Health Problems
Found [373] Articles :: Page 17 of 25
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Many dog owners tend to be quite worrisome when it comes to their canine pet; they look for any signs of pain and/or distress, as they are aware of the fact that their dogs cannot speak for themselves to communicate any problems. One of the behaviors that never fails to terrify dog owners, especially the first time they witness it, is the "reverse sneeze." While the majority of dog breeds has an occasional bout of reverse sneezing, breeds with short noses, also called Brachycephalic breeds, seem to be especially prone to this behavior; Boston Terriers are among the Brachycephalic breeds and they are among the breeds that most commonly exhibit reverse sneezing. [...]
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Ununited anconeal process is a form of elbow dysplasia that is inherited. This condition is present at birth and can range in severity from mild and relatively unnoticeable to a severe impairment in the dog's ability to move. In some cases ununited anconeal process is very painful on an ongoing basis for the puppy or dog, while in others the pain seems minimal and may only flare up if the dog is exercised more than usually or has been relaxed for a long period of time and then suddenly gets up to move.
Ununited anconeal process is inherited by a polygenetic factor, which means that more than one gene combination causes the condition. This complicates the ability to simply breed out the condition within a line or breed since there are many different genes that could be involved. [...]
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Tooth loss is much more serious in dogs that many owners understand. Loss of the ability to correctly masticate or chew food can result in digestive problems and even further tooth loss as food sticks or collects in the pockets left by the missing teeth, increasing tarter build-up and leading to increased problems with gingivitis and gum disease.
As dog's mature and reach their senior years they are more prone to tooth loss. In some breeds such as the Chinese Crested, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu and the Italian Greyhound tooth loss is a definite concern for owners. Tooth loss in small and miniature breeds, especially in those designated as teacup or toy is often one of the biggest factors that owners will have to deal with as the dog matures. [...]
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As with many Brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds with prominent eyes, the Boston Terrier unfortunately suffers from a number of eye problems. Some are less severe than others, though all require prompt veterinary attention. If you are considering the addition of a Boston Terrier to your family, you must be willing to devote time to regularly checking the health of your dog's eyes and bringing him or her for regular visits to the vet. Some of the more common eye conditions that can develop in Boston Terriers are cataracts and corneal ulcers, the latter usually in conjunction with corneal dystrophy. [...]
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Many people find Boston Terriers to be extremely attractive thanks to their bulging eyes and pushed in face; indeed, many proud Boston Terrier owners claim that the dog’s characteristic face was what initially sparked their love affair with the breed. While some people may find the Boston Terrier’s features appealing, there are some inherent health problems, mainly respiratory in nature, that go along with that shortened snout. The series of issues associated with that pushed in nose are grouped together under the heading Brachycephalic syndrome; these dogs are called brachycephalic dogs, where “brachy” means “short” and “cephalic” means “head.” [...]
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Deafness in dogs is not such a rare occurrence and the condition occurs in some breeds more often than others. Boston Terriers are one of the breeds that suffers from congenital deafness, or deafness present at birth. Exactly what causes congenital deafness is not yet entirely known, though most experts agree that it has something to do with pigment genes; these are genes responsible for giving color to the hair cells and the eye cells of an animal. Certain color genes are associated with blindness. [...]
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Many dog owners get so involved with a particular type of dog that they then start considering the idea of breeding that dog. Dog breeding carries great responsibility and should not be done unless an owner really thinks that his or her dog can significantly contribute to the gene pool of the breed. The dogs to be used in the breeding should have a variety of medical tests done to confirm their health and they should have the best possible temperament for their breed. All too often, uneducated individuals get into breeding simply thinking that it's a get rich quick scheme, especially when it comes to certain breeds of dogs that fetch a high price. Breeding is not an easy way to make money and with many breeds, money is sometimes lost. Indeed, this is the case with the Boston Terrier. [...]
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Dogs that are diagnosed with a condition known as thrombocytopenia will have problems with both bleeding and bruising due to a low number of platelets in the blood, which will prevent the blood from clotting. This condition can be fatal, especially if the dog is seriously injured and has internal or external bleeding that cannot be stopped. In addition if the dog's platelet count drops below a certain level they can start spontaneously bleeding internally which is almost always a fatal condition.
