‘DISEASES OF DOG BREEDS

Thinking of getting a puppy? We thought we would compile a list of the most common diseases of dog breeds seen in everyday practice with specific breeds so you can do your research properly. We are also listing known but uncommon conditions that have been seen in certain breed in italics. Bear in mind that certain diseases may be more common in some parts of the world than others. If your breed or pet’s disease isn’t here, don’t despair as this list will grow over time. Anyone wishing to add to the list please feel free to e mail us at vet@yourownvet.com

Diseases of AFGHANS

Hip and elbow dysplasia
Gastric Torsion (twisted stomach) due to them being a large breed, deep chested breed.
Hypothyroidism
Corneal Dystrophy – marks in the cornea that do not affect vision
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Congenital chylothorax
Hereditary Afghan Myelopathy
Seasonal nasal depigmentation
Panosteitis (growing pains)
Cancer: Perianal gland tumour and Osteosarcoma

Diseases of the AMERICAN PITBULL TERRIER

Skin Cancer in hot climates – squamous cell carcinoma due to the lack of pigment in their skin
Mast cell Tumours
Allergies and Eczema
They can be fighters so can be prone to getting bite wounds in some cases
Hip Dysplasia

Diseases of the BORDER COLLIE

Collie Nose
Collie Eye Anomaly
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Hearing and Eye problems in dogs homozygous for the Merle gene
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuschinosis (NCL) RARE
Trapped neutrophil syndrome (TNS) RARE

Diseases of the BOSTON TERRIER

Heatstroke in hot climates due to the short nose which makes it hard for them to lose heat easily
Butterfly and Hemi Vertebrae
Eczema and Allergic skin disease
Eye problems
Sensoneural Deafness – they are born deaf
Brachycephalic Syndrome – shortened airways making them more likely to snore and need tubing under anaesthetic
Luxating Patella
Mast Cell tumours
Histiocytomas – benign lumps in younger dogs

Diseases of BOXER DOGS (BOXERS)

Dilated cardiomyopathy (Heart problem due to thinning of the heart muscle)
Various tumours – Boxers are  VERY prone to many different types of cancer including Mast cell Tumours
Sensitivity to  the drug Acepromazine (sedative for travel and noise)
Hypothyroidism
Cruciate Ligament Disease
Boxer Ulcer – chronic non healing ulcers on the eye
Hip Dysplasia
Aortic and Subaortic Valvular Stenosis
Degenerative Myelopathy
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (cutaneous asthenia)
Benign hard lumps in the mouth – the main problem they cause is plaque when they grow over the teeth. Known as epuli.
Gastric torsion and volvulus (twisted stomach) as they are a  deep chested breed
White Boxers can be genetically deaf
Pyloric Stenosis – delayed emptying of the stomach causes projectile vomiting and weight loss
Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis – leading to diarrhoea

Diseases of BULLDOGS

Heatstroke in hot climates due to their short nose which makes it hard for them to lose heat easily
Increased general anaesthetic risk due to airway collapse during recovery – they should always be tubed
Pyloric Stenosis – the bottom valve of the stomach doesn’t open leading to vomiting
Difficulty in giving birth – more than 50% will need a caesarian section
Difficulty in breeding – they often need assistance
Corkscrew tails sometimes cause problems and irritation as they can lie close to the anus and the feces get stuck between the two.
Skin cancer in white Bulldogs in hot climates
Allergies and eczema
Hypothyroidism
Various rare genetic heart problems
Vaginal Hyperplasia
Brachycephalic airway syndrome – overlong soft palate, poorly developed nostrils and collapsing windpipe (trachea )
Demodectic Mange
Harelip and Cleft palate
Entropion
Cataracts
Cherry Eye – the teargland in the corner of the eye becomes inflamed and pops out
Dry eye – Keratoconjunctivitis sicca – inadequate tear production
Skin infections – fold dermatitis, furunculosis (deep pustules), pyoderma of the muzzle (pussy infection), acne on the chin and muzzle, interdigital dermatitis

