Bernese Mountain Dog Health: Common Problems & How to Prevent Them

By the Riverside Berner Guide editorial team
Last updated November 7, 2026

The most serious Bernese Mountain Dog health problems are cancer, especially histiocytic sarcoma, along with hip and elbow dysplasia and bloat. The breed club, the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA), puts the typical lifespan at just 7 to 8 years and calls that too short for a large breed. You can’t change a dog’s genes, but you can lower the odds by choosing a breeder who tests and shares results, and by giving your Berner careful lifelong care.

This guide walks through each major condition in plain language. It is not a substitute for a vet. Whenever a decision is medical, ask your vet.

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs healthy?

The honest answer is “many are, for a while, but the breed carries real risks.” The BMDCA’s Health Issues sheet says a Berner’s health comes from a mix of genetics and the care it gets throughout life. Every breed has inherited weak spots, and the Bernese is no exception.

The club ran a large health survey in 2005 to learn which problems were present and how common they were. The same sheet warns that a lack of data doesn’t mean a group of dogs is healthy. If a breeder says their dogs are healthier or longer-lived, the club says to ask for the records that prove it.

The BMDCA also describes a “health care team” of three: the breeder, the owner and the vet. The breeder chooses healthy parents, you manage daily care and habits, and your vet provides medical care. You’ll see each of those roles in the sections below.

Bernese Mountain Dog lifespan

The BMDCA’s health page gives a typical lifespan of 7 to 8 years. It also says many Berners live into their teens, but too many don’t. The Berner-Garde Foundation, the breed’s open health database, has a stated mission of a long, healthy life of 12 to 14 years for every Berner, according to a BMDCA info sheet.

Research outside the US tells a similar story. A study of 389 Swiss Berners born in 2001 and 2002 found a median lifespan of 8.4 years. Females lived longer than males, with medians of 8.8 and 7.7 years.

Cancer was the leading cause of death in that study by a wide margin. Far smaller shares of dogs died of degenerative joint disease (4.2%), spinal problems (3.4%), kidney damage (3.1%) and a twisted stomach or gut (1.8%). The cause was unknown for 23.4% of the dogs.

For the full picture, including what owners can and can’t influence, read our guide to Bernese Mountain Dog lifespan.

Cancer and histiocytic sarcoma

Cancer is the main reason Berners die young. In the BMDCA’s 2005 health study, 67% of the dogs that died had some form of cancer, according to the club’s Health Issues sheet. In the Swiss study, cancer accounted for 58.3% of deaths, though many of those cases were never confirmed under a microscope.

Histiocytic sarcoma

The BMDCA calls histiocytic sarcoma the most common cancer in the breed and says it has been shown to be inherited. Its risk test page describes an aggressive cancer of immune cells called histiocytes. It can stay in one spot, such as bones, joints, skin or lungs, or spread to several organs at once.

A 2009 study in the Journal of Heredity estimated that about a quarter of Berners are affected by the spreading form. In that research, the average age at onset was 6.5 years, and dogs lived an estimated 49 days after diagnosis. The BMDCA says no treatment has worked so far and the disease is fatal.

Other cancers

The Health Issues sheet says at least two cancers are inherited in Berners: mast cell cancer and histiocytic sarcoma. The club’s disease list also names hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of blood vessel cells, and lymphoma.

What you can do

You can’t screen a puppy for cancer, but you can stay alert. The BMDCA’s geriatric care sheet says lumps and bumps on a Berner of any age should be checked promptly by a vet. It notes that some cancers, such as mast cell tumors, can be removed and never come back if they are found early.

The club’s cancer page also lists ten common warning signs of cancer in pets. Our guide to cancer in Bernese Mountain Dogs covers histiocytic sarcoma, the risk test and warning signs in more depth.

Hip and elbow dysplasia

The BMDCA’s Health Issues sheet calls hip dysplasia perhaps the most widely discussed health challenge in Berners. It happens when the hip socket is unstable, which leads to arthritis over time. Some affected dogs never limp, while others are badly disabled.

Elbow dysplasia is a group of problems in the elbow joint. The club says it is usually more painful than hip dysplasia, because a dog carries more of its weight on its front legs. Lameness can start in puppies as young as 5 months.

How they’re found

Hip dysplasia usually can’t be detected in a puppy at the age it goes home, the club says. Both conditions can only be confirmed with X-rays read by a qualified vet. The OFA grades hips in seven categories, from Excellent to Severe, and offers preliminary checks for dogs between 4 and 23 months old.

