| Do you ever read about a dog breed and | | | | hip joint and the ball may continuously slide |
| discover that a particular breed can be prone | | | | part way out of the socket. Over time this |
| to a number of diseases - most of which you | | | | will cause osteoarthritis in the joint and |
| can't understand? Are you in the process of | | | | the dog will become lame and weak in the hind |
| choosing a dog and you want to know which | | | | end. Some relief can be found with the use of |
| breed-specific hereditary disease that the | | | | nutriceuticals such as glucosamine and |
| breeder should have screened out in the | | | | chondroitin, and anti-inflammatories. Some |
| breeding stock? | | | | cases are so bad that the dog must have |
| | | | surgery or be euthanized. Ensuring that your |
| Most breeders spend a lot of time and | | | | dog isn't overfed and overweight can delay |
| resources trying to get rid of genetic | | | | the onset of hip dysplasia. Larger breeds |
| diseases in their lines. However, some | | | | that grow fastest during the first four |
| amateur breeders and puppy mills are breeding | | | | months seem to be more prone to this disease. |
| dogs without screening the parents and | | | | Hip dysplasia is the most common inherited |
| perpetuating poor genetic health. | | | | orthopedic disease in large and giant breeds |
| | | | and many medium-sized breeds as well. |
| This article is not exhaustive but will | | | | |
| attempt to describe some common hereditary | | | | Legg-Calve-Perthes is a disease of the hip |
| musculoskeletal diseases and indicate some of | | | | joint where the ball or head of the femur |
| the dog breeds that have shown a tendency to | | | | deteriorates and causes pain and lameness in |
| inherit these diseases in the past. Since so | | | | the hind leg. This disease usually affects |
| many dogs have inherited orthopedic problems, | | | | young small dogs aged from 4 to 12 months. |
| these disorders are extremely well researched | | | | This condition is successfully treated by |
| and studied. If you want to check on a | | | | surgery. This disorder can affect all |
| particular dog breed you can go to my | | | | terriers, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Miniature |
| Directory of Breed of Dogs and search on a | | | | pinscher, Miniature poodles, Pugs and Toy |
| particular breed for its health issues. | | | | poodles. |
| | | | |
| There are a number of common inherited | | | | Panosteitis or 'pano' is a common condition |
| diseases for which reputable breeders screen | | | | which suddenly causes lameness in a growing |
| their breeding stock. The Orthopedic | | | | puppy or adolescent dog. The lameness is a |
| Foundation for Animals (OFA) has specialists | | | | result of inflammation of the long bones of |
| evaluate X-rays, DNA, thyroid, cardiac and | | | | the front and hind legs and can be mild to |
| other tests and register the results. A | | | | severe. A veterinarian will probably |
| prospective pure-bred puppy buyer should ask | | | | prescribe pain medication and ask you to |
| to see the OFA results for the dog's sire and | | | | restrict exercise. Affected puppies usually |
| dam. | | | | grow out of the condition as they mature. It |
| | | | is most common in male medium- to giant-sized |
| Chondrodysplasia or dwarfism in the legs is a | | | | dog breeds which include the: Afghan Hound, |
| disease that causes malformation of the | | | | Basset hound, Doberman pinscher, German |
| carpal and radius bones of the front legs | | | | shepherd, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, |
| resulting in a stunted and bowed look. | | | | Labrador retriever and Rottweiler. |
| Puppies born with this disease do not show | | | | |
| any signs until they grow older. The disease | | | | Luxating Patella (Patellar luxation) or |
| can be painful and often the only choice is | | | | slipped stifle is a hereditary condition |
| to euthanize the dog. This disease is most | | | | where the knee cap slips out of its groove. |
| common in the Alaskan malamute and the | | | | In some cases, the kneecap will slip back |
| Beagle. | | | | into place while in other cases; a |
| | | | veterinarian may need to put it back in |
| Elbow dysplasia is a hereditary disease in | | | | place. If it is not corrected through |
| which the elbow joints of the front legs are | | | | surgery, then osteoarthritis will usually |
| malformed. Lameness usually makes its | | | | result. The condition is quite prevalent in |
| appearance around 7 to 10 months of age and | | | | toy breeds. It is commonly seen in the |
| is treated by anti-inflammatories and also | | | | Affenpinscher, Australian terrier, Basset |
| surgery. All breeds are susceptible to the | | | | hound, Boston terrier, Chihuahua, Cavalier |
| disease but it is most common in large male | | | | King Charles Spaniel, English Toy Spaniel, |
| breeds. These breeds include the: Basset | | | | Maltese, Papillon, Pekingese, Pomeranian, |
| hound, Bernese mountain dog, Bloodhound, | | | | Poodle (miniature and toy) and Lhasa Apso. |
| Bouvier des Flandres, Chow Chow, German | | | | |
| shepherd, Golden retriever, Great Pyrenees, | | | | There are many more hereditary diseases that |
| Irish wolfhound, Labrador retriever, Mastiff, | | | | are prevalent in a number of dog breeds. |
| Rottweiler, Saint Bernard and Weimaraner. | | | | Contact your breed's national breed club for |
| | | | a list of the most common inherited genetic |
| Hip dysplasia is a disorder that results when | | | | diseases. |
| there is a loose fit of the 'ball and socket' | | | | |