collie is typically a very healthy breed, and is known to inherit few health conditions that are both serious and prevalent. Some health conditions of note include Collie eye anomaly, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), gastric torsion, dermatomyositis, grey collie syndrome (a type of neutropenia), collie nose (discoid lupus erythematosus), and demodicosis.Seizures, canine hip dysplasia, microphthalmia, and cyclic neutropenia are also occasionally seen.
The Collie Health Foundation (http://www.colliehealth.org) maintains a website and database on disorders affecting collies.

Some Collies suffer from a special gene defect due to a mutation in the multidrug resistance gene, MDR1. This is also known as “the Ivermectin-sensitive collie”. All dogs with this mutation must be descandents of a dog who lived in Great Britain in the midst of the 19th century. This mutation is found worldwide and can even cause the death of a dog, if it gets the wrong medicine (based on Ivermectin, Doramectin, Loperamid and many more pharmaceuticals). Therefore all Collies and breeds akin to them (such as the Shetland Sheepdog) should either be tested or receive a different class of heartworm preventative drug, such as milbemycin oxime (Interceptor brand by Novartis).

Collies typically live an average of 12 to 14 years.

Collies are known to be generally sweet and protective. They are generally easy to train due to a high level of intelligence and a willingness to please. Some collies are a bit clingy, but this is often seen as an overdeveloped sense of loyalty. They are excellent herding dogs and benefit from the companionship of a family or other dogs. Collies are very playful and gentle around children. They can also exhibit a strong herding instinct, especially around children.