MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS	Number Affected	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Luxating Patella	56	47.9%	9.0%
Ruptured Cranial Cruciate Ligament	27	23.1%	4.4%
Arthritis	11	9.4%	1.8%
Legg-Perthes Disease	10	8.5%	1.6%
Other *	5	4.3%	0.8%
Undershot Jaw or Underbite	4	3.4%	0.6%
Hip Dysplasia	3	2.6%	0.5%
Overshot Jaw or Overbite	1	0.8%	0.2%
Total	117	100.0%	18.9%

Even though the results indicate that Luxating Patella continues to be the number one problem in this disease group, the percentage of affecteds is lower than what was reported (15.4 %, n=36) in 1997. Perhaps the fact that 42% of the 1997 respondents reported that they were checking for Luxating Patellas, with 23% reporting those results to OFA could be partly responsible for the decline. The percentage of affecteds in Legge-Perthes Disease (3.4%, n=8) is also down from 1997 and the rate of Ruptured Cruciate has remained steady, compared to 1997 (4.3%, n=10). * Includes four reports of disc problems and one unspecified leg problem.

DERMATOLOGIC DISORDERS	Number Affected	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Other *	29	29.9%	4.7%
Flea Allergy Dermatitis	29	29.9%	4.7%
Food Allergy Dermatitis	11	11.3%	1.8%
Severe Allergic Dermatitis	10	10.3%	1.6%
Inhalant Allergy Dermatitis	5	5.2%	0.8%
Chewing or Biting Skin/Coat	4	4.1%	0.6%
Hot Spots (significant or recurrent)	3	3.1%	0.5%
Puritis (significant itching)	3	3.1%	0.5%
Generalized Demodectic Mange	2	2.1%	0.3%
Sarcoptic Mange	1	1.0%	0.2%
Total	97	100.0%	15.7%

These numbers can be somewhat misleading because of the specificity accorded the diagnoses codes for this disease group. Seven cases of dermatitis were assigned to the "Other" category because they were not specifically identified by type. Using a broader perspective, when combining all dermatitis related problems (regardless of whether they are formally classified as a food allergy dermatitis, inhalant allergy dermatitis vs. Puritis, for example), it is found to be the number one disease problem in the breed. This determination is without consideration for any of the mange cases or remaining 22 dermatological cases placed in the "other" category. Of the remaining 22 cases of dermatological problems assigned to the "other" category, sixteen (2.6% affected rate) were related to benign skin growths and tumors and three described as staph infections. Excluding cases of mange and skin tumors from the 1997 survey total for dermatologic conditions (total = 88), there were 73 cases of dermatitis-related disorders reported, for an affected rate of 31.2%, significantly higher than 2002 results.

BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS	Number Affected	% of Group	% of Dogs Affected
Noise/Thunderstorm Phobia	18	19.3%	2.9%
Excessive Aggression (unspecified)	17	18.2%	2.8%
Cannot Housebreak	10	10.8%	1.6%
Excessive Barking	10	10.8%	1.6%
Excessive Marking	10	10.8%	1.6%
Severe Separation Anxiety	10	10.8%	1.6%
Excessive Shyness	7	7.5%	1.1%
Other *	5	5.4%	0.8%
Excessive Fearfulness	5	5.4%	0.8%
Severe Stereotypic Behavior	1	1.0%	0.2%
Total	93	100.0%	15.0%

* Includes descriptions of "nervous and high strung", "neurotic", "stress to change", "coprophagic," for example.

GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS	Number Affected	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Other *	17	24.2%	2.7%
Gingivitis	14	20.0%	2.3%
Chronic Liver Disease/Failure	6	8.6%	0.9%
Missing Teeth	6	8.6%	0.9%
Tooth Abcess	6	8.6%	0.9%
Chronic Colitis	3	4.3%	0.5%
Copper Toxicosis	2	2.9%	0.3%
Gastric/intestinal motility disorders	2	2.9%	0.3%
Inflammatory Bowel Disease	2	2.9%	0.3%
Intestinal Obstruction	2	2.9%	0.3%
Sinusitis	2	2.9%	0.3%
Chronic cough	1	1.4%	0.2%
Chronic Gastritis	1	1.4%	0.2%
Chronic Tonsilitis	1	1.4%	0.2%
Congenital Portosystemic Shunt	1	1.4%	0.2%
Hernias	1	1.4%	0.2%
Megaesophogus	1	1.4%	0.2%
Portosystemic Shunt (Extrahepatic)	1	1.4%	0.2%
Rhinitis	1	1.4%	0.2%
Total	70	100.0%	11.3%

