Dog Breeds and health issues

Cherry Blossom

Thought it might be a good idea to start a thread as a resource to people with information about the health issues various dog breeds are suceptible to and identifying those breeds with fewer health problems. I'm aware of a large number of dog owners on Boards who have acquired a wealth of knowledge about the breeds they love and it may be helpful to prospective owners and as general information for the rest of us.

Cherry Blossom

West Highland White Terrier

Cons: Suceptible to skin allergies and have a delicate digestive system

Both can be controlled to a certain degree just by feeding a suitable diet.

Pros: Allround they are generally a healthy breed with few other common problems and many remain very active well into old age

belongtojazz

Not a health problem as such but certainly something to be aware of:
Springer Spaniels can suffer with excitable colitis (sp) My guy has this as has most springers I have come across in the past year. It means when they get worked up or excited they can poo for Ireland

Chris_Heilong

German Spitz, Japanese spitz and Pomeranians,

Cons: early tooth loss, inflamation of tear ducts and black skin disease.

Pros: great dogs, lots of personality and easy to train.

Shazanne

Cross breeds - aka mongrels! There are 131 recognised diseases that a mongrel does not get that cause problems for purebreds - that is a fact.
I have a terrier cross and a basset cross and they are as healthy as oxes! My previous spaniel cross lived to be 18.5 years old!
If you want a healthy and hardy dog then opt for a corss breed - preferably a rescue one.
I know, OP, that this is not the type of post you are looking for but I do feel it is relevant.

bunny&spoon

Cons: ingrown eyelashes and other eye problems, hip displysia and have a bottemless pit for a stomach!

Pros: love to learn, very active and very affectionate. Prone to licking to licking you to death!

lrushe

The three breeds I own:

Japanese Spitz
Health Problems
Mostly a healthy breed, no consistant or common health problems.
Personality
Happy, lively dog, medium exercise requirments. Intelligent, easy to train. Needs extra grooming when moulting. Can be a barker if not trained otherwise. Nobody will get into your garden or house without your Spitz letting you know!!!
Chihuahua
Heath Problems
*Chi's suffer from hydrocphalus (water on the brain).
*Severe eye problems where the eyes are too big for the eye lids therefore the dog can't close its eyes or blink properly leading to dry eyes that need eye drops daily to moisten the eyes, it can eventually lead to blindness.
*Luxating Patella which is common in little dogs and its a condition where simiple put the knee cap slides out of place causing great pain to the dog.
Personality
Can be shy, one person dogs. Contrary to popular belief these dogs enjoy a walk and shouldn't be carried everywhere. Will alert you to stranges in your house or garden.

Rottweiler
Health Problems
*Numerous different cancers most notably Osteosarcoma or bone cancer.
*Heart problems / murmurs (Sub-Aortic Stenosis or SAS).
*Bloat or twisted guts.
*Highly susceptible to the Parvo virus even when vacc'd against it.
*Hip and Elbow Dysplasia.
Personality
Fun loving clowns. Need a firm but fair owner who is willing to put the time and effort into early training and socialising. Exceptionally intelligent and really enjoy having a job or sport to do, without this they will become destructive.

The Sweeper

For 'designer' breed lovers:

Poodles and subsequently poodle crosses (this includes labradoodles, for anyone who thinks a non-shedding dog sounds like a good idea) - luxating patellas. This is where the kneecap is prone to dislocation.

Risks:

Uncorrected, the patellar ridges will wear, the groove will become even shallower, and the dog will become progressively more lame. Arthritis will prematurely affect the joint, causing a permanently swollen knee with poor mobility. Therefore, a good evaluation needs to be done by your veterinarian early in the condition to prevent long-term arthritic crippling.

Treatment is surgical - some dogs will never need to be treated as the condition may not be too severe, and the dislocations may not be common.

pokertalk

Shazanne wrote: »

Cross breeds - aka mongrels! There are 131 recognised diseases that a mongrel does not get that cause problems for purebreds - that is a fact.
I have a terrier cross and a basset cross and they are as healthy as oxes! My previous spaniel cross lived to be 18.5 years old!
If you want a healthy and hardy dog then opt for a corss breed - preferably a rescue one.
I know, OP, that this is not the type of post you are looking for but I do feel it is relevant.

