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Bernese Mountain Dog: health, lifespan and tests

The Bernese Mountain Dog has a short life expectancy, mostly because of cancer, in particular histiocytic sarcoma. Kidney disease and elbow problems are also more common than in other dogs, and some of this shows on urine and blood tests.

Tricolored Bernese Mountain Dog standing on grass
Photo: FriendlyToaster · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Written by the AI DiagAnimals editorial teamReviewed by the AI DiagAnimals TeamUpdated Our editorial policy

The essentials

In a Swiss study, Bernese Mountain Dogs lived a median of 8.4 years and cancer caused over half of the deaths. One cancer, histiocytic sarcoma, affects an estimated 15–25% of the breed. In healthy-looking Bernese, lab signs of kidney disease (protein in the urine or high kidney values) were found in 17.8%, against 1.8% of other dogs. Elbow and hip scoring and a urine protein test are the checks most often discussed.

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Bernese Mountain Dog at a glance

TraitDetail
OriginSwitzerland [1]
Breed groupFCI Group 2 (Pinscher and Schnauzer type, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs); AKC Working Group [1, 2]
Weight36–52 kg (80–115 lb) for males, 32–43 kg (70–95 lb) for females [2]
Height64–70 cm (25–27.5 in) for males, 58–66 cm (23–26 in) for females [1]
Life expectancyMedian 8.4 years in a Swiss study [3]; 10.1 years in a 2024 UK study of over 580,000 dogs [4]
CoatLong, shining, straight or slightly wavy; jet black with rich tan and white markings [1]

Origin

The Bernese is an old farm dog used as a guard, a draught dog and a cattle dog in the prealpine regions and midlands around Bern. It was first called “Dürrbächler”, after a hamlet and inn near Riggisberg where these long-haired tricolored dogs were especially common [1].

In 1907, breeders from the Burgdorf area founded a breed club to promote pure breeding, and 107 dogs were shown at Burgdorf in 1910. Renamed Bernese Mountain Dog, it is now known worldwide as a family dog [1].

Common health problems

  • Cancer: in a Swiss study of 381 Bernese that had died, cancer caused 58.3% of deaths (the cause was unknown in 23.4%). Females lived longer than males (median 8.8 vs 7.7 years) [3]. In the Netherlands, at least 55.1% of deaths were linked to malignant tumors [5].
  • Histiocytic sarcoma: a malignant tumor that is especially common in the breed. More than 1 Bernese in 7 died of it in a Dutch study [5], and it is estimated to occur in 15–25% of the breed [6].
  • Kidney disease: a familial glomerulonephritis (membranoproliferative) was described in Bernese aged 2 to 5 years [7]. In a German study, 17.8% of healthy-looking Bernese had lab signs of kidney disease, against 1.8% of control dogs [8]. See kidney disease in dogs.
  • Elbow and hip dysplasia: at screening in Sweden, 17.0% of young Bernese had elbow dysplasia and 19.9% had hip dysplasia (grades C–E) [9]. Degenerative joint disease caused 4.2% of deaths in the Swiss study [3].
  • Other causes of death: spinal disorders (3.4%), kidney injury (3.1%) and gastric or mesenteric volvulus (1.8%) [3].
  • Degenerative myelopathy: a second SOD1 gene variant (SOD1:c.52T) has been found only in Bernese Mountain Dogs [10].

Tests and screening in Bernese

  • Urine protein and kidney values: in the German study, kidney disease was defined as a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio above 0.5 with an inactive sediment and/or a raised kidney value [8]. See protein in urine and creatinine in dogs.
  • Lyme disease antibodies: 58% of healthy Bernese had antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, against 15% of control dogs [11]. Bernese also had more antibodies to Anaplasma, but no link was found between these antibodies and kidney disease [8]. See tick-borne diseases in dogs.
  • Histiocytic sarcoma: there is no screening blood test. A gene region (MTAP–CDKN2A) carries a haplotype found in 96% of affected Bernese, but it is a research finding about susceptibility [6].
  • DNA test for degenerative myelopathy (SOD1): genotyping looks for the SOD1 variants linked to the disease, including SOD1:c.52T, which has been found only in Bernese [10].
  • Elbow and hip scoring: X-rays graded on the International Elbow Working Group elbow scale and the FCI hip scale [9].

