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dogs health issues

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Q: What natural ingredients do you give your dogs to treat minor health issues(diarrhea,bad breath, etc)?
I’ve recently got into making my own treats and would like to try making some that would be beneficial to their health, like adding mint and parsley for bad breath and pumpkin for diarrhea.What are some of your favorites?

A: It is good to have healthy treats for your dogs. great idea. Pumpkin has been hard to find around here this year, not sure why. I just give my dogs a little if they are out of sorts. That is when I can find it. It actually helps with diarrhea and also constipation. not sure how that works but it is supposed to. We don’t have time to make the treats ourselves but it is a great idea. Sounds like you are on the right track.

Q: What health issues are common for chinese crested dogs?
are they a healthy breed in general? or are there health issues I should be aware of?

A: From talking to breeders, rescue folk, and other owners. I’d have to say that PRA and Dry Eye are the most common issues in the breed. If you plan to buy from a breeder, its very important that they do CERF tests yearly. Optigen is another valuable test.. its a genetic test to check for PRA. Optigen can only test for one type of PRA in the breed tho.. Cresteds can have both types of PRA.

Allergies are another common issue, some have contact allergens, some have food allergens.
Luxating patella
Legges-Perthe
Closed Ear canals have been seen in some bloodlines.
Heart murmurs in some bloodlines.
Hairless are prone to bad dentation- the amount of “hairlessness” does NOT necessarily reflect how bad the dentation is tho. I have a true hairless and he has a VERY nice set of teeth. He is only missing his pre-molars. Better lines tend to have better dentation. Dental loss is accepted in the show ring for the hairless only, puffs should have a complete set of teeth.
Skin issues are common for the hairless- better bloodlines tend to have better skin. Good care and diet helps prevent issues.
One woman I know who works in rescue seems to have gotton some dogs in the past few years that have issues with thyroid problems, or liver/kidney issues. She lives right in the middle of puppy mill country, so Im not suprised really surprised. This is not a known issue among the breed, but seems to be cropping up among puppy mill lines.. be very cautious if you are deciding to purchase from a breeder!

Q: are there any good loving dogs that have no health issues?
i am reasherching about dogs before i get one so i looked up cavachons should i get a cavachon or a diffrent dog

A: Mixed breeds tend to have the least number of breed specific health issues, and there is never a shortage of them at your local animal rescue or shelter! :)

If you’re absolutely dead set on getting a pure bred dog, you need to really do your research beforehand. Unless you’re willing to shell out big bucks from a reputable breeder, most back yard breeders (i.e. people who advertise in the paper or have signs out in front of their house advertising puppies for sale) will not have very high quality animals, and they’ll tend to have a lot more health issues. Remember…reputable breeders do not advertise, and they are extremely selective about potential owners for their pups.

Q: Rescuing dogs with health issues?
What’s your opinion on this ? Should you rescue a dog with severe health issues …..OR since so many dogs are being killed daily should you just get a dog in good health and let the ones with issues take the bullet ??
Whatever your opinion there is no judgment involved over here .
It’s your god given right to adopt .breed,cat juggle or whatever ..i’m just curious ..I’ve seen very messed up dogs rescued before and thought …”ugh i wouldn’t have done that “… like spend 3000$ on a dog i just got..or stay up all night for months bottle feeding a dog that would never be right and have health issues for it’s entire life .. like i said .. no judgment .. just curious .

A: There are too many good dogs in great shape needing homes to allow a severely ill or injured animal suffer. The money saved alone from not seeking treatment for these animals could help thousands more who could be helped…….I’ve put my share of dogs down. It’s never easy.

Q: What do you deem the worst, health issues found in pedigree dogs, due to breeding?
title pretty much says it all lol
I am not talking about cross breeds here, but pedigrees, having had a lot of cross breeds in my time, and never had any seriouse health issues, or even minor ones for that matter, i am fully aware of the fact that cross breeds are healthier than pedigrees, in most cases.
I am looking at pedigrees so please bare this in mind while answering.

A: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-About-Cats-Dogs/dp/1846241375

The above book may be of interest to you, it is written by a vet called Emma Milne and she explains how breeding affects the health of dogs and cats.

Q: Do most Pedigree Dogs have health problems?
I want to get a dog but dont know whether to buy a pedigree or mixed-breed dog? Is it true that most pedigree dogs have health issues? If you own a pedigree dog, have you experienced any breed related problems such as eye, joint, skin, breathing problems etc.?

Otherwise, if you have a mixed-bred dog, does it make a good pet and has it had any health problems?

Thanks!

A: All dogs purebred or mutts can have health problems which is why it’s important to buy a dog from a reputable breeder to minimize the risk.

Q: Why is it some uninformed people imagine pure breed dogs have less health issues than cross breeds?
l have seen this comment several times by to me people who do not understand anything about dogs at all.There is NO proof that a cross breed lives longer than a pure breed and in fact the opposite is true the competent registered Breeder will breed from fully tested stock and not risk breeding dogs with possible health issues.Why is it that some people seem to believe this untruth about the two types of dogs?
PS For those people who have realized l put the question incorrectly in the heading of the question THANKS,l MEANT ‘Why do people think cross breeds are healthier than pure breeds’
To those wwho are so perfect and never nake an error when typing,aren’t you rantastic wish l was as perfect as you think you are!

A: HUH! You are arguing against yourself here.

