Common Genetic Diseases in Purebred Dogs Pet Owners Must Know

In the breeding of purebred dogs, in order to preserve the cute appearance of dogs, people improperly use inbreeding and defective dogs for breeding, which makes the purebred dogs inherit defective genes and they are more likely to suffer from congenital diseases. Most congenital diseases can be cured by drugs or surgery, but some serious diseases can only be taken care of by the owner, standardize diet and living habits, and long-term medication to delay the development of the disease. Understanding the common genetic diseases of dogs and mastering the physical condition of dogs will help to intervene in diseases early and reduce the occurrence of health problems. Next, Gogo Herbs introduces the congenital diseases and special care that purebred dogs are susceptible to.

Common organ genetic diseases of purebred dogs

genetic heart disease

Congenital heart disease in dogs is mainly divided into three categories: chronic valvular heart disease, heart valve disease and dilated cardiomyopathy, which affect the dog's systemic blood supply. When a dog's vital organs are lacking blood for a long time, it will eventually lead to heart failure. Small and extra small breed dogs are more likely to suffer from heart disease, and the risk of heart disease increases as the dog ages. Dogs with heart disease often cough and wheeze for prolonged periods of time, especially after exercising. At the same time, the dog's energy, curiosity and mobility will also decrease, and it may even appear to faint suddenly. There is currently no cure for hereditary heart disease. It is necessary to grasp the timing of medication and control the disease in time to prolong the life of dogs and improve their quality of life.

Predisposed Small and Extra Small Dogs: Common

Predisposed medium-sized dogs: Samoyed

Susceptible large dogs: Boxer, Doberman Pinscher

Dog care suggestions: Dogs over five years old are recommended to go to the pet hospital for auscultation every six months. If the dog has symptoms related to heart disease, the owner should record the dog's respiration and heartbeat per minute, and take the dog for further examinations such as X-ray, echocardiogram, and electrocardiogram to confirm. After the dog is diagnosed with heart disease, he must avoid stimulation and high-intensity exercise, take medication on time according to the doctor's advice, and follow up the effect of the medication regularly.

hereditary pancreatitis

The onset of pancreatitis is related to factors such as genes, obesity, and excess body fat. Acute pancreatitis may cause various complications, such as shock, peritonitis, sepsis, jaundice, hypocalcemia, and dyspnea. The dog showed loss of appetite, frequent vomiting throughout the day, shapeless stools, and severe pain in the front abdomen. The following small dogs are high-risk dogs for inducing pancreatitis. Fortunately, acute pancreatitis can be basically cured through timely symptomatic treatment.

Predisposed small dogs: Cocker Spaniel, Miniature Schnauzer, Toy Poodle, Dachshund

Dog care suggestion: For this kind of dog, the owner should try to choose high-quality lean meat when feeding meat, and control the meal portion according to the dog's weight, so as to avoid increasing the burden of pancreas digestion. If the dog is obese, help the dog lose weight gradually. You can choose the main food with prebiotic formula to help the dog digest better.

Common facial features genetic diseases in purebred dogs

congenital eye disease

Congenital eye disease is also a frequent disease in small breed dogs, which can affect the dog's vision and even lead to blindness. Some congenital eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy cannot be cured at present, and only drugs can be used to delay the deterioration. For eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, uveitis, hypertrophy of eyelashes, and eyelid hyperplasia, better therapeutic effects can be achieved through medication and surgery, and the risk of blindness in dogs can be greatly reduced. Shepherd dogs carry a recessive gene, which may cause hypoplasia of the retina, sclera, choroid, and optic disc of both eyes, and may show no symptoms or bilateral blindness. There is currently no ideal treatment for this disease.

Predisposed Small and Extra Small Dogs: Common

Predisposed medium-sized dogs: Collies (congenital eye abnormalities)

Susceptible large dogs: Labrador, Akita (progressive retinal atrophy)

Suggestions for dog care: Anthocyanins, carotene, and Omega-3 can help delay eye degeneration in dogs, especially dogs over 7 years old need to supplement foods or health products rich in these nutrients.