There are two different types of thrombocytopenia. The first type is called immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and is hereditary in nature. The breeds most commonly seen with this inherited condition include Poodles, American Cocker Spaniels and Old English Sheepdogs. It is much more prevalent in females, which is one of the key factors in determining that it is a sex-linked genetic condition. [...]
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There are many breeds that are prone to excessive tear production just as some breeds are more prone to dry eye conditions and lack of tear production. Either condition can be a direct result of injury, genetic conditions or infections to the eyes that are inhibiting or stimulating the tear gland functioning.
In cases where excessive tearing is noted there are usually both genetic and health factors at work. In breeds such as the Maltese, Miniature Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Shar Pei, Pomeranian and American Cocker Spaniel excessive tear formation, also known as epiphora, is very common. In white and light colored dogs the result may be a reddish stain down the muzzle from the eyes, typically known as red yeast stain. In darker colored the dogs the tear stain may be much less noticeable, but there may be a slightly yeasty or dank smell about the head of the dog. [...]
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There are many different diseases that canines and humans can both suffer from and syringomyelia is one such condition. It is believed that in one breed, namely the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, this condition is inherited and can be caused by a Chiari malformation at the base of the spine and the skull. The condition is named after Arnold Chiari, the first human diagnosed with the condition.
The cause of syringomyelia in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is always from the development of fluid filled compartments or sacs along the spinal column. These fluid sacs prevent the normal movement of fluids through the spinal column resulting in extreme pain in movement below where the fluid sac, more correctly known as the syrinx, is located. [...]
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Catahoula Leopard dogs are one of those lucky breeds that come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, from solid to the merle pattern, which resembles the leopard pattern and gives the dog its name. There were three lines of Catahoula dogs being bred by different breeders for many years of varying size and color, and the crossing of these three lines is what gave today's Catahoula the wide variety of colors and patterns. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the best known feature of the Catahoula Leopard dog its coat. [...]
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Swollen hock syndrome is most common in the Shar Pei breed and goes by many different names, depending on where you are and what the local breeders are referring to the condition as. In some areas it is called Familial Shar Pei Fever, Hock Fever or Systemic Amyloidosis. Not a true fever as such, swollen hock syndrome is caused by an inability of the body, namely the kidneys and liver, to correctly break down and remove amyloidal proteins from the body. These amyloids can collect in the joints, bones and muscles resulting in the swelling and tenderness in the legs, muzzle and other muscles of the body. [...]
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Whippets, like other members of the Sighthound group of breeds, have traditionally had problems undergoing anesthesia for surgery. Thanks to advances in veterinary science, most veterinarians are aware of the special needs of these dogs when administering anesthesia and there are fewer problems today than in the past. That being said, every responsible Whippet owner should be aware of the dangers of anesthesia in Sighthounds in case there is a chance of having to undergo surgery during the dog's lifetime. In this article, we'll take a look at why Whippets need special care when being administered anesthesia and what you can do to make sure your dog will be safe if it has to undergo surgery. [...]
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Whippets, like other members of the Sighthound group of breeds, have traditionally had problems undergoing anesthesia for surgery. Thanks to advances in veterinary science, most veterinarians are aware of the special needs of these dogs when administering anesthesia and there are fewer problems today than in the past. That being said, every responsible Whippet owner should be aware of the dangers of anesthesia in Sighthounds in case there is a chance of having to undergo surgery during the dog's lifetime. In this article, we'll take a look at why Whippets need special care when being administered anesthesia and what you can do to make sure your dog will be safe if it has to undergo surgery. [...]
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The medical term for pinched nostrils is stenotic nares and it is a common problem in many of the brachycephalic or pug-nosed dogs. These breeds seem to have a huge list of respiratory problems that can develop over time due to their short head formation and the compact nature of the respiratory system. Stenotic nares in themselves may not be problematic for the dog unless there are other complications that make breathing difficult for the pet.
The most common breeds affected by stenotic nares include Pugs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, English Bulldogs, Boxers and Shih Tzus. These dogs are born with cartilage malformations in the nose that limit or restrict the opening of the nostril, slightly to greatly reducing the airflow through the nose. [...]
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Health Problems
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