This means that Veterinary Scientists can identify diseases that are known to occur in a given breed, and breeders can work to screen carriers of the known diseases out of their breeding program. Mixed breeds, on the other hand, can carry the genetic diseases occuring in each of their ancestral breeds. Before we go into a short summary of the more notable health problems in this breed, it should be noted that Miniature Schnauzers are overall a pretty healthy lot. Responsible breeders will be aware of the potential for hereditary problems and will try to eliminate known problems from their lines. C.J.C. or Congenital Juvenile Cataracts are present at birth and progress to cause blindness.
Surgery is available but costly.
Today there is no excuse for a puppy to be born with this disease. A huge problem just 25 years ago, research and cooperation among breeders resulted in hundreds of Miniature Schnauzers being retired from breeding. Today this defect is extremely rare among dogs from show lines. A Veterinary Opthamologist can diagnose puppies at an early age. Good breeders routinely have all their litters eyes checked.