Common Respiratory Tract Inherited Diseases in Purebred Dogs

Tracheal collapse

Tracheal collapse is a relatively dangerous genetic disease of the respiratory tract, which is more common in small and very small dogs. A collapsed trachea can impede ventilation or even completely block the upper airway, leaving the dog hypoxic and asphyxiating. Dogs with tracheal collapse are very sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. When the seasons change and the temperature difference is large, they are prone to panting, squealing noises when breathing, purple tongue or even fainting.

Predisposed miniature dogs: Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Maltese, Papillons, Pomeranians

Predisposed Small Dogs: Toy Poodles

Dog care advice: When taking care of this type of dog, you should pay attention to keeping warm and dissipating heat. It is not advisable to wear a collar to compress the trachea. Young dogs may consider surgery to add a tracheal stent. Daily nutrition should be supplemented for dogs, and important Chinese prescriptions can also be used to regulate health. Chinese herbal medicines such as Cordyceps and Ganoderma lucidum can help strengthen the heart and lung function of dogs, improve the immunity of dogs, and prevent tracheal collapse.

brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome

The retraction of the posterior skull of the brachycephalic dog compresses the airway, coupled with narrow nostrils and thick tongue, the special head structure will hinder the flow of air. Obstructive airway syndrome is very common in "flat-nosed dogs". Brachycephalic canine obstructive airway syndrome can cause dogs to have difficulty breathing, open their mouths to breathe, have poor heat dissipation, and are prone to heatstroke. It may also cause a series of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems and hypoxia-related diseases.

Predisposed small dogs: Shih Tzu, Pekingese, Pug, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, French Bulldog

Predisposed Medium-Sized Dogs: English Bulldogs

Predisposed Large Dogs: Boxers

Dog care suggestion: the owner should put the dog in a ventilated and cool environment, and never put it in a narrow space with nasal congestion. In hot summer, owners should avoid taking their dogs out during the day. When feeding, you should not give large pieces of food. When feeding water, you should also pay attention to taking small bites in batches to avoid choking. If your dog is struggling to breathe frequently, surgical removal of soft tissue and augmentation of the nostrils may be considered.

Common skeletal genetic diseases in purebred dogs

Congenital organ cartilage insufficiency

Dogs born with organ achondroplasia have less cartilage tissue covering the bones, weak bones, lack of support in the joints, and are more prone to fractures when they fall or are hit by impact. Affected dogs are also at greater risk for collapsed trachea and herniated discs.

Predisposed miniature dogs: Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Maltese, Papillons, Pomeranians

Small dogs prone to the disease: Toy Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer

Suggestions for dog care: Take care of sick dogs. Furniture and items in the home should be placed flat to prevent dogs from climbing and falling to fractures. When you take your dog out, avoid running for a long time or playing intensely with your friends, and prohibit the dog from bouncing up and down between the steps.

intervertebral disc disease

Intervertebral discs are discs of fibrocartilage that connect the two vertebrae and provide cushioning and protection when the spine flexes. When a dog's intervertebral disc is broken or herniated, the movement of its neck or thoracolumbar spine is blocked, and it will feel pain when exercising. If the owner finds that the dog has a stiff neck, unwillingness to raise its head, uncoordinated body movements, arched back, difficulty walking and running, and dragging hind legs, it may be a problem with the intervertebral disc.

Susceptible Ultra-Small Dogs: Papillons

Susceptible small dogs: Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Corgi, Dachshund

Dog care advice: herniated disc is an irreversible purple ice, if your dog is a high-risk dog breed, you must take adequate preventive measures. Dogs are not allowed to jump up and down the sofa, and do not let the dog go up and down the stairs. When going out, the dog's walking time should be shortened as much as possible to prevent the dog from running and bouncing excessively. When holding a dog, you should use your arms to support the dog's abdomen and chest to reduce the pull or backlog on the lumbar spine. For dogs with long body and short legs, standing training on hind limbs can easily cause intervertebral disc injury, so the owner should not try it.

Elbow and hip dysplasia

Elbow and hip dysplasia is more common in large breeds. It is the congenital cause of unsteady walking and lameness on the forelimbs and hind limbs of dogs. If not treated in time, it may lead to degenerative arthritis and even disability.

