A few weeks ago, I brought up a few non-hereditary health problems that you should be aware of.  These problems are not considered to be breed specific but can affect any breed of dog, regardless of predisposition, age, or health.  They can be caused for a number of reasons and are not linked to any genetic inheritance.

As I mentioned in part one of Non-Hereditary Health Problems in Hunting dogs, there are a number of health problems that are seen more commonly in gundog breeds than in other breeds.  This isn’t to say that they are genetic but it is a fact that some traits in gundogs, such as pendulous ears, can lead to problems.

It is important, like it is with hereditary health problems, to be aware of the problems that may arise with your gun dog and his health.

Sebaceous Cysts: Sebaceous cysts, also known as epidermal inclusion cysts, wens, epidermoid cysts and epidermal cysts are a very common occurrence in many dog breeds. A sebaceous cyst is a follicular cyst that is filled with an oily substance called sebum and is located on the dog’s skin.  There is no specific age when the dog can have a sebaceous cyst and usually there is no real affect on a dog since the cysts are generally free of pain and are benign.

Sebaceous cysts can range in size from very small kernels to large sized cysts that are roughly the same size as a walnut.  Many times the cysts can be left without any problems to the dog but occasionally they can burst and a thick, cheesy white mass will be expelled when they do.  Other times, vets will recommend a biopsy on the cyst or they will recommend that the cyst is surgically removed.

Acute Moist Dermatitis: Also known as hot spots, Acute Moist Dermatitis is a disease that can affect a number of dog breeds and it can be caused by a number of factors.  These factors can be ear infections, poor grooming, mites, burs, mites and allergies. They can also be caused by some medical problems such as hip dysplasia and anal gland disease.  Generally, dogs with dense undercoats or long hair are more commonly affected by hot spots, which can be found in various places on the dog but more commonly on the hip, chest and head.

When there is a case of acute moist dermatitis it is usually a circular lesion on the body that is very raw and is inflamed.  It can be very painful for the dog and usually the first symptom is the dog worrying at a site and biting, licking and scratching the area.  This causes more problems and can lead to more inflammation or pyotrumatic dermatitis, which is self-trauma through worrying a site.  Acute moist dermatitis can progress quickly and can go from a small inflamed area to a large diameter within the matter of a few hours and can result in hair loss in the affected spot.

Treatment of Acute moist dermatitis always begins by finding the factor that led to the skin inflammation. If they can find a cause, it is better to treat the underlying cause as well as the lesion.  Generally, it is treated by removing the hair around the lesion and then cleaning the skin of the dog and finally treating with desiccating powders.  If the dog has a severe case of acute moist dermatitis antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and pain killers may be given to the dog.

Periodontal Disease: Periodontal disease in dogs is caused by the build up of plaque on the teeth and leads to tartar that irritates the gums.  This can lead to gingivitis, which can be the main cause of your dog’s bad breath.  Unfortunately, tartar can lead to other problems and if it builds up under the gums, it will begin to form pockets between the gum and teeth that becomes the breeding ground for bacteria.  It is at this point where it has become poor dental hygiene and has moved into the realm of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease can lead to a number of problems for the dog including loose teeth, bone loss in the jaw, infection or abscesses.  It can be very painful for the dog.  Symptoms of periodontal disease can be bad breath, gums that are inflamed, or bleed, loss of appetite, stomach upset,, purulent pus around teeth, sensitivity of the mouth, loose teeth, drooling and difficulty chewing.

Treatment of periodontal disease is different depending on how it affects the dog but it can be surgery, tooth extraction, and medications.  It is important to note that good dental health is important for dogs and periodontal disease can be avoided with proper care and with early treatment when signs of gingivitis are evident.

Panosteitis:  Panosteitis is a bone disease that is seen in many large breeds but has been seen in several types of hunting dogs, including the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. The cause of Panosteitis is still unknown and while it may be linked to genetics, it is still unclear enough that it is not categorized as an inherited disease in breeds.

Panosteitis affects young dogs between the ages of 6 to 18 months and it can last from 2 to 18 months, although 2 to 5 is most commonly seen.  It is characterized by a painful remodelling of the bone and is seen in the limbs of the dog.  Specifically it is found in the ulna, femur, tibia, radius, humerus, foot and pelvic bones.

Generally, the symptoms are an acute sudden lameness in one or more of the legs in a young dog.  This lameness is not associated with any trauma and it can last for 2 to 3 weeks at a time and may shift from each leg.  The dog usually has no inclination to exercise and may not want to walk.  Usually, the dog shows symptoms of being in pain and he may also have a fever, or elevated white blood cell count.