Diseases of BULL TERRIERS

Skin Cancer from the sun due to the lack of pigment in their skin
Pyoderma ( deep pustules and boils under the skin linked to allergic skin disease)
Allergic skin disease – eczema, rashes
Foreign bodies – these dogs swallow foreign objects including plastic bags, underwear and pieces of plastic or metal. These often have to be surgically removed
Some bullies tend to fight with other dogs and should be loners – Bite Wounds
Some bullies can be prone to developmental kidney disease – either polycystic kidney disease or Bull Terrier hereditary nephritis and subsequent kidney failure
Obsessive neurological diseases – spinning and tail chasing
Epilepsy
Neurological rage – a seizure type disorder
Primary lens luxation in minature Bull terriers
Aortic stenosis and mitral valve dysplasia – heart conditions
Luxating Patella

Diseases of the COCKER SPANIEL

Ear infections – otitis externa as the hanging ears don’t ventilate and dry out if water gets into them
Cushing’s  Disease
Luxating Patella
Dental disease – they are prone to getting rotten teeth and need frequent brushing and descaling under anaesthetic
Heart disease – mitral valve insufficiency that can progress to heart failure
Lip fold dermatitis

 Diseases of the CHIHUAHUA

Dental disease – double rows of teeth, retained deciduous canine teeth
Open Fontanalles – the skullbones never close making the brain more susceptible to injury if they get hit on the head
Hydrocephalus – water on the brain
Luxating patella
Their eyes are more prone to injury and proptosis (prolapsed eyeball) as they are very shallow
Necrotizing Meningioencephalitis
Reverse sneezing – fits of a type of wheezy type cough often set of by allergies
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) especially in small pups
Cryptorchidism – retained testicle – testes doesn’t ‘drop’
Tracheal collapse
Pancreatitis
Bladder Stones

Diseases of the CHOW CHOW

Oral and skin melanomas and other tumours including lymphoma and stomach cancer
They can be prone to fighting – bite wounds
Hip dysplasia
Diabetes mellitis
Eye disease –Entropion, Glaucoma and Cataracts
Autoimmune disease – where the immune system attacks the normal tissues of the body eg. Canine pemphigus
Hypothyroidism
Skin disease – alopecia X (they just go bald for no reason )
Patella luxation

Diseases of DACHSHUNDS

Spinal disc prolapse and paralysis
Dental disease – teeth need frequent cleaning, some get carnassial tooth root abscesses
Heart murmurs most often due to mitral valve disease progressing to heart failure
Cushing’s disease
Obesity
Ehler’s Danlos syndrome
Loss of hair on the ears and tail as a genetic trait.
Skin and coat problems, General poor spotty coat, bald in patches, skin infections (pyoderma), irritation and licking of the feet
Splitting of the skin of the tips of the ears.
Haemorragic gastroenteritis – sudden onset bloody diarrhoea
Diabetes mellitis
Bladder stones and other stones lodging in the urinary tract
Lipomas – benign fatty tumours under the skin
Eye problems – glaucoma, distichiasis, entropion, progressive retinal degeneration
Patent ductus arteriosus
Food allergies
Hypothyroidism
Cataracts

Diseases of the FOX TERRIER

Dental disease
Cancer – squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous haemangiosarcoma in hot climates
Skin allergies and atopy

Diseases of FLAT COATED RETRIEVERS

Cancers including tumours of the nailbeds on the feet, malignant histiocytosis
Recurring ear infections (otitis externa)
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Eye problems – glaucoma, goniodysgenesis, cataracts and hairs rubbing abnormally on the eyes – entropion, ectropion, distichiasis, trichiasis.
Arthritis and spondylosis

 Diseases of GERMAN SHEPHERDS

 

