Lifespan
Health surveys of Bernese Mountain Dogs show that this breed is very short-lived compared to breeds of similar size and purebred dogs in general. Berners have a median longevity of 7 years. By comparison, most other breeds of similar size have median longevities of 10 to 11 years. The longest lived of 394 deceased Berners in a 2004 UK survey died at 15.2 years.
Cancer
Cancer is the leading cause of death for dogs in general, but Berners have a much higher rate of fatal cancer than other breeds. In health surveys nearly half of Berners died of cancer, compared to about 27% of all dogs. Berners are killed by a multitude of different types of cancer, including malignant histiocytosis, mast cell tumor, lymphosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and osteosarcoma.
Musculoskeletal Concerns
Owners of Berners are nearly three times as likely as owners of other breeds to report musculoskeletal problems in their dogs. The most commonly reported musculoskeletal issues are cruciate ligament rupture, arthritis (especially in shoulders and elbows), hip dysplasia, and osteochondritis. The age at onset for musculoskeletal problems is also unusually low.