What lowers the risk

Genes matter most. The BMDCA says dogs free of hip dysplasia tend to produce fewer affected puppies, although clear parents can still produce a dysplastic pup. That’s why the parents’ hip and elbow results are on every breeder checklist.

Care matters too. The OFA says calorie intake and exercise can affect how severe hip dysplasia becomes. The BMDCA’s disease list says growing large-breed puppies need balanced nutrition and shouldn’t be pushed into fast growth with high-calorie food, so ask your vet what and how much to feed.

Other joint and bone problems in young dogs

The club also lists panosteitis, a disease of the long bones in the legs. The Health Issues sheet says it usually affects growing dogs from 5 to 8 months and up to 2 years old. The limp can last weeks or months and may move from one leg to another, and it generally fades once the dog is mature.

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a cartilage disease that can also lead to arthritis. Because several of these conditions can cause a limp in a young Berner, have your vet check any lameness rather than guessing. Read more in our guide to hip and elbow dysplasia in Bernese Mountain Dogs.

Bloat (GDV): the emergency to know about

Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), happens when the stomach fills with gas and may twist. The BMDCA’s Health Issues sheet says it comes on fast and usually needs emergency surgery, and minutes can matter. Dogs that bloat once are more likely to bloat again.

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons lists deep-chested dogs, older dogs, dogs fed one large meal a day and dogs with affected relatives among those at higher risk. Early signs include:

• Retching without bringing anything up
• Drooling
• A swollen belly
• Looking anxious, restless or uncomfortable

If you see these signs, go to a vet or emergency clinic right away. The ACVS reports a death rate of about 15%, which rises when treatment is delayed.

The ACVS says feeding two or three smaller meals a day lowers the risk. It also says many surgeons recommend a preventive surgery called a gastropexy for at-risk breeds, often done during a spay or neuter. Whether that makes sense for your Berner is a question to ask your vet.

Other Bernese Mountain Dog health problems the BMDCA lists

The club’s Diseases & Conditions page covers about 30 conditions. These are the ones most often raised for Berners.

Degenerative myelopathy (DM)

DM is a disease of the spinal cord that slowly paralyzes the back legs of older dogs. The OFA says signs usually start between 8 and 14 years of age and are not painful. A second gene change linked to DM occurs in some Berners, so the OFA says testing for both may be wise in this breed.

A DNA test sorts dogs into Normal, Carrier and At-Risk. An At-Risk result doesn’t mean a dog will get DM, but the dog can pass the gene on. Ask the breeder for both parents’ results.

Eye disease

The BMDCA’s Health Issues sheet names cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and eyelid problems. PRA is inherited and leads to blindness. Entropion (the eyelid rolls in) and ectropion (it rolls out) can irritate or damage the eye, and both can be inherited.

The club urges owners to have their dog’s eyes checked by a veterinary eye specialist throughout its life.

Von Willebrand disease (vWD)

vWD is an inherited bleeding disorder. In Berners it is recessive, which means a puppy needs a copy of the gene from both parents to be affected, and a DNA test is available. The BMDCA recommends checking a dog’s clotting before surgery, so ask your vet about it before any planned operation.

Hypothyroidism

An underactive thyroid is fairly common in the breed, the BMDCA says. Signs can include a dry, thin or brittle coat, changes in temperament and weight gain even on modest meals. A vet diagnoses it with a blood test, and the club says it usually responds well to treatment.

Autoimmune disease

The club says autoimmune diseases affect Berners as they do other breeds. One example is aseptic meningitis, which most often strikes dogs between 3 and 12 months old. It can be hard to diagnose and can be life-threatening without prompt care, so call your vet if a young dog seems unwell.

Heart, gut and allergies

Subaortic stenosis (SAS) narrows the path blood takes as it leaves the heart. The BMDCA warns that it may give no warning signs before a sudden death, and it is likely inherited in Berners. The club also notes food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease and sensitive stomachs in some Bernese.

Screening: how prevention starts before you buy

Most of these conditions are at least partly inherited. That makes the parents’ health records your best early clue.

The BMDCA’s recommended tests

The BMDCA’s recommended testing for dogs that may be bred includes five required screens:

• Hips
• Elbows
• Eyes
• Heart
• Degenerative myelopathy

Each dog also needs at least one of three optional tests: von Willebrand disease, thyroid or the histiocytic sarcoma risk test. Dogs that complete the set can qualify for the OFA’s CHIC program or the club’s Berner Recommended Testing (BRT) program.

Neither program requires the results to be normal. They only require that the tests were done and shared, including bad results. So always ask to see the actual results, and use our guide to Bernese health clearances to read them.