Related articles

Protein in urine in dogs and cats

The UPC ratio and what it means for the kidneys.

Read the article

Urinalysis for dogs and cats

Specific gravity, dipstick and sediment.

Read the article

En français : Bouvier bernois.

Questions to ask your veterinarian

  1. Should my Bernese have a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio checked regularly?
  2. Are my dog’s kidney values and urine normal for its age?
  3. Should my dog’s elbows and hips be X-rayed or scored?
  4. Which signs could point to histiocytic sarcoma or another cancer?
  5. Is my dog protected against ticks, and should we test for tick-borne infections?
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Frequently asked questions

How long do Bernese Mountain Dogs live?

The median was 8.4 years in a Swiss study, with females living longer than males [3]. A 2024 UK study found a median of 10.1 years [4].

Why do Bernese Mountain Dogs die young?

Mostly because of cancer: it caused 58.3% of deaths in the Swiss study [3], and histiocytic sarcoma alone killed more than 1 Bernese in 7 in the Netherlands [5].

What is histiocytic sarcoma?

A malignant tumor estimated to occur in 15–25% of Bernese Mountain Dogs [6]; more than 1 Bernese in 7 died of it in a Dutch study [5].

Do Bernese Mountain Dogs get kidney disease?

Yes, more often than other dogs: a familial glomerulonephritis is described in the breed [7], and 17.8% of healthy-looking Bernese had lab signs of kidney disease in one study [8].

What tests should a Bernese Mountain Dog have?

Elbow and hip scoring [9], urine protein and kidney values [8], and if wanted a DNA test for degenerative myelopathy [10].

Sources

  1. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. FCI Standard No. 45: Bernese Mountain Dog. fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/045g02-en.pdf
  2. American Kennel Club. Bernese Mountain Dog: dog breed information. akc.org/dog-breeds/bernese-mountain-dog
  3. Klopfenstein M et al. Life expectancy and causes of death in Bernese mountain dogs in Switzerland. BMC Vet Res. 2016;12(1):153. doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0782-9
  4. McMillan KM et al. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Sci Rep. 2024;14:531. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w
  5. Erich SA et al. Causes of death and the impact of histiocytic sarcoma on the life expectancy of the Dutch population of Bernese mountain dogs and Flat-coated retrievers. Vet J. 2013;198(3):678-683. doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.062
  6. Shearin AL et al. The MTAP-CDKN2A locus confers susceptibility to a naturally occurring canine cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2012;21(7):1019-1027. doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-12-0190-T
  7. Minkus G et al. Familial nephropathy in Bernese mountain dogs. Vet Pathol. 1994;31(4):421-428. doi.org/10.1177/030098589403100403
  8. Preyß-Jägeler C et al. Changes in renal parameters and their association with subclinical vector-borne infections in Bernese Mountain dogs. BMC Vet Res. 2020;16(1):285. doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02506-0
  9. Engdahl K et al. Prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia in young adult dogs in Sweden. Vet Rec. 2026;198(12):e560-e573. doi.org/10.1002/vetr.70224
  10. Zeng R et al. Breed distribution of SOD1 alleles previously associated with canine degenerative myelopathy. J Vet Intern Med. 2014;28(2):515-521. doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12317
  11. Gerber B et al. Increased prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Bernese Mountain Dogs: a possible breed predisposition. BMC Vet Res. 2007;3:15. doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-3-15

Laboratory methods and reference intervals vary. This article explains; it does not diagnose. For a decision about your pet, use the original report and talk to your veterinarian. Our editorial policy.

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