Summary: NCL5 is a disease affecting the central nervous system of Border Collies. The nerve cells of the affected dog are progressively damaged by an interruption in certain metabolic pathways, leading to neurological signs such as vision loss (partial or complete), unbalanced gait, or even seizures. Symptom severity can vary from dog to dog, however this is a degenerative disease where symptoms tend to become more extreme as time passes.

Screening: NCL5 is a testable disease through multiple genetic testing companies. The recessive heritability means that two copies of the affected gene is required for a dog to be affected with the disease.

Inheritance: Recessive