Hip Dysplasia
Gastric  Torsion in deep chested older Shepherds
Spleen and Heart Cancer ( Haemangiosarcoma)
Pannus – black membrane grows over eyes
German Shepherd Pyoderma
Diarrhoea that recurs frequently
Epilepsy
Elbow dysplasia
Otitis externa – recurring ear infections
Perianal Fistula – painful wounds that spontaneously develop round the anus that bleed and pus
Sebaceous Cysts
Congenital megaesophagus

Diseases of GOLDEN RETRIEVERS

Otitis externa – recurring  ear infections
Obesity
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Skin allergies, lick granulomas and hotspots
Lipomas – benign fatty lumps under the skin
Torsion of the stomach and bloat
Diabetes mellitis
Addison’s disease
Hypothyroidism
Epilepsy
Eye diseases – progressive retinal atrophy, retinal dysplasia, entropion, glaucoma, eyelid tumours, distichiasis, corneal dystrophy
Heart diseases – Cardiomyopathy and subaortic stenosis
Cancer – Haemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, mastocytoma, spindle cell carcinoma
Megaesophagus, cricopharyngeal dysplasia
Immune mediated hemolytic anaemia

Diseases of GREAT DANES

 

 

Gastric torsion (twisted stomach)
Developmental bone problems due to their large size
May be more prone to bone cancer due to their size
Hypothyroidism
Wobblers Syndrome

Diseases of GREYHOUNDS

Twisted stomach – gastric torsion, dilatation and volvulus  (GDV) due to them being a larger deep chested breed.
Demodectic mange
Senstive to general anaesthetics due to low body fat percentage

Diseases of IRISH WOLFHOUNDS

 

Heart failure from Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Developmental bone problems due to their large size
Hip and Elbow dysplasia
May be more prone to bone cancer due to their size

Diseases of JACK RUSSELL TERRIERS

Eczema and general skin related allergic disease
Cancer – skin cancer  (squamous cell carcinoma) in hot climates due to little pigment on the belly
Mitral valve insufficiency which can progress to heart failure
Teeth need frequent cleaning

Diseases of LABRADOR RETRIEVERS

Ear problems often exacerbated because they love to swim
Allergic skin disease exacerbated because of constant wetting
Hotspots – acute moist eczema often on the face and neck
Obesity
Hip and elbow Dysplasia
Epilepsy
Diabetes mellitis
Pancreatitis
Eye problems – retinal degeneration and blindness, retinal dysplasia and bilateral cataract
Melanoma
Hypothyroidism

Diseases of MINIATURE DOBERMAN PINSCHERS

Dental Disease – retained deciduous canines, double rows of incisor teeth
Hydrocephalus
Open Fontanelle
Higher anaesthetic risk due to small body size and short coat – they lose heat easily
Reverse sneezing
Luxating Patella

Diseases of the MINIATURE SCHNAUZER

Cushing’s Disease
Heart murmurs often in the mitral valve which can progress to congestive heart failure
Dental disease – frequent cleaning needed
Cysts and lumps in the skin

Diseases of the PEKINGESE

Eye problems – ulcers on the eye
Pannus
Proptosis – prolapsed eyeball
Spinal disease and Disc prolapse
Cysts on the body

Diseases of THE POMERANIAN

Dental disease – frequent cleaning needed and retained deciduous canine teeth
Mitral valve insufficiency which can progress to Cardiac Failure
Luxating Patella
Diabetes Mellitis

Diseases of PUGS

Malformed Vertebrae and other back issues
Pannus – black membrane grows over the eyes
Facial Fold Dermatitis
Respiratory issues – elongated soft palates make them more likely to snore and suffer from heatstroke as well as airway collapse
Mast cell Tumours
Obesity
Prolapsed eyeball – Proptosis
Ulcers on the eye
Necrotizing Meningioencephalitis ( Pug Dog Encephalitis) – condition causing seizures and other brain problems in pugs.
Demodectic Mange