Only 15 cases (6.4%) of gastrointestinal problems were reported in 1997, with nearly half (n=6) classified as chronic diarrhea. * The majority of cases in "Other" category include diarrhea and bloody stools, vomiting and general upset with two cases of enlarged gall bladder reported.

EAR DISORDERS	Number Affected	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Ear Infections	33	49.2%	5.4%
Deafness	15	20.9%	2.3%
Other *	11	17.9%	1.9%
Aural Hematoma	4	6.0%	0.6%
Excessive Ear Wax	4	6.0%	0.6%
Total	67	100.0%	10.8%

Comparing the results for this disease group to the responses in the 1997 survey, only 6 cases (all categorized as congenital deafness) appeared in the results for a 2.6% affected rate. * Problems with yeasty ears were reported in six instances. Two reported problems with inflammation. Five cases of chronic otitis were classified under infectious diseases. Had they been assigned to this Disease Group, the affected rate would rise to 12.0%.

REPRODUCTIVE ANOMALIES	Number Affected	% of Group	% of Dogs Affected
False Pregnancy	11	17.7%	1.8%
Cryptorchidism	10	16.1%	1.6%
Other	6	9.7%	1.0%
Pyometra	6	9.7%	1.0%
Irregular Heat Cycles	6	9.7%	1.0%
Hypogonadism	4	6.5%	0.6%
Infertility	4	6.5%	0.6%
Missed Breedings	4	6.5%	0.6%
Caesarean Section	2	3.2%	0.3%
Erratic Seasons	2	3.2%	0.3%
Fetus Absorption	2	3.2%	0.3%
Silent Seasons	2	3.2%	0.3%
Abortion	1	1.6%	0.2%
Mastitis	1	1.6%	0.2%
Uterine Inertia	1	1.6%	0.2%
Total	62	100.0%	10.0%

It is possible that several of these numbers may reflect under-reporting in this disease group. For example, in 1997 6.7% (n=9) of females had Caesarean Sections compared to only two reported in this survey. Total problems in this Disease Group numbered 32, or (13.7%) in the 1997 survey

INCIDENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE	Number Affected	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Giardia	15	34.9%	2.3%
Other *	6	14.0%	0.9%
Coccidia	6	14.0%	0.9%
Chronic Otitis	5	11.6%	0.8%
Heartworm Disease	3	7.0%	0.5%
Histoplasmosis	2	4.7%	0.3%
Chronic Bacterial Cystitis	1	2.3%	0.2%
Chronic Staph Pyoderma	1	2.3%	0.2%
Ehrlichiosis	1	2.3%	0.2%
Lung Parasites	1	2.3%	0.2%
Lyme Disease	1	2.3%	0.2%
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever	1	2.3%	0.2%
Total	43	100.0%	6.9%

* "Other" includes three reports of kennel cough and one report of hookworms. Six cases of Giardia and one case of hookworm infestation were reported in 1997 for a total of seven cases in this disease group. There are five cases of chronic otitis (inflammation or infection of the ear) placed in this disease group and one each of Chronic Bacterial Cystitis (bacterial bladder infections) and Chronic Staph Pyoderma (bacterial skin infection). Because these diagnoses are chronic in nature and may be associated with allergies or immune system deficiencies rather than communicable in nature, they could have been placed in other disease groups.

UROLOGICAL DISORDERS	Number Affected	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Bladder Stones	14	33.4%	2.3%
Urinary Tract Infections	10	23.8%	1.6%
Urinary Incontinence	8	19.1%	1.3%
Other *	4	9.5%	0.6%
Acute or Chronic Renal Failure	3	7.1%	0.5%
Kidney Stones	3	7.1%	0.5%
Total	42	100.0%	6.8%

* "Other" includes glomerularmyoencephalopathy (GME), kidney tumors, protein in urine, and slightly elevated creatinine. In 1997, 22 cases (9.4%) of urinary tract infections and 2 cases of kidney disease were reported. No other problems such as bladder or kidney stones, or urinary incontinence were specifically identified in that report.