Berner-Garde

Berner-Garde is the breed’s open health database, and the BMDCA’s health page says it holds records on more than 220,000 dogs. A BMDCA info sheet explains how buyers can look up a breeder’s dogs, check whether they test consistently, and see how long dogs in those lines lived.

The same sheet says a breeder who doesn’t enter dogs in Berner-Garde is a first red flag. Gaps matter too: data on only one puppy from a litter of eight backs up very little. Our guide to finding a reputable breeder shows how to use this when you vet breeders.

Ask about the whole family

The BMDCA says no line of dogs is free of disease. Ask the breeder which diseases show up in the puppy’s pedigree and how long relatives lived. A good breeder can answer with records, not just reassurance.

What you can do as an owner

Once your puppy is home, you become the main member of its health care team. None of these steps guarantees a longer life, but each one is backed by a reliable source.

Keep your Berner lean

Extra weight puts stress on the joints and heart. The BMDCA’s geriatric care sheet says lean dogs tend to live longer, and that you should be able to feel the ribs without pressing through fat.

A long-term study of 48 Labrador Retrievers, summarized by Tufts University’s veterinary school, backs this up. Dogs fed 25% less than their littermates stayed lean and lived about 18 to 24 months longer. That study wasn’t on Berners, so treat it as a strong hint rather than a promise.

Keep up with routine vet care

The geriatric care sheet suggests baseline blood and urine tests at about age two. It also suggests talking to your vet about yearly tests once your Berner is 5 or 6. Having a record of what’s normal for your dog can help your vet spot a problem sooner.

Make spay and neuter timing a vet decision

Timing may matter in this breed. A 2020 study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science that included 235 Berners found much higher rates of joint disorders in males neutered before age two than in intact males. It found no significant rise in joint disorders or cancer in spayed females.

That is one study, and your dog’s situation is unique, so ask your vet. Our guide on when to spay or neuter a Bernese Mountain Dog explains the research in more detail.

Watch for changes as your dog ages

Berners are considered veterans at age seven in the show ring, says the BMDCA. The club warns that a slow loss of 10% to 15% of a Berner’s normal weight may come before a diagnosis of serious illness. Changes in appetite, thirst or behavior can also be early clues, so tell your vet about them.

Senior Berners may need softer beds, a ramp, gentler grooming and more frequent nail trims. Arthritis, failing eyesight and hearing loss can show up as grumpiness or new fears.

Report to Berner-Garde

The BMDCA encourages every owner to enter their dog’s health information in Berner-Garde, even if the dog will never be bred. That includes the date and cause of death. A DNA and tissue repository run by Berner-Garde and Michigan State University also collects samples for research.

Signs that mean it’s time to call your vet

Knowing your dog’s normal habits makes problems easier to spot. These signs come from the sources above, and none of them is something to wait out:

• Retching without vomiting, a swollen belly or drooling. These can be bloat, which the ACVS calls an emergency.
• Any new lump or bump. The BMDCA says lumps on a Berner of any age should be checked promptly.
• Limping in a young dog. Elbow dysplasia can cause lameness from 5 months, and panosteitis from about 5 to 8 months, according to the BMDCA.
• Wobbly back legs in an older dog. Loss of coordination in the hind legs is an early sign of DM, says the OFA.
• Weight loss, or changes in thirst, appetite or behavior. The BMDCA’s geriatric care sheet says these can be early clues to illness.

Your vet decides what each sign means. Your job is to notice and call.

Pet insurance and planning for vet costs

Big dogs with inherited risks can mean big vet bills. Pet insurance is one way to plan, but the fine print matters more for a Berner than for many breeds.

The California Department of Insurance lists questions to ask before you buy. Some policies exclude:

• Hereditary disorders, such as hip dysplasia
• Congenital conditions, meaning problems present from birth
• Pre-existing conditions your pet was treated for before you enrolled
• Anything that happens during a waiting period

The same page warns that some plans pay from a fee schedule rather than your actual bill, and that premiums may rise after a claim. Because so many Berner problems are inherited, read the hereditary and congenital exclusions first. We don’t recommend any insurer, so compare policies yourself.

The bottom line on Bernese health

Bernese Mountain Dog health issues are serious, and no breeder or owner can rule them out. What you can do is stack the odds. Choose a breeder who tests, shares and reports, then keep your dog lean, stay alert to lumps and bloat, and lean on your vet for every medical decision.

If you’re still at the puppy stage, our guide to Bernese Mountain Dog puppies covers choosing a puppy and the first year.