Diseases of RHODESIAN RIDGEBACKS

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Dermoid Sinus – where there is an area of skin that grows down from the skin into the neck and tissues of the back
Ear and tail injuries that are difficult and take a long time to heal
Heavy Ridgebacks are prone to infected elbow calluses
Gastric torsion (GDV – gastro dilatation and volvulus)

Diseases of ROTTWEILERS

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Bone Cancer – Osteosarcoma
They are prone to hotspots on the cheeks and neck
Rottweiler Puppies are prone to a severe version of the  Parvo virus

Diseases of the SCOTTISH TERRIER

Addison’s Disease
Mitral valve insufficiency which can lead to congestive heart failure
Lion jaw – condition in which during growth a lot of extra bone is deposited round the joint where the jaw hinges onto the skull – very painful
Demodectic mange in adults due to immunodeficiency

Diseases of SHAR PEIS

Entropion – the eyelashes turn inwards onto the eye causing recurring tearing and eye infections
Facial fold eczema
Shar Pei  fever – disease affecting the joints and limbs causing fever and swelling
Allergic skin disease
These dogs can be fighters – recurring bite wounds

Diseases of the ST.  BERNARD

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Bone Cancer due to their large size
Heart Problems – Dilated Cardiomyopathy due to their large size
Developmental bone problems due to their large size

Diseases of the WEIMERANER

Pica – eating stones and other strange objects
Hip and elbow dysplasia
Arbitrary skin wounds due to their short coat, and intensely hyperactive nature, they seem to be prone to injuries including bleeding and torn ears and tail tip injuries.

 Diseases of the WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER (westies)

Severe skin allergies and yeast infections with a greasy itchy coat and thickened grey skin and recurring ear infections
Demodex infections
Hypothyroidism
Cushing’s disease
Addison’s disease
Diabetes
Dental issues – teeth should be frequently cleaned
Mitral valve insufficiency which can progress to heart failure
Various skin lumps

 Diseases of YORKSHIRE TERRIERS

Dental disease – they can be prone to retained deciduous teeth and double rows of teeth. Their teeth require frequent scaling
Heart murmurs most often due to Mitral Valve Disease leading to heart failure
Warts and small skin lumps
Sensitive Stomach – they can be prone to recurring bouts of vomiting and bloody diarrhoea preceded by spasming.
Portohepatic shunts – developmental problem where the blood supply bypasses the liver
Open fontanelles in the Teacup sizes
Hydrocephalus – water on the brain – more common in the teacup size
Luxating Patella
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) in smaller teacup puppies
Demodectic mange and ringworm in adults due to immunodeficiency

REFERENCES

http://www.ukboxerdogs.co.uk/iandi.html#bloat
http://www.americanboxerclub.org/DM.html
http://www.gopetsamerica.com/boxer/boxer-health-problems.aspx
http://www.bulldoginformation.com/bulldogs-hereditary-defects.html”
http://www.petplace.com/dog-breeds/english-bulldog-diseases.aspx
http://www.petplace.com/dog-breeds/Afghan-Hound-diseases.aspx
http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/afghan-hound/
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/4789/afghanext.pdf
http://voices.yahoo.com/common-health-problems-bull-terriers-4989404.html?cat=16″
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_Terrier_%28Miniature%29
http://www.healthypet.com/FindAPet/BreedDescription.aspx?fbr_key=5F72703A-4140-4210-9F5A-23AA990EBF46
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chow_Chow
http://www.webvet.com/main/breed/dog/chow-chow
http://www.petplace.com/dog-breeds/dachshund-diseases.aspx
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1553/hsflatcoatedretriever.pdf
http://www.flatcoat.com/health.htm
http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/flat-coated-retriever/
http://labradornet.com/diseases.html
http://golden-retriever.org/elibrary/files/C8.HealthconditionsanddiseasescommontotheGoldenRetriever.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Retriever