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