Gordon Setter health: what owners should know

Gordon Setters are generally sturdy, but conditions known in the breed include hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (with a DNA test for one form, rcd4), hypothyroidism, bloat and a late-onset neurological disease called cerebellar cortical degeneration, which also has a DNA test. Responsible breeders score hips and elbows and use available DNA tests.

Lean condition and steady, regular exercise protect the joints of a heavy setter far better than weekend bursts of activity. Contact a vet about a gait that becomes wobbly or oddly high-stepping, trouble seeing at dusk, weight creeping up despite normal meals, or any limp that lingers. Pacing with a tight, swollen belly and retching that brings nothing up is an emergency.