Health Problems
Found [373] Articles :: Page 23 of 25
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English Springer Spaniels are generally characterized as fairly calm and quite loyal dogs. If an English Springer Spaniel behaves aggressively, it may not be just a temperament issue. Many believe that English Springer Spaniels are susceptible to a rare disorder called rage syndrome. Though some contest that the illness exists; it is something to consider. [...]
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English Springer Spaniels are generally healthy dogs, but within the breed, there are some common health problems. The breed is prone to hip dysplasia, progressive retinal apathy, retinal dysplasia and phosphofructokinase deficiency. Owners should contact a veterinarian if symptoms present themselves. [...]
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Fortunately, Harriers are one of the healthiest of dog breeds, suffering only very rarely from a handful of conditions. One issue that is sometimes seen in the breed is "knuckling over"; this is not really a condition or disease in and of itself, but rather a sign or symptom of some underlying problem. When a dog experiences knuckling over, he begins to drag his hind feet when walking. Toe nails are worn down as are knuckles and the skin on the surface of the hind feet. Sometimes the front legs and feet are affected; the problem first arises, or at least is noticed, in the wrist area. There may be a bending of the foot and/or a bending or bowing of the legs; the front legs often cannot support the weight of the dog. The joints can also start swelling. [...]
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One of the conditions which sometimes affects Harriers is often not seen as a health condition, but rather a behavioral problem: genetic shyness. Lately, however, there has been an increase in the debate concerning whether or not shyness in dogs is entirely dictated by environment, or whether there is a genetic predisposition in some dogs, or even some breeds, to become shy; this is the whole nature versus nurture debate. Indeed, many scientists are now claiming that shyness does have a genetic component and it may be inherited.
In the past, it was automatic to assume that any dog who demonstrated shyness had been abused some time in his past. This certainly happens, and shy dogs may have a variety of traumatic experiences in their pasts, but this is by no means the case for all shy dogs. There are a number of shy dogs who have had loving homes from the beginning and yet exhibit some of the signs of shyness; there are also many dogs who have been abused and have never exhibited shyness. [...]
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Like many of today's dogs that have the benefit of dedicated breeders whose goal is the betterment of the breed, Old English Sheepdogs do not often suffer from a large number of inherited health problems. Despite this, though, there are some conditions that are occasionally seen in the breed and that can sometimes cause worry. Among these health issues there are a variety of conditions grouped under the category of autoimmune diseases.
The immune system is vital in protecting an animal's body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria; it acts somewhat like an army, attacking any cells that enter the body which do not belong in the body. Its action depends on the fact that it can recognize what cells belong to the body of an animal and what cells don't. When an animal has an autoimmune disease, something malfunctions in the immune system's capability to distinguish what is "self" and what is "non-self"; the immune system views some part of the body of the animal as foreign and believes it is a threat, attacking it. An autoimmune disease can involve a single organ, a certain area of the body, or the entire body; the severity of the condition is dependent on how large an area and what vital organs are involved. [...]
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The Finnish Spitz are basically a healthy breed of dog and do not suffer from many of the ailments common with other breeds. [...]
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As mentioned previously, thanks to their limited popularity and successful, informed breeding programs, Harriers are fortunate enough to not suffer from a great deal of genetic diseases. Actually, these dogs are considered one of the healthiest registered breeds. Occasionally, genetic conditions pop up and it is for this reason that breeders still advocate running genetic screens on adults and puppies; breeding individuals with genetic problems would increase the incidence of the genetic problems and the Harrier would no longer enjoy its healthy reputation. Though they haven't been seen in many years, eye problems have been diagnosed in some Harrier puppies and so it's best if you get your Harrier screened for the most common eye problems in dogs. [...]
