Part One. I will cover all the health problems your gundog may get over the next few months so keep reading
When it comes to purchasing a gundog, the ultimate goal, besides finding an excellent hunting companion, is to find a dog that is as free of medical problems as possible. This is not always as easy as it sounds but there are things that a potential buyer can do before purchasing a puppy.
First, it is very important that you take the time to read up on your potential breed. On each of my gun dog breed profiles, I have listed a number of health concerns that you should be aware of. While some of the conditions cannot be screened for, many of them can be prevented. Knowing what health concerns your potential breed has will aid you in finding a breeder that only breeds healthy stock.
When you do find a breeder, make sure to check that all clearances have been done. If a dog breed is prone to hip or elbow dysplasia, such as in the case of Labrador Retrievers, clearances should be done on both the hips and elbows. Even if a dog breed does not have a disposition to dysplasia, many breeders will still perform the clearances to ensure that it does not become a breed problem. In addition, eye exams are also very common as is health checks.
Although choosing puppies from a healthy and cleared dog does not mean that your puppy will be free of inherent diseases, it does mean that your gundog puppy has a great chance of not developing them, which is the best you can do.
Since there are a number of conditions that gundog breeds can inherit, I would like to break this up into smaller sections. I will go over what every health problem is and some of the ways that it is treated.
The first that I am going to look at are five of the most common bone and joint health problems that you find in gundog breeds today.
Bone and Joint Health Problems:
Hip Dysplasia:
Hip Dysplasia is a very common health problem that can be seen in many dog breeds, including a high number of gundog and sports dogs. Although it is common, many dogs, even with a breed disposition to hip dysplasia can go through life without any hip problems.
To raise the chance that your dog will be free of hip dysplasia, only purchase a puppy from a breeder that has had hip clearances on the dogs that he breeds.
Hip Dysplasia is a degenerative disease and it can be both genetic (passed on by parents) and environmental (factors in the puppy’s environment). The disease affects the hip joints due to abnormal growth and development throughout the dog’s life. Eventually, the hip joint is weakened and the dog begins to have symptoms associated with hip dysplasia.
The symptoms of hip dysplasia are generally seen over a length of time. Usually, owners will notice that the dog seems stiff and in pain after vigorous exercise and when the dog is running, they see less extension in the hind legs. It is very common for a dog with hip dysplasia to run in a “bunny hop.” As the disease progresses, the stiffness will begin to occur when the dog is at rest and owners will find that the dog will begin to have difficulty standing up or moving.
Although hip dysplasia generally affects middle age dogs, it can be seen in puppies, some as young as five months old. In the case the hip dysplasia not being genetic, it is usually caused by environmental factors such as improper nutrition while the dog was developing.
There are treatments for hip dysplasia can be surgery and it may be paired with medications or a treatment plan that involves physical therapy, weight management and proper nutrition.
Elbow Dysplasia: Like Hip Dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia is a degenerative disease that can affect several breeds of gundogs. The main difference is that elbow dysplasia affects the elbow joint, although it is still malformed due to abnormal growth and development.
Again, elbow dysplasia is seen in different levels and it is very difficult for veterinarians to predict how it will affect a specific dog. In some cases, dogs are affected severely with lameness in the affected limbs, while other dogs suffer from arthritis but no other symptoms.
Treatment of elbow dysplasia is similar to hip dysplasia with surgery, medications and a treatment plan that may involve weight management, proper nutrition and physical therapy.
Patellar Luxation: Although Patellar Luxation is a problem that is more commonly seen in small dogs, there are a number of gundogs that can suffer from this. Also known as “slipped stifles,” patellar luxation is when the patella is not properly lined up in a limb. If you are unsure what this is, the patella is the knee cap on a dog where the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (calf bone) are connected. When the patella is not properly lined up, the bones begin to rub against each other.
This can lead to many problems for the dog, including arthritis and could lead to lameness in the affected leg. When you are looking at Patellar Luxation, there are actually four grades. Grade 1 is an occasional luxation. This can lead to a temporary lameness in the affected joint. In each grade, the alignment and subsequent turning is more severe and the effects on the legs are as well. In grad IV, the turning is very severe and the dog may have a bowlegged appearance.
Patellar Luxation is present at birth although the actual luxation usually occurs much later in life. Treatment of the disease is usually surgery.
Osteochondrosis Dissecans: This is a disorder that has been linked to being the cause of Elbow Dysplasia, although it is still not clear if Osteochondrosis Dissecans occurs before the elbow dysplasia or after it. In any case, Osteochondrosis is a disorder that affects the elbows and in some cases the shoulders of a dog. When it occurs, it creates a painful stiffing of the joint to the point where the dog is unable to bend it.
Although Osteochondrosis Dissecans is a genetic disorder, it can also be caused by environmental factors such as a severe trauma to the joint or an improper diet. In regards to the later, studies have indicated that high protein diets may be the cause of higher severity in Osteochondrosis Dissecans cases.
Regardless of the cause, the main reason for the stiffness in the joint is the improper growth of the cartilage. Treatment can either be surgery to remove the cartilage or it can be treated medically.
Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Although this condition does not affect a large number of gundogs, it still affects a few of them and is a high risk for Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Before we look at what a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament is, it is important to look at the knee, which is made up of several parts; the femur (thigh bone), tibia (calf bone), patella (knee cap) and the cruciate ligaments (anterior and posterior), which crisscross across the joint to prevent the tibia and femur from rubbing together.
When there is a rupture, one (specifically the anterior in this case) cruciate ligament is torn and the femur and tibia begin to move against each other. This leads to swelling in the knee and a sudden lameness in the dog’s affected leg.
The cause of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament can be from a twisting motion in the dog’s leg caused by a slip, a sudden turn when running or in some cases, being hit by a car. Treatment of the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament is usually surgery and then restriction of movement for the dog until the ligament has healed.
If You have a Cocker spaniel like me there is a great new web site set up at Cocker Spaniel Health, If you know of any other sites for different breeds let me know and i will pass them on for fellow readers.