Belgian Malinois health: what owners should know
Conditions the Belgian Malinois is known to be prone to, breeder screening and everyday habits that help.
The breed is generally robust, but hip and elbow dysplasia do occur, and some lines are known to carry inherited eye disease and epilepsy. Because they work so hard, Malinois also pick up sports injuries such as cruciate ligament tears, shoulder strains and iliopsoas problems. Reputable breeders X-ray hips and elbows and have eyes examined before breeding.
Warm up before intense sessions, keep your dog lean and give rest days after heavy work. See a vet if lameness lasts more than a day or two, if your dog suddenly avoids jumping, shows stiffness after rest, or has any episode of shaking, collapse or loss of awareness.
Numbers worth knowing
Life expectancy
12 to 14 yrs
Senior care
Individual assessment
age alone does not define care needs
Typical breed weight
20 to 34 kg