There is no known treatment for Panosteitis so the symptoms are usually treated and the dog may be prescribed pain relief and antibiotics. Prognosis for the dog is usually good and the bones usually return back to normal after 2 to 18 months.

As you have seen in the past few weeks, there are a number of hereditary health problems that can occur in gundogs. These are all very serious and while there are a number of things that you can do to reduce the risk of these problems, there will always be a small chance that your gundog can get that disease.

While I have talked about hereditary health problems, I also feel that it is important to talk about non-hereditary health problems. These problems are actually ones that tend to confuse people because all of them are associated with certain breeds. In this case, many people assume that these are risks that are hereditary based but it is important to note that they aren’t.

All non-hereditary health problems are not hereditary. Any breed of dog, regardless of the breed’s predisposition, can have one of these health problems. They are caused for a number of reasons, many of them environmental, and they are not caused by a genetic inheritance.

That being said, there are some non-hereditary health problems that are seen more commonly in certain gundog breeds and those are the ones that I will be looking at in this article. In the future, I will have another article on other non-hereditary health problems but for now I would like to review five of them.

Gastric Torsion: Gastric Torsion, Torsion, Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus or Bloat is a very common health problem that is seen in many different breeds of dogs. While it is not a hereditary problem, it is one that is more commonly seen in breeds with a deep chest, such as the Labrador Retriever.

Gastric Torsion occurs when there is a sudden influx of gas in the stomach. This is caused by a number of factors but it has been linked to overfeeding, deep chests, old age, and blockages caused by expanded food. When it does occur, the stomach begins to fill up with gas and then distend and possibly twist.

When this occurs, the dog should have immediate treatment since it can lead to death if the dog does not have medical intervention. Symptoms for gastric torsion are hard to determine from other diseases but they include a distension of the stomach, symptoms of pain and distress such as panting and restlessness, vomiting, hypersalivation, weakness and loss of appetite.

Treatment for gastric torsion is usually surgery and there is a fatality rate of 10 to 60% depending on the severity of the condition.

Conjunctivitis: Another common health problem that can be seen in many gundog breeds is conjunctivitis. This is caused by an inflammation of the eye due to an irritant being trapped in the eye or more specifically in the protective coating the covers the eye called the conjunctiva.

When the conjunctiva becomes inflamed, the eye will begin to swell and will look red. The dog will also have a lot of discomfort and will begin rubbing the eye and face around their eyes. Usually there is a discharge coming from the eye, which only causes more problems for the dog.

Treatment of conjunctivitis is usually done with medication but in cases where it is severe, surgery may be needed.

Ear infections: Ear infections are quite common in many gundog breeds and are usually caused by a variety of reasons. Generally, most dog breeds that have pendulous ears, ears that hang down, are prone to ear infections since those ears will trap dirt, debris and moisture much easier than other types of ears.

When the moisture is trapped, the dog’s ear will become inflamed and an ear infection will ensue. Ear infections can be treated easily with medication from your veterinarian but it is easier to prevent them. Make sure that your dog’s ears are kept clean and dry them after your dog has been in the water.

Cold Tail: When an owner first experiences cold tail, there is actually a lot of worry involved. Generally, cold tail occurs after the dog has been in water, both cold and warm, or the dog was out in cold weather for a certain period of time.

What cold tail is is actually a limpness that occurs about three or four inches up on the tail. The end result is a tail that looks almost like it has been sprained and it simply hangs from the limp spot in the tail.

Generally, most dogs are not affected by cold tail but some dogs may experience pain at the site of the “break.” Treatment of cold tail is to simply allow it time to heal. Usually, the dog’s tail will be healed within two weeks but if you are concerned about any pain, you may want to seek medical attention for your dog.

Demodectic Mange: Also known as Demodex is a skin problem that is caused by a microscopic mite, known as the Demodex Canis, that burrows into the dogs skin. Generally, many dogs can live with the mite in their skin without any problems but when there is an imbalance, the mite causes a skin infection in the dog.

This is skin disease can range in severity and my only be a small patch of mild red skin or a scaly lesion on either the leg or face of the dog to a full mange where the dog has scaly skin over its whole body, patchy fur and large bald spots.

Demodectic mange is not contagious between older dogs, however, it is paused between the mother and puppy when the latter is first born and if it hasn’t contracted the might by the first few days, it generally won’t contract it.

The treatment for demodectic mange is usually a dip but treatment should be discussed with a veterinarian fist. If your dog is female and has demodectic mange then it should not be bred.

Part 2 will be out soon so keep reading, for hereditary problems see all posts under the health and wellbeing category