Eye Problems

• Progressive retinal atrophy causes the retina to deteriorate and eventually leads to blindness. Congenital juvenile cataracts are rare in well-bred miniature schnauzers, but they can lead to blindness if expensive corrective surgery is not performed.
  
  

Urinary Tract Issues

• Urinary tract infections are common in this breed, sometimes leading to bladder or kidney stones. Antibiotics and prescription diets can help, but stones often develop anyway, necessitating expensive surgery.
  
  

Pancreatitis

• Miniature schnauzers often have high blood serum lipids, which can cause pancreatitis. Abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea are signs that emergency veterinary care is required.
  
  

Skin and Teeth Problems

• Miniature schnauzers can suffer from dietary skin allergies and be prone to skin problems connected to improper bathing and grooming practices. They will develop periodontal disease without proper oral care.
  
  

Hormonal and Autoimmune Diseases

• Overproduction of adrenal cortex hormones can often cause Cushing's disease. Hypothyroidism is a common problem that is often caused by genetic autoimmune disease.
  
  

Warning

• Mycobacterium avium infection has been recently discovered in miniature schnauzers, and it is deadly.