2013 ESS Health Survey

A major UK ESS Breed Health Survey was carried out over a three month period from 1st May - 31st July 2013. The Survey attracted an unprecedented total of 5,017 responses, representing 4,327 living dogs and 690 dogs that died between January 2008 and July 2013, making it by far the largest survey of the breed ever carried out in the UK. A full report of the Survey Results has been published and can be viewed and/or downloaded as a .pdf document by clicking on the link below:

Headline Survey Results:

Current (Living) Dogs (4,327 Responses):

• Of the total, 2,162 ESSs were male and 2,165 were female, an almost exact 50/50 split.

• 71% were bred from "working" lines, 14.5% from "show" lines. 6.6% were from a combination of show/working lines, 7.9% unknown lines.

• 87% of the total were Kennel Club registered, 13% unregistered.

• 40% of all males and 45% of all females were neutered.

• 13% of all males and 24% of all females had been bred from.

• The Mean Average Age of all dogs surveyed was 3.94 years. The Median (Mid-Point) Age was 3 years.

• 75.6% of all dogs had no reported health conditions (74.7% of all males/76.5% of all females).

• The most frequently reported health condition was Otitis Externa (inflammation of the outer ear/ear canal), with an overall prevalence of 4.2%.

• As a group category, Musculoskeletal conditions (including Arthritis, Cruciate Disease, Hip and Elbow Dysplasia) were the most frequently reported, with a combined overall prevalence of 11.5%.

Mortality Survey (690 Responses):

• The Mean Average Age at death was 10 years 9 months. The Median (Mid-Point) Age at death was 12 years.

• The most frequently reported categories of conditions causing death were Cancers/Tumours (26.5%), General "Old Age" (25.1%), Liver/Pancreatic (7.5%), Cerebral Vascular (6.4%), Cardiac (6.2%).

The Survey itself is no longer open, but we are asking all owners of ESSs living or bred in the UK to please click on the links below to Report A Health Condition or Report The Death Of Your ESS, so that we can continue to monitor breed health and mortality on an ongoing basis.