Susceptible small dogs: Pugs, Shetland Sheepdogs, Shiba Inu, Corgis

Predisposed large dogs: Golden Retriever, Labrador, German Shepherd, Great Pyrenees

Suggestions for dog care: most dogs will show symptoms after half a year old, and relevant inspections can be arranged when the dog is 3-4 months old. Drug treatment is generally used in the early stage, and proper supplementation of glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen can help repair joints and relieve swelling and pain. The side of the dog's affected limb may cause muscle atrophy, which further affects the dog's movement. The owner needs to guide the dog to train muscle strength. When training, you should choose a ground with good friction, such as grass, carpet and puzzle floor stickers, etc., and you can perform simple training such as sitting down and standing up, lifting your legs, walking around and crossing obstacles. The late stage of the disease can be treated by surgery. Most dogs recover well after surgery and have a lively and happy dog life.

Common Endocrine Genetic Diseases in Purebred Dogs

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disease in dogs. Due to insufficient secretion of thyroid hormone in the body, it may cause slow heartbeat, decreased digestive function and anemia in dogs. Dogs with hypothyroidism can experience listlessness, low exercise tolerance, loss of appetite, weight gain, coat that feels dry to the touch, hair loss, and bacterial and parasitic infections. Hypothyroidism may also affect the function of multiple organs.

Susceptible miniature dogs: Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Maltese

Susceptible small dogs: Shih Tzu, Corgi, Shiba Inu, Beagle

Susceptible medium-sized dogs: huskies, shepherds

Susceptible large dogs: golden retrievers, Doberman pinschers

Dog care suggestion: Hypothyroidism usually occurs at the age of seven. If the older fur child in the family becomes inactive, sleeps more, is unresponsive, and presents the above-mentioned symptoms at the same time, you should take the fur child to a pet hospital for blood tests. Hypothyroidism requires long-term medication. Regularly review and track the hormone content in the dog’s blood and adjust the dosage. After medication, the dog’s fur condition will be significantly improved.

diabetes

Congenital diabetes is another common endocrine disease in dogs. Affected dogs show symptoms of thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite but weight loss, irritability, and listlessness. However, there are many reasons that can cause these symptoms, and it usually develops to the end of diabetes. It is not until the dog has vision problems that the owner pays attention to it and takes the dog to see a doctor, which delays the treatment of the disease. If diabetes is not treated systematically in time, it may develop into ketoacidemia, complicated by renal failure, leading to coma or death.

Predisposed small dogs: miniature schnauzers, dachshunds, toy poodles

Susceptible medium-sized dogs: Samoyed, Husky, Chow Chow

Susceptible large dogs: Labrador, Golden Retriever

Suggestions for dog care: Dogs with diabetes need to monitor blood sugar changes daily and insist on insulin therapy. In terms of diet, pay attention to nutritional supply and regular eating, choose high-protein, low-fat food types, and supplement a variety of carbohydrates and dietary fiber. In addition, it is necessary to scientifically arrange the dog's daily food intake and feed it regularly to ensure the effect of insulin medication. The use of canine insulin can control diabetes well. The owner should also take the dog to exercise. For dogs without joint and bone diseases, it is recommended to walk 5-10km every day.

In addition to the common genetic diseases mentioned above, some genetic diseases are accompanied by obvious symptoms, such as diarrhea, shaking, uncoordinated movements, difficulty breathing and sudden weight loss. These signs of abnormal health require the owner to pay attention and send the dog to the doctor in time. Every owner must understand the possible diseases of the dog before raising a dog, make a careful decision, and be prepared to take care of the dog for a lifetime. Gogo Herbs is committed to the research of scientific pet breeding solutions. We carefully select healthy and effective pet products to prevent diseases and improve the quality of life for pets, such as: Sears™ pet food adult dog low-calorie dietary formula staple food, using high-quality protein and natural Fiber provides a filling feeling of satiety, and L-carnitine is added to help control calorie intake in the long term. Sears™ Pet Food Perfect Weight Chicken Special Formula, specially developed for small and miniature adult dogs, has been clinically proven to help dogs lose weight significantly and safely within 10 weeks and maintain lean muscles. Gogo Herbs professional nutrition and veterinary team will continue to protect the health of your pet. If you want to know about the health care plan suitable for your pet, please contact us via Whatsapp+852 5483 0695.