These pages are for guidance only, if you are in any doubt over your pet's health please consult your veterinary surgeon.
There are many different hereditary diseases that affect our pet dogs. This will not be a comprehensive list but will give some insight into the most common conditions.
This is a very common condition which affects most medium to giant breeds. It first manifests itself between 4 and 12 months. It is a hereditary disease and the Kennel Club provides a scoring system for breeding animals. Only animals with a lower than average score for their breed should be bred from. If you are buying a dog from one of the affected breeds, make sure that you see the hip scoring certificate.
Affected puppies will show a range of signs. They may have difficulty getting up in the morning, going up and down stairs, they may have clicking hips. A characteristic 'bunny hopping' gait when running may also be seen. Some animals will show no signs at all and their abnormalities will only be seen on X-rays.
To diagnose this condition, your vet will want to X-ray your dog's hips. This will require sedation or a general anaesthetic. The vet will also want to test your dog's range of motion, which will probably also be done under sedation.
If your dog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, there are various treatment options and your vet will advise you as to the best option for your pet. In some cases, surgery may be required.
Also known as Legge-Perthes disease, this affects small-breed dogs aged between 3-13 months. It generally affects one hip and causes progressive lameness.
To diagnose this condition, your vet will want to X-ray your dog's hips. This will require sedation or a general anaesthetic.
Treatment is almost always surgical and involves the removal of the head of the femur. Small dogs cope very well with this surgery, particularly if the disease is caught early. The upper leg muscles compensate for the lack of hip joint.
There are two different types of PRA recognised: generalised PRA (also known simply as PRA) and central PRA (now known as Retinal Pigment Epithelial Dystrophy - RPED). Both diseases are inherited and both may be seen in the same breed.
PRA causes a night-blindness progressing to total blindness. Secondary cataracts are common. There is no treatment for this disease. Affected animals should not be bred from. This condition is mainly seen in the Cocker Spaniel, Miniature Long-haired Dachshund, Miniature and Toy Poodles, Labrador.
RPED causes poor vision in bright light. Dogs with this condition may bump into stationary objects. Animals are normally affected in both eyes and loss of vision is progressive. Clinical signs usually appear between 2-6 years of age. Some dogs will retain partial vision while others will become blind. Vitamin E supplementation may help in early stages of the disease. Ask your vet for advice. This condition is mainly seen in the Collies (Border, Smooth and Rough), Cocker Spaniel, Golden and Labrador Retriever, Polish Lowland Sheepdog.
Entropion is the inward rolling of the eyelid. Hair on the outside of the lid is brought in contact with the cornea which causes irritation and ulceration. It is normally seen around 2-6 months of age and usually affects both eyes, though not necessarily to the same extent. It is seen in several breeds.
Treatment of entropion involves surgery which should be done between 4-6 months of age. Your vet may be able to perform a temporary procedure to alieviate pain until the animal is old enough for permanent surgery. Surgery involves removing a small strip of tissue and stitching the two ends back together to pull the eyelid out. It is very successful. Several attempts may be required to get the eyelid in the right position as the vet will not want to take too much skin away at once.
Ectropion is the opposite of entropion and may lead to conjunctivitis due to exposure. It is seen in St Bernards, Bloodhounds, Mastiffs, Clumber and Cocker Spaniels. Treatment involves surgery.
A cataract is an opacity of the lens or lens capsule. It is seen as a cloudiness of the eye. Hereditary cataracts are seen in puppies once their eyes have opened. Primary cataracts are not associated with any other abnormality in the eye. Secondary cataracts are seen with other hereditary diseases (e.g. PRA, lens luxation). They are seen in many breeds, including American Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Miniature Schnauzer and Poodle.
Caused by a malformation of the retina in the developing foetus, CEA affects herding breeds such as Rough and Smooth Collies, Border Collies and Lancashire Heelers. It almost always affects both eyes and is easiest to diagnose in 5-6 week old puppies. Puppies of affected breeds should be screened by a vet for this disease when they are 5-6 weeks old. A certificate of screening should be provided on purchase.
Many affected animals show no sight abnormalities but some will be obviously visually impaired or blind due to haemorrhage or detachment of the retina.
This is an inherited condition and affected animals should not be bred from.
The information provided on this website is provided for guidance only. No responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the site content. Reference to any organisation or person in this website, or any site that it is linked to, does not indicate any form of endorsement. PetsLove does not take responsibility or accept liability for any loss or damage resulting from using this website and its content or any other site that it is linked to.
This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States . Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be ble to use the full functionality of this website. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.
PetsLove © 2006-2008
Any comments send to webmaster@petslove.co.uk
