Exercised Induced Collapse (EIC)
In early 2025, the BHF began an inquiry into the prevalence of EIC in Bouviers in the U.S. Research has shown the presence of the EIC gene in European Bouviers is 3%. We did not know if it was an issue here. We tested (DNA swabs) 28 unrelated Bouviers at the National Speciality in September, 2025. Those results were analyzed along with previously tested Bouviers for a total sample population of 122. The final outcome of all samples found 18 carriers (14.7% of the sample), 2 affected (1.64% of sample) and 102 normal. This shows the risk gene at 9% of the population sampled compared to the 3% in Europe.
Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) is one of only three inherited diseases of Bouviers for which there is a known genetic marker. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning that the disease appears only when a dog inherits two mutated copies of a gene, one from each parent. It is considered variably penetrant – meaning that the degree of severity of EIC is variable from dog-to-dog.
Exercise-induced collapse is characterized by muscle weakness and lack of coordination, particularly in the hindquarters, after 5-20 minutes of strenuous exercise in otherwise apparently healthy dogs. Episodes usually last 5-25 minutes with a gradual return to normal with no residual symptoms. Severity of EIC varies and severe attacks can be life- threatening. In addition, even moderate symptoms occurring in an active dog can result in significant injury (falling from an agility A-frame, being unable to avoid being kicked by cattle). Watch this EIC Video to learn more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P1svaaKkwk
If you have had a genetic profile done (Embark, Royal Canin, Wisdom) on your Bouvier, there is likely a EIC result. The results will be N/N (normal gene from each parent), N/EIC (normal gene from one parent, mutated gene from the other parent), or EIC/EIC (mutated gene from both parents).
What does this mean?
The N/N dog will not have exercise-induced collapse and cannot transmit it to their offspring. The N/EIC dog will not have exercise-induced collapse, but is a carrier of the disease and will transmit the mutated gene to 50% of his or her offspring. Matings between two carriers are predicted to produce offspring in which 25% are unaffected (N/N), 50% are carriers (N/EIC), and 25% are affected (EIC/EIC). Being an EIC carrier does not exclude a dog from the breeding pool, but the EIC status of the mate should be known to avoid the breeding of affected puppies.
The EIC/EIC dogs are affected to a variable degree and are prone to EIC, which is a serious, but usually manageable, problem. Owner knowledge of EIC is especially important for performance dogs. The strenuous exercise that can be involved in sports such as carting, agility, herding, and fast-cat could lead to symptoms of EIC and also injury.
How to Get an EIC Test for Your Bouvier
Obtain a test kit by ordering on-line from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, which will be processed at the University of Missouri ($65):
Go to ofa.org, click on “Diseases” in the dark blue banner
Scroll down and click on “DNA-based disease tests”
Scroll down and click on “Exercise-Induced Collapse”
After reading through a brief description of the disease, click on the“Order DNA Test” box which will open a page listing available DNA test kits. Select “EIC”,scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the orange box, which will open the EIC test kit order form page.
Turn-around time is approximately 2 weeks from your submission of the completed cheek swab, and test cost includes registering the results in the OFA database and sending you a certificate of results.
If you have already had an EIC test done, or choose to have testing done through a commercial lab or a veterinary medical school (#1 or 2 above), please send the results on to OFA so that they can be included in the database and we can update our resarch.
HOW TO SEND RESULTS TO OFA:
Go to ofa.org, click on “Applications” in the dark blue banner
Scroll down and click on “DNA-based Genetic Disease” and scroll to the bottom of the page to either fill out and print a form on-line or
download a blank form to be completed. Submit the completed form, a copy of the laboratory report, and $15 processing fee by mail to the OFA.
We appreciate your assistance in collecting this important data!
EIC testing can be done at home and is simple, safe, and painless, requiring only obtaining a cheek swab.
If you would like to test your dog for the EIC genetic marker, you can Do a full genetic profile through one of the commercial testing companies ($125-165). Embark, Wisdom, Royal Canin, etc.
Have a specific EIC test done (~$65) through one of the testing veterinary medical schools, such as UC-Davis, which you can contact on-line.
GENETIC DISEASE MARKER FOUND FOR BOUVIERS
BHF would like to investigate it’s prevalence in our breed.
IF YOU HAVE HAD A GENETIC PROFILE (i.e. Embark, Wisdom, Royal Canin or other) COMPLETED ON YOUR BOUVIER AND YOU RECEIVED EIC RESULTS : N/N (normal), N/EIC (recessive gene carrier), EIC/EIC prone to the condition . This is the marker that is screened for in these genetic profiles. (There are only 2 other known genetic markers for Bouviers, see our article on Resources page).
PLEASE CONTACT US AT Bouvier.hf.secretary@gmail.com SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO RECORD THE FREQUENCY IN BOUVIERS (or send results to OFA).
Phenotype: Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) is characterized by muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and potentially life-threatening collapse after intense exercise in otherwise apparently healthy dogs.
Affected dogs tolerate mild to moderate activity but will display signs of EIC after 5-20 minutes of strenuous exercise. The severity of EIC varies. EIC episodes lasts from 5-25 minutes with a gradual return to normal with no apparent residual weakness or stiffness. It can be life threatening in a severe attack.
Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive Alleles: N = Normal, EIC = Exercise-induced collapse.
Explanation of Results:
Dogs with N/N genotype will not have exercise-induced collapse and cannot transmit this EIC variant to their offspring.
Dogs with N/EIC genotype will not have exercise-induced collapse, but are carriers. They will transmit this EIC variant to 50% of their offspring (carriers). Matings between two carriers are predicted to produce 25% exercise-induced collapse-affected puppies.(N/EIC X N/EIC= 25% unaffected, 50% carriers and 25% EIC affected puppies)
Dogs with EIC/EIC genotype will be prone to exercise-induced collapse, a serious but usually manageable neuromuscular disorder.
Note that being a carrier does not exclude the dog from the breeding pool but that the EIC status of the mate should be known.
Owner knowledge of EIC is especially important for performance dogs. The strenuous exercise that can be involved in sports such as carting, agility, herding and fast cat could lead to an exercise induced collapse in affected dogs.
If you would like to test your dog for the EIC genetic marker you can do a full genetic profile with one of the above companies ($85-$120) or you can request an EIC test swab kit from bouvier.hf.secretary@gmail.com. We have arranged for the genetic lab at the University of Missouri to provide EIC tests for $35 for a limited time. This test is for the EIC genetic marker only.