Estrela Mountain Dog — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Hip dysplasiacan shorten life or cause chronic pain
Malformation of the hip joint that leads to instability and, over time, osteoarthritis. A Portuguese study of 313 dogs scored under FCI criteria found dysplasia in 66% of the breed, though many affected dogs show no obvious lameness.
Ask to see: Hip score from a recognised scheme (FCI, OFA or BVA/KC) on both parents
Ginja et al. 2009, The Veterinary Journal (PubMed) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18722145/) · Comunidade do Cão da Serra da Estrela — Hip dysplasia (https://www.caodaserradaestrela.net/hip-dysplasia)
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A disease of the heart muscle that weakens its pumping ability and can progress to heart failure. Histological studies of affected Estrelas found distinctive fibrosis and fatty infiltration of the heart muscle, and a dedicated Portuguese PhD studied its heritability in this specific breed.
Ask to see: Echocardiogram read by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist on both parents; no DNA test currently exists for DCM in this breed
Lobo et al. 2010, Veterinary Pathology (PubMed) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20424003) · Comunidade do Cão da Serra da Estrela — Dilated cardiomyopathy (https://www.caodaserradaestrela.net/dilated-cardiomyopathy)