Getting a Scottish Deerhound can be a big responsibility because the life of a dog is in your hands. Because of this, it is imperative that you know the health problems that are commonly associated with a Scottish Deerhound and what you should do if your dog is afflicted by such illnesses.
Here are the common illnesses found among Scottish Deerhounds, and also the various treatments and prevention measures that you can use to ensure that your pet is fit and healthy.
-- Some ten percent of Scottish Deerhounds are prone to bloating. Also termed as gastric dilation, this illness happens when the stomach is filled with gas that cannot be expelled and it is twisted out of its normal position. If you suspect that your Deerhound is suffering from bloating, then it is best to bring it to the vet at once, as affected dogs can immediately suffer from shock. A surgical procedure is called for when it comes to the long term treatment of this illness, which entails returning the position of your dog's stomach to normal. The more immediate treatment for this illness would require the deflation of your dog's stomach to its normal size through the use of tube insertion either by way of a stomach puncture or through the throat. Drugs and intravenous fluids can also be administered.
To prevent your Scottish Deerhound from getting bloated, you must train it to eat at a slower pace. It is also best that you feed it small meal portions several times a day instead of a large one once a day. This illness is more common among female Scottish Deerhounds than in males.
-- Because Scottish Deerhounds are large and very athletic, they are more prone to accidents, which in turn could result to lameness or a number of broken bones or fractures. Some eleven percent of Deerhounds are bound to get this health problem. Most of the fractures experienced by Scottish Deerhounds are those that occur on the legs or on the toes and the lameness will most probably involve injuries on the knee joint. Treatment for these would range from restricting exercise to bone setting.
As Scottish Deerhounds are active in nature, there is not much that you can do to prevent fractures and lameness. Probably the best thing you can do is to ensure that proper treatment is administered once your dog gets injured. This is to prevent its ailment from getting worse.
If you want to find out more about common health problems among Scottish Deerhounds, then you can do some research through books, magazines and even online. This is the best thing that you can do if you want to be a more responsible dog owner and keep your Deerhound as healthy as possible. If you are a knowledgeable owner, then you won't have the need to panic every time you sense something is wrong with your dog. You will know what to do when emergencies come up.
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