There is a difference between congenital and hereditary conditions or disorders. Congenital conditions or birth defects onset during fetal development, they can have a genetic or environmental cause (e.g., poor nutrition, stress, injury or illness before and during pregnancy). Hereditary disorders are genetically carried through either of the parents’ genes to the offspring; basically they are inherited medical conditions.
Congenital and hereditary conditions can range from mild to fatal. When it comes to cats and dogs, some breeds are prone to certain hereditary conditions, like heart defects, hip dysplasia and idiopathic epilepsy. Some conditions present immediately, while others don’t present for years.
Congenital/Hereditary conditions and pet insurance
Many pet insurance providers don’t cover congenital or hereditary conditions, as they fall under the pre-existing medical conditions exclusion. Conditions related to the congenital and/or hereditary disorder are also not covered, as a rule. Injuries or accidents that could be attributed to the cause may be covered. For example, if your puppy was born blind (congenital) any condition or treatment related to the blindness would not be covered, such as removing the eyeballs or eye infections, but if she injured herself by running into a branch or falling into a hole she didn’t see, your pet insurance would cover veterinary treatment.
Some hereditary conditions, like hip dysplasia and cardiomyopathy, are covered, provided signs and symptoms weren’t present at the time the pet insurance plan was purchased and didn’t present during the waiting period. In certain circumstances, pet insurance providers will require genetic testing before they will cover breeds at risk from inherited disease or congenital conditions.
Many congenital and hereditary conditions can be treated or managed with medication and/or surgery.
Common congenital and hereditary conditions in dogs and cats
Dogs
The number of congenital and hereditary conditions in dogs is vast. Here is a list of some of the most common conditions – note, the list is not exhaustive.
- Congenital heart disease, including valve defects and heart murmurs. Congenital heart conditions are often hereditary and are more common is certain breeds than others, including:
- German shepherd
- Rottweiler
- Samoyed
- Newfoundland
- Great Dane
- Cocker spaniel
- Brachycephalic syndrome occurs in short-nosed dog breeds. It causes breathing and respiratory problems and is common in:
- Bulldogs
- Boston terriers
- Pugs
- Congenital renal disease, including renal dysplasia, kidney displacement, hereditary kidney cancer and polycystic kidney disease.
- Congenital ocular or eye defects, including dermoids (cysts on eyelid or cornea), congenital glaucoma, congenital cataracts, retinal dysplasia and retinal detachment.
- Hip dysplasia (hereditary) is common in:
- Bulldog
- Pug
- Golden retriever
- Labrador retriever
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Neopolitan mastiff
- Basset hound
- Luxating patella (hereditary) is common in:
- Jack Russell terrier
- Boston terrier
- Labrador retriever
- Yorkshire terrier
- Mini/toy poodle
- Idiopathic epilepsy (hereditary) is common in:
- Border collie
- Australia shepherd
- Labrador retriever
- Beagle
- German shepherd
- Legg-Calve Perthes Disease most commonly affects small breeds:
- Bichon Frise
- Border terrier
- Boston terrier
- Jack Russell terrier
- Chihuahua
- Dachshund
- Cocker spaniel
- Poodle
- Shetland sheepdog
- Yorkshire terrier
- Manchester terrier
- Pekingese
- Bleeding disorders, including hemophilia and Von Willebrand’s Disease, are common in:
- German shepherd
- Doberman
- Standard and miniature poodle
- Shetland sheepdog
- Golden retriever
- Bernard
- Cocker spaniel
- Beagle
Cats
The number of congenital conditions that can afflict cats is also vast. Here is a list of some of the most common congenital conditions – note, the list is not exhaustive.
- Patellar luxation (hereditary) is common in:
- Devon Rex
- Abyssinian
- Cardiomyopathy (hereditary) is common in:
- Ragdoll cats
- Maine coon cats
- Sphynx cats
- Congenital rental disease, including kidney failure, abnormal kidney development, polycystic kidney disease and kidney tumors.
- Brachycephalic syndrome (see above) which is common in:
- Persian cats
- Cutaneous asthenia (stretchy, saggy, inelastic skin) is common in:
- Domestic longhairs
- Domestic shorthairs
- Himalayan cats
- Waardenburg syndrome (deafness) affects ‘albino’ cats with white coats and pink skin – blue eyes increase the risk. Common in:
- British shorthair
- Cornish Rex
- Devon Rex
- Manx
- Oriental shorthair
- Persian
- Scottish fold
- Cleft palate is common in:
- Norwegian forest cats
- Ocicats
- Persians
- Ragdoll cats
- Savannah cats
- Siamese cats
- Congenital hypothyroidism is common in:
- Abyssinians
- Amyloidosis (protein deposits in liver) is common in:
- Oriental shorthair
- Domestic shorthair
- Siamese
- Burmese
- Abyssinian
- Hip dysplasia is common in:
- Persian cats
- Maine Coon cats
- Entropions (eyelids roll inwards) is common in:
- Persian cats
- Himalayan cats
- Cataracts are common in:
- Birman cats
- Himalayan cats
- Persian cats
- Domestic shorthairs
- Domestic longhairs
- Spina bifida (affects the spinal cord) is common in:
- Manx cats
- Siamese cats
The earlier congenital or hereditary defects are detected, the better the chances of successful treatment and recovery. If you suspect your dog or cat has any illness, disorder or defect, congenital or hereditary, consult your vet as soon as possible. If you are buying your pet from a breeder, make sure they are properly approved and registered and that they provide health certificates demonstrating their breeds’ clean genetic bloodlines.
When purchasing pet insurance make sure you understand what the policy says regarding congenital and hereditary conditions so there is no confusion regarding what is and isn’t covered.
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