TRAUMA	Number Affected	% of Group	% of Dogs Affected
Attacked by another animal	22	52.4%	3.6%
Other *	10	23.8%	1.6%
Hit by Car	8	19.0%	1.3%
Falling from Significant Height	2	4.8%	0.3%
Total	42	100.0%	6.8%

* "Other" included two Aussies who lost an eye, several dogs with bowel obstruction from ingesting foreign objects, falling into a pool, and several with fractures from accidents. Of the 22 cases in which an Australian Terrier was attacked by another animal, only eight respondents provided details. Two were bitten by rattlesnakes and one came in contact with a poisonous toad. Three were kicked and another two reported injury from dogfights.

DRUG REACTIONS	Number Affected	% of Group		% of Dogs Affected
Vaccine Reaction	22	61.1%		3.6%
Other *	6	16.7%		1.0%
General Anesthesia	3	8.3%		0.5%
Interceptor™	3	8.3%		0.5%
Acepromazine	1	2.8%		0.2%
Sulfas	1	2.8%		0.2%
Total	36	100.0%		5.8%

* Majority includes adverse reaction to various antibiotics. In the 1997 survey, 1% of the respondents reported an adverse reaction to anesthesia and 6% to vaccines.

NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS	Number Affected	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Epilepsy - Primary or Idiopathic	13	41.9%	2.1%
Seizure Disorder - Not Epilepsy	11	35.5%	1.8%
Other *	4	12.9%	0.6%
Myasthenia Gravis	2	6.5%	0.3%
Scottie Cramp	1	3.2%	0.2%
Total	31	100.0%	5.0%

* Includes stroke, brain aneurism, and "spinning". Three percent of Australian Terriers were reported with seizures in the 1997 survey.

CARDIOPULMONARY DISORDERS	Number Affected	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Other *	10	43.5%	1.6%
Collapsing Trachea	5	21.8%	0.8%
Other Acquired cardiac abnormalities	4	17.4%	0.6%
Mitral/Tricuspid Valve Degeneration	2	8.7%	0.3%
Chronic Bronchitis	1	4.3%	0.2%
Nasal Disorders	1	4.3%	0.2%
Total	23	100.0%	3.7%

* Includes six reports of dogs with heart murmurs, one unspecified respiratory disease, pneumonia, enlarged heart, and asthma. In 1997, Respiratory Conditions were reported to be extremely uncommon in Australian Terriers. Only two cases of infectious respiratory disease were reported with no mention of any specific cardiac disease.

IMMUNOLOGICAL & HEMOLYTIC DISORDERS	No. of Affecteds	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Immune Suppression	6	30.0%	1.0%
Hepatitis	4	20.0%	0.6%
Pemphigus Complex Disease	3	15.0%	0.5%
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia	2	10.0%	0.3%
Von Willebrand's Disease (VWD)	2	10.0%	0.3%
Other *	2	10.0%	0.3%
Rheumatoid Arthritis	1	5.0%	0.2%
Total	20	100.0%	3.2%

Immune Suppression diagnoses includes three cases of Systemic Lupus and two cases of vasculitis. * Includes one case of Autoimmune Orchitis (inflammation of testes resulting in infertility). The 1997 Survey noted that hematologic conditions were very uncommon in Australian Terriers. Only one case of VWD and one case of chronic anemia were reported.

NEONATAL MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY	No. of Affecteds	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Other	6	60.0%	1.0%
Hydrocephalus	2	20.0%	0.3%
Cleft palate/harelip	1	10.0%	0.2%
Fading Puppy Syndrome	1	10.0%	0.2%
Total	10	100.0%	1.6%
TOXICOLOGICAL MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY	No. of Affecteds	% of Disease Group	% of Dogs Affected
Warfarin (rat poison) toxicity	6	75.0%	1.0%
Organophosphate toxicity	2	25.0%	0.3%
Total	8	100.0%	1.3%