miniature Schnauzer in a breeding programme:
- BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme - Litter Screening
- Other schemes that are available for the breed include the following:
- DNA test - MAC