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As mentioned, the Old English Sheepdog is a relatively healthy breed; this does not mean, though, that it does not suffer from some health issues, many of which have a genetic component. One of these conditions, which is common in other large breed dogs as well, is Bloat; some confusion exists regarding the actual name of this condition, as it can also be called Gastric Torsion or Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (GDV). This is not a disease to be taken lightly, as a good number of dogs that suffer from it die, often quickly; treatment can be complicated and may not always turn out positively. [...]
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The Old English Sheepdog may also suffer from conditions that are not genetic; one of these conditions is heatstroke, which can be common in dogs that have dense, profuse coats, especially if they live in areas where the temperatures get high. Dogs that engage in strenuous activity are at an especially high risk for heat stroke; while older dogs might naturally calm down on hot days, puppies must be looked after because they will have a tendency to play heartily, regardless of temperature.
If your dog spends a great deal of time outdoors, heatstroke is a serious concern. You should provide ample amounts of shade, water for drinking, and possibly some kind of container large enough in which the dog can wade and cool off his entire body. The best thing to do is make sure your dog stays indoors, in the air conditioning, as much as possible. [...]
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As with all other breeds of dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer is susceptible to a handful of genetic disorders, some more serious than others. One of these disorders is called Lymphedema. Lymph is a clear fluid that is gathered from the tissues and the spaces between the tissues of the body, to be dumped back into the blood using specialized vessels called lymph vessels. Edema, on the other hand, refers to swelling due to the presence of excess fluid within and between the tissues of the body. So the condition lymphedema involves the excessive accumulation of the protein-rich lymphatic fluid, which causes tissue swelling. [...]
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Another condition that seems to affect the German Shorthaired Pointer, though to a much lesser extent than others, is pannus (also known as chronic superficial keratitis), a corneal disease involving chronic inflammation, possibly brought on by an overly sensitive immune system. This disease mostly affects German Shepherds, though there are a handful of other breeds in which the condition occurs, the German Shorthaired Pointer being one of these. Exactly how the disease begins is unclear, though there is evidence that environmental factors may trigger its onset and influence how severe the disease gets; these factors include altitude and ultraviolet light. [...]
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One of the most devastating diseases that a dog can develop is canine hip dysplasia. Unfortunately, the German Shorthaired Pointer is susceptible to developing this disease. It seems as if the condition is caused by more than one gene acting together and it may be triggered by some environmental factor or factors, such as exercise, rate of growth and level of nutrition; this means that although a dog may be genetically predisposed to develop hip dysplasia, the condition may not pop up unless the right environmental factors are in place. [...]
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Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder in dogs and our canine companions seem to be the pets most often afflicted with this disorder; it's quite rare in cats. This disorder affects the thyroid gland, which is made of two small, connected lobes in the neck, on either side of the windpipe, that together are shaped like a butterfly. It is a very important gland because it has quite a number of functions, but one of its most important ones is the regulation of metabolism; it does this through a chemical messenger, or hormone, called thyroid hormone. The word hypo means below normal, and so hypothyroidism means a below normal activity of the thyroid, and more specifically, a below normal secretion level of thyroid hormone. [...]
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The Havanese breed seems to suffer from a wide variety of health problems, though none of these health problems seems to appear with a high frequency. This is most likely due to the fact that Havanese breeders and enthusiasts have dedicated a great amount of time, effort and research into keeping the gene pool healthy and minimizing the risk of disease development. Indeed, the breed is thought to be relatively healthy and the average lifespan for one of these dogs can be anywhere from 12 to 15 years of age. Heath problems do pop up in the breed, though, some more often than others and some more serious than others. One of the health problems seen occasionally in the Havanese is the liver shunt. [...]
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The Italian Greyhound is a dog that has relatively good health without any real major health problems. The one health issue that this dog does have is with their teeth. Dental problems are the one health issue that affects the Italian Greyhound the most. Many people don't realize how important it is to keep their dog's teeth clean. Many vets feel that failure to properly care for the teeth of the Italian Greyhound can shorten their life span as well as cause infections. [...]
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Health Problems
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