+1 less problems ,less health insurance, costs longer living and 131 things your dog might not suffer from:D maybe ya should start your own pros and cons thread sorry op maybe this would be a good candidate for a STICKY ???? mods????

The Sweeper

That's not accurate.

If you breed two dogs with health problems, you do not get a guaranteed problem-free cross. Furthermore, you may get a cross with the health problems of BOTH breeds instead of just one of them.

morganafay

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel


Prone to syringomyelia, hereditary eye disease, dislocating kneecaps (patella), back troubles, ear infections, early onset of deafness or hearing trouble. Sometime's hip dysplasia. Don't over feed. This breed tends to gain weight easily. Also prone to mitral valve disease, a serious genetic heart problem, which can cause early death. It is wise to check the medical history of several previous generations before choosing your puppy.


I've heard that 50% of Cavaliers will have a heart murmur (leading to mitral valve disease) by age 5, and 99% will have one by age 10, but I have 3 perfectly healthy older Cavaliers (aged 6, 8 and 9). I think the important thing is to go to a good breeder.

pokertalk

The Sweeper wrote: »

That's not accurate.

If you breed two dogs with health problems, you do not get a guaranteed problem-free cross. Furthermore, you may get a cross with the health problems of BOTH breeds instead of just one of them.

never said it was guaranteedbut less of a chance.insurance companys know this thats why its mostly cheaper to insure a cross

Shazanne

The Sweeper wrote: »

That's not accurate.

If you breed two dogs with health problems, you do not get a guaranteed problem-free cross. Furthermore, you may get a cross with the health problems of BOTH breeds instead of just one of them.

These are the statistics quoted by Pete the Vet on TV3 and further endorsed by internet research. Plus, I have seen the evidence myself after years of having dogs.

shinikins

Cons:

Bite problems(over bite/underbite) cataracts, deafness, benign tumors and dry eye less commonly, hip displaysia and /or arthritis, Patellar Lunation(dislocation of the kneecap) heart problems. Ear infections

Can be stubborn, and does not like being alone. Needs to be groomed regularly with special attention to the ears, eyes and jowls.

Pro's:

Affectionate, easy to train, energetic, intelligent and optomistic. Very good family dog, and great with children. Very loyal, and will often bond with one person more than anyone else. Tolerate cats very well. Extremely loving, and enjoy cuddling as close as they can, as often as they can!! Live between 12-14 years on average.


+1 on the Mongrels, had them for years, and none had health problems like pure breeds.

The Sweeper

Shazanne wrote: »

These are the statistics quoted by Pete the Vet on TV3 and further endorsed by internet research. Plus, I have seen the evidence myself after years of having dogs.

We're working at cross purposes here; I'm not saying mongrels are not healthier. They can well be more healthy than badly bred pure breed dogs.

What I'm saying is that crossing one badly bred pure breed dog with another badly bred pure breed dog will NOT result in healthy offspring just because the dog is a crossbreed. Subsequently, designer dog crossbreeds do not have 'hybrid vigour' just because they're crossbreeds - instead, they can have the worst of both worlds they come from, a mixture of genetic problems from both parents.

Yes, a mongrel can well be healthier than a badly bred pure dog - but if you adopt a purebreed pup from a reputable breeder who's screened and tested the parents for genetic diseases, you're running less of a lottery than taking a 'schmoodle' for instance, from a BYB, sold through a random pet shop.

(By the way, don't quote a TV vet at me and expect me not to laugh at you. I've just registered a formal complaint with a TV station here because vet Dr Lisa Chimes announced on a mainstream TV veterinary show that pitbull terriers have lockjaw and that's what makes them so dangerous.)

yomchi

Possible healthy probs:

Seasonal alopecia (not really a problem but can spook first time owners);
Most boxers over 4 years can suffer from patchy hair loss around their hind hips and back. Grows back in a few months.

Snotty nose syndrome:
In the cold weather some boxers can suffer from an excessively runny nose, this can cause the dog to cover you in snot as they say hello!

