Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a fairly healthy breed. In Finland it belongs to the Finnish Kennel Clubs PEVISA-programme. This means that for regisration of a litter under the FKC, the FKC registered parents need to be officially hip and elbow scored. The minumum scoring age is set at 18 months. Though, no border score for use in breeding is set. For foreign stud dogs no elbow score is required. The Finnish genepool in Ridgebacks is fairly wide. The average age for a Ridgeback is 10 - 12 years. The oldest Finnish Ridgeback has lived to see her 14th birthday.

  •What comes to hips, the breed is very healthy for its size. The scores range mainly from A to B (clear to good).
  •Elbow scores within the breed are above the average. Luckily most stock is still clear (0/0) of elbow arthrosis.
  •Due to it´s size and growth speed the breed is exposed to growning disorders
.   •Allergic tendencies are common within the breed. Allergies often emerge as e.g. ear, eye and skin infections.
  •Of heritary nature are also abnormalities of the eye lids; loose eye lids, inward turned eye lids and lashes growing inside the eye lid.
  •The breed has also been noted to have had cases of e.g. thyroid related problems, heart problems, epilepcy, deafness, autoimmune deceases and skelatonial changes.
  •Like any other breed, also Ridgebacks are known to have faulty bites e.g. overbite/underbite/level bite and missing teeth. (The desired bite is scissor bite and a dog should have 42 teeth).
  •Ridgeback dog´s - just like any other breed dog - should have two well let down testicles. Sometimes this does not happen and mono-orchids appear.
  •Ridgeback litters often consist some cosmetically faulty puppies. Most often it is the ridge that is faulty (multi crowns, single crown, half ridges, fiddled etc.) or it might not have a ridge at all. Born puppies might also have faulty colouring e.g. too large white markings (see Colour in RRs). These problems are though only of cosmetic nature and therefore do not affect the general heath status of the dog. The pups are registered under the Finnish Kennel Club ´s NOT FOR BREEDING - register and sold at a lower purchase price.

Only dogs that are diagnosed healthy are to be used in breeding!

Links to some websites with articles on Canine Heath Issues:
The Dog Logic
The Pet Center
Encyclopedia of Canine Veterinary Medical Info
Canine Vet Info
Dog Owners Guide to Veterinary Health
Veterinary Medicine
Selected Skin Problems in Dogs & Cats
Working Dog Web
Dog Logic
Pet Arthritis Resource Center
Canine Health Articles
Society for Canine Genetic Health and Ethics


Bawabu Breeding Record