| There are many ailments and conditions that are | | | | Also, placing their water and food dishes on an |
| more prevalent in large breed dogs. Until further | | | | elevated food stand may aid in the digestion of their |
| medical studies can be conducted and a pattern of | | | | food. |
| inheritance established for these ailments and | | | | Hypothyroidism is a common condition usually found |
| conditions, dogs that have a risk for these diseases | | | | in mid to large breed middle age dogs. This condition |
| will be said to have breed predisposition. This article | | | | is caused when the thyroid gland is damaged or |
| will discuss five of the medical conditions and diseases | | | | destroyed and not enough thyroid hormone is |
| affecting large breed dogs. | | | | produced. The resulting effects of low thyroid |
| There are many ailments and conditions that are | | | | production can be: |
| more prevalent in large breed dogs. Until further | | | | - Lethargy |
| medical studies can be conducted and a pattern of | | | | - Weight gain |
| inheritance established for these ailments and | | | | - Hair loss |
| conditions, dogs that have a risk for these diseases | | | | - Anemia |
| will be said to have breed predisposition. If a breed | | | | - Slow heart rate |
| of dog is known to have an inherited condition each | | | | - Dry coat |
| animal should be tested before breeding with another. | | | | There are blood tests the vet can run to diagnose |
| The only way to prevent the spread of known | | | | this condition and once diagnosed the condition is |
| ailments or condition is to not breed a carrier of the | | | | easily treated with a daily dose of synthetic thyroid |
| disease. Since some ailments or conditions may skip a | | | | hormone which will need to be administered for the |
| generation or two before appearing in the breed, | | | | rest of the dog's life. Canine hip dysplasia is one of |
| there is no fool proof way to stop a genetic disorder | | | | the most common inherited diseases in large breed |
| from being passed on. | | | | and giant breed dogs. This orthopedic disease may |
| One of the most common heart defects found in | | | | affect smaller breed dogs as well. When obtaining a |
| large breed dogs is congenital aortic stenosis. With | | | | puppy or dog from a breeder, make sure you ask |
| aortic stenosis the heart must work harder to pump | | | | for and receive hip certification on the parents and |
| an adequate blood supply because of an obstruction | | | | ancestors of the puppy or dog. Hip dysplasia results |
| to the flow of blood. Just as in humans, dogs can | | | | from abnormal hip joint development in a dog. It may |
| have mild to severe aortic stenosis. With mild | | | | or may not affect both right and left sides. The hip |
| stenosis a dog will most likely show no signs of the | | | | joint is a ball and socket joint, the ball (femur) fits |
| disease and have a normal life expectancy. If the dog | | | | into the socket (acetabulum) and rotates freely. |
| suffers from moderate to severe stenosis, their | | | | Ligaments and tissue hold these bones together and |
| activity level will be greatly reduced due to the heart | | | | cartilage cushions the movement of the bones. With |
| not pumping enough blood to the rest of the body. | | | | hip dysplasia the bone slips partially out of socket and |
| Over time the disease leads to the thickening of the | | | | the ligaments are loose. As this continues to happen |
| heart muscle and this can eventually lead to an early | | | | other degenerative changes take place in the joint. |
| death. | | | | Over time your dog will find it painful to stand and |
| Getting medical check ups for your pet and catching | | | | walk and will have difficulty climbing stairs. |
| aortic stenosis in the early stages may aid in the | | | | Making sure your puppy doesn't gain weight too |
| treatment. | | | | quickly and not letting your older dog carry excess |
| Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or as it is commonly | | | | weight reduces the chance of hip dysplasia. If you do |
| known as bloat, is predisposed to the deep-chested | | | | suspect your dog may be showing signs of hip |
| large breed dogs. Be aware that any dog can fall | | | | dysplasia, get them checked out by the vet and find |
| victim to this condition and unfortunately it is usually | | | | out what you can do to relieve them of pain. |
| fatal. There is no definitive cause of GDV but over | | | | Osteosarcoma or bone cancer generally affects large |
| eating or drinking has been linked to some cases in | | | | and giant breed dogs. This is a very aggressive |
| predisposed breeds. During GDV, the stomach | | | | cancer and is more frequent in older male dogs. |
| rotates (the stomach of a dog is securely fixed at | | | | Medical research has yet to find the cause of these |
| the top in one spot) making the stomach distension | | | | cancers. Most bone cancers are found to develop |
| painful and stretching the blood vessels reducing | | | | below the elbow or near the knee of dog's limbs. |
| circulation to the stomach. This can damage the lining | | | | Usually a swelling of the area and pain in the joint is a |
| of the stomach which may lead to bacteria entering | | | | first indication of a medical dilemma. Unfortunately by |
| the bloodstream. Also the blood flow to the heart | | | | the time medical treatment is sought, the tumor may |
| may be interrupted due to the pressure of major | | | | have already metastasized to the lungs. Treatment |
| veins from the distended stomach. Receiving | | | | of this cancer is usually amputation and chemo. Even |
| immediate medical attention is imperative as surgery | | | | with amputation and chemotherapy, the life |
| is the only hope of the dog surviving. | | | | expectancy of a dog is approximately one year. |
| Feeding your dog smaller meals three times a day | | | | There is no preventable treatment for |
| instead of one big meal and limiting the amount of | | | | Osteosarcoma. |
| water they drink at one time may help prevent GDV. | | | | |