Arthritis:
My last two boxers had problems with arthritis in their hips. On reading up on it, it can be quite common.

Heart murmurs.

Pros:

Super friendly dogs with bundles of energy and need walked a lot to keep them quite in the house. Great companions with a real buddy personality.
A good healthy diet and smaller dog companion will have a boxer live well up to 12.

A definite winner in the most cute'st pup category

planetX

Great thread.
I had an Irish Terrier X who had no health problems (but quite a few behavioural ones....)

I'd be interested if anyone has a list of breeds prone to luxating patella. I have a cat with it and it has been the most awful nightmare. Am hoping to get a small dog soon, and I don't want to take any chances with getting the same problem. Breeds to avoid?

Cherry Blossom

Labrador Retriver

This breed is rife with common ailments

Hip Dysplasia causes pain and lameness. The malformation of the hip joints is also a primary factor in the development of arthritis problems. An abnormal gait, bunny hopping and a reluctance to climb stairs or exercise are some of the common symptoms of canine dysplasia.

Retinal Atrophy results in the degeneration of the retina causing vision loss and even blindness.

Juvenile Cataracts and Corneal Dystrophy are other eye problem that consistant with the breed.

Muscular Dystrophy results in muscular weakness, stiff gait and a tendency to avoid exercises. Dogs that have this can suffer from problems like heart muscle disease.

Gastric torsion results in the twisting and congestion of the stomach and its contents. This results in gas formation accompanied by rapid swelling of the abdomen. Excruciating pain and even death are the outcome of the untreated gastric torsion.

Elbow Dysplasia results in uneven joint surface, inflammation, joint swelling, lameness and arthritis. The most common cause of elbow dysplasia are genetic factors.

Osteochondritis Dissecans is a disease of the cartilage layer of the joints, The most commonly affected parts are the elbow, shoulder and ankle joints in dogs and resulting in limping, swelling and stiff gait.

Other Labrador health problems include obesity, megaesophagus, hypothyroidism, laryngeal paralysis, diabetes mellitus and epilepsy. They are also prone to common injuries like ruptured cruciate ligaments and limber tail syndrome.

My own lab lived to the ripe old age of 14 but suffered from everything I have bolded in this post

PinkLady44

Hi,
My 1 year labrador has recently been diagnosed with Arthritis in her elbows- she had a procedure done last week to help the problem and my main concern is can she live a normal and full life with arthritis?
Would you have any tips for exercise, diet & supplements that may help?
Thanks,

ABajaninCork

Pro's: Relatively long-lived. Typical life span is 15-17 years.
Very friendly, sociable dogs. They are companion dogs, so can't be left alone for long periods of time, otherwise they can be destructive. If you're not into long walks this can be an ideal dog for you. They only need 1-1.5 hours exercise a day. Unless you have one like mine who adores five mile walkies! . If you only have a flat or a small garden this is the ideal dog for you! Shih Tzu do not shed, and so are an excellent breed if you're houseproud or have allergies.

Cons:

As Shih Tzu are a brachycephalic (short-nosed) breed, they can be prone to breathing problems. They do not regulate heat very well either, so very important to keep them cool, and don't over-exert them.
Shih Tzu also have big bulging eyes. They can be prone to infection, so it's important to keep a close eye (!) on them. I wipe over my dog's eye's with warm salt water to keep the tears down. Shih Tzu are very prone to staining, so I do my best to keep the staining down by washing my dog's face and paws with warm camomile tea. Great for keeping staining to a minimum, but it's slow work!
They are also fur-balls!! Shih Tzu need to be brushed at least every other day, and to visit the groomer every six weeks. If you don't have the time or the resources to go to the groomer, then this is not the dog for you.

All in all - a great little dog! Stubborn and 'own wayish'. They can rule YOU if you do not set the boundaries early, but the rewards far outweigh any problems you might get along the way.

I'm not an expert, but hope these pointers help someone who might be considering this breed.

anniehoo

PinkLady44 as you've already posted the same query in a more relevant thread I'm closing this one. Please don't resurrect 4 year old threads as the info in it may or may not be still relevant.