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Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers can be affected by hip dysplasia, Addison’s disease, inherited eye disease, and other genetic conditions. These are breed-health topics to discuss with a veterinarian or breeder—not predictions that an individual Toller will develop them. Breed tests also have limits: a negative result for juvenile Addison’s disease does not rule out every form of Addison’s disease.
What health problems are common in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers?
Breed-club and veterinary guidance identify several conditions worth knowing about, including hip dysplasia, Addison’s disease, inherited eye disease, and particular genetic disorders. That does not establish that every condition is common, or show how likely an individual dog is to develop one. A test being available is not evidence of high prevalence.
The available UK Kennel Club health survey is historic and limited: in 2004, 91 live Tollers had health information, and 41 (45%) had at least one reported health condition. The same survey recorded nine Toller deaths; cancer was listed for three (33.3%). Those small, dated samples cannot establish current breed-wide prevalence or a current cancer mortality rate. Reliable current population-wide prevalence estimates were not established.
What are the signs of Addison’s disease in a Toller?
Addison’s disease, or hypoadrenocorticism, occurs when the adrenal glands fail to produce enough hormones. Signs can be vague and may come and go. In dogs generally, VCA lists lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and urination, unplanned weight loss, and sometimes intermittent shaking. The Toller breed club also describes juvenile Addison’s disease (JADD), which can affect puppies from 8 weeks to 12 months, with signs including lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and eye problems.
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Sudden weakness, severe vomiting or diarrhea, or collapse warrants urgent veterinary attention. These signs do not confirm Addison’s disease; a veterinarian must assess the dog. VCA identifies the ACTH stimulation test as the most definitive diagnostic test.
UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory notes that “In the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, a genetic form of Addison’s disease can occur in puppies.” A DNA test for JADD addresses that genetic form only. The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of Victoria says that “there is currently no genetic test available for Atypical Addison’s Disease which affects adult dogs.” A negative JADD result therefore does not rule out atypical adult Addison’s disease.
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What other health issues should Toller owners watch for?
Hip dysplasia and mobility changes
Hip dysplasia is a developmental joint condition. VCA lists possible signs such as hind-limb weakness or pain, wobbliness, reluctance to rise, limping, or reluctance to climb stairs. Some affected dogs show few signs. These symptoms are not specific to hip dysplasia, and the listed signs do not establish a Toller-specific incidence rate. Veterinary examination and radiographs are used in diagnosis.
Notice and report changes in your dog’s mobility, but distinguish that day-to-day observation from planned radiographic screening, which is used in breeding decisions. Breed-club guidance also discusses elbow dysplasia evaluations.
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Inherited eye disease
Progressive retinal atrophy associated with the PRCD variant (PRA-prcd) is an inherited, late-onset eye disease found in multiple breeds, according to UC Davis. A DNA test for that variant does not screen for every eye disorder. An ophthalmologist examination is a separate evaluation and appears in the American Kennel Club’s Toller screening recommendations.
Other named genetic and neurologic conditions
UC Davis describes a CLPS genetic variant that can cause cleft lip and/or palate in Toller puppies, sometimes alongside syndactyly (fused toes). Its description also notes multiple genetic causes of cleft palate in the breed, with CP1 identified as the most common form in that account. The UC Davis panel also lists JADD and degenerative myelopathy (DM).
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The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of Victoria lists additional available tests for cardiac laminopathy (CLAM), cerebellar degeneration-myositis complex (CDMC), chondrodystrophy/IVDD risk, degenerative encephalopathy (DE), and collie eye anomaly (CEA). These are screening topics, not a ranking of the most frequent Toller illnesses.
The Victoria club describes CLAM as a fatal inherited condition associated with dilated cardiomyopathy and sudden death in young adult Tollers, while noting that the research it cites had not yet been published when its page was written. The club describes CDMC as involving loss of coordination and balance, with early signs reported in puppies. It says DE can involve progressive neurologic signs and does not appear common in the breed. Treat these as reasons to ask about a dog’s family health history and relevant screening, not as evidence that a particular dog is affected.
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What should I ask a Toller breeder about health testing?
Screening combines different kinds of evaluation; no one result provides a complete health assessment. The AKC’s current Sporting Group requirements page lists the following evaluations for Tollers:
| Screening type | What it evaluates | What to understand about the result |
|---|---|---|
| Hip evaluation | Orthopedic structure | A radiographic evaluation supports breeding decisions; it is not a DNA test or a guarantee about an offspring’s future health. |
| Cardiac exam | Heart health at the time of examination | A clinical exam is distinct from testing for a specific inherited variant. |
| Ophthalmologist evaluation | Eye health at the time of examination | This is separate from a DNA test for PRA-prcd and can assess beyond that one variant. |
| CP1/CLPS DNA test | Specified genetic variants associated with cleft palate or cleft lip and palate | A result addresses the tested variants, not every possible cause of a cleft condition. |
| PRA-prcd DNA test | The tested PRCD variant associated with progressive retinal atrophy | It does not screen for every eye disease. |
| JADD DNA test | The genetic form of juvenile Addison’s disease | A negative result does not rule out atypical adult Addison’s disease. |
| Buff genetic test | A coat-color genetic variant | This is a genetic screening item, not a substitute for health evaluations. |
Recommendations and accepted registries can differ by country, family line, and breeding decision. The Victoria club lists further tests beyond the AKC page, so ask which current breed-club recommendations apply where the litter is being bred and registered.
- Ask for the named sire’s and dam’s actual results, not only a general assurance that they were “health tested.”
- Ask which registry or laboratory issued each result and whether records can be verified publicly.
- Ask how the breeder interprets each test for the planned pairing, including any limits of the test.
- Discuss family history and the meaning of results with your veterinarian; a screening result is not a diagnosis of an individual dog.
What should owners monitor at home?
Keep brief notes when you notice recurring changes in appetite or energy, vomiting or diarrhea, drinking or urination, mobility, vision, or coordination. Sharing when a change began and whether it has recurred can help your veterinarian assess the dog; these observations are not a home diagnostic method.
Contact your veterinarian about persistent or worsening symptoms. Sudden collapse, severe weakness, or severe vomiting or diarrhea needs urgent veterinary attention.
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