First you state that UNINFORMED people imagine pure breed dogs have less health issues than cross breeds….then you go on to state the opposite and that there is no proof cross breds live longer etc,.

I agree with your latter statement. I think pure bred dogs are healthier due to the health testing and careful mating by registered breeders to minimise and hopefully eliminate hereditary health problems. With cross breeds it’s a crap shoot because no testing is done and no compatability is considered when mating the dogs. They just throw any two dogs together.

I am not uninformed and I have registered pure bred dogs. However according to my vet, pure bred owners are more likely to have their dogs seen by a vet when they are off color than cross bred owners so it can appear that pure bred dogs need vet attention more regularly.
My vet also states that often if expensive treatment is required a cross bred owner is likely to say “Oh he’ll get over it” and not proceed with treatment.

I had occasion last year to have my dog visit the veterinary specialist centre every 3 weeks. It was darned expensive and rarely did I see another cross bred dog in there. They were 95% pure bred dogs. This confirms my vets opinion that pure bred owners are prepared to spend the money on vet treatment for their dogs.

Q: Do Boston Terriers have more health issues than other dogs?
Back problems
Longevity

A: Every breed has its genetically prone weakness. This is why its so important to have mating pairs tested before they mate so any genetic defect doesn’t get passed on to new pups.
BT are like Boxers as they are known to get Mast Cell tumors. I’m not sure of other weaknesses. Check the AKC website and click on the breed info . I don’t believe they are more prone to health issues than any other breed.

Q: Will dewormer work on a very , very old dog with many health issues?
He is not ours and I have suggested putting him down, but owner refuses. Everyone is recovering from loss of income so no extra money for vets and we have 2 healthy dogs. The old dog has taken over their living area and bedding.

A: Wormers work on ANY dog….they kill worms….period.
& one type will NOT kill all species of worms.
Responsible adults worm dogs regularly=twice yearly is fine.

Q: are smaller dogs more prone to health issues or larger breeds more prone?

A: While some breeds are very prone to specific health problems (dogs with pushed in faces, very large dogs, so called “teacup” runts), it is more a matter of breeding and genetics than size.

Big dogs tend to have more bone problems, small dogs have dental problems more often, but there really is not generalization by size, just by breed.

Q: Should breeders be responsible for genetic health issues that occur in the dogs they sell?
Should breeders be legally held responsible for any genetic health issues in a dog that they have sold?

I met a woman today who had a one year old Lab. She bought the pup from a breeder, who informed her upfront that the dog was going to have elbow problems. The breeder told the woman that this had never happened before and offered to give her a different dog, but the woman refused. The breeder then paid for surgery on both elbows.

Should this be the ticket for all breeders? Would it help cut down the amount of backyard breedrs?
Erica- The breeder noticed the pup was acting strangely before it was given to the woman (walking oddly at seven weeks, the pup wasn’t handed over until ten weeks).

She let the owner (who had already chosen the pup) know about the problem and offered her a different pup. The owner said she didn’t care if the dog needed surgery, and that she would pay for it. The breeder then told the woman that this was her responsiblity and SHE would pay for it.

A: I’ve heard that some states and counties are enacting this “puppy lemon law”. http://www.malteseonly.com/lemon.html

Unfortunately, it looks like many only affect pet shops and commerical breeders and the laws are seriously lacking. 6 months for a congenital defect? You can’t even OFA certify until 2.

Yeah, I think across the board this is a good idea. That way people can stop freaking out about “the gov’t trying to interfere in my life” and it will hopefully get the BYB’s to simmer down and stop churning out those sickly animals that break down in a year or two.

It will also be good for responsible breeders because if the dog has a problem, the person will come back to the breeder and let them know – perhaps altering their breeding program.

The issue will be enforcement. Will it have to be a civil lawsuit every time? That’s a huge drag on the court system and on consumers, unless the BYBs and Puppy Mills clean up their act right away.

Added: And I see loopholes already. Several states are only allowing reimbursements equal to the cost of the dog. BYB’s will just call the dog “free” and then ask a $500 rehoming fee “to ensure a good home” or a “supply” fee for the bag of food the owner gets. The paperwork (yeah, right) will state that the dog was free.

Or, if the dog ends up with hip dysplasia within that window, and it’s a $3000 surgery but the dog only cost $750, then the owner is stuck. They aren’t going to want to give a 11 month old dog back, but it sucks that they got stuck with vet bills.

On top of that, when does it become time for people to take resopnsibility for their actions on the other end? Buyers refuse to be educated and think that “just this once” won’t add to the problem.

Q: Love dachshunds but hate their health issues. What dogs are similar in temperment to dachshunds?
I love dachshunds. There is no other way to describe it but that I’m a dachaholic. I have recently graduated from college and moved out on my own and have been wanting to get a dachshund of my own. However, I am now questioning whether or not I should get a dachshund. I have recently been left heart broken by the death of my parent’s 5 year old dachshund, TJ. Thursday last week my dad woke up and found that TJ’s back legs were paralyzed and they didn’t have the money to get him a back operation and the vet said there was high enough that it would cause problems with his internal organs and there was little chance he could get better if they could afford the extremely expensive operation. Because of that and the fact that he was in a lot of pain they decided to have him put down.

My question is, what dog is similar in temperment to a dachshund and still small enough to have in an apartment with a 40lb rule? Also, I want to train this dog to be a sound alert dog (I’m 65% deaf).

I know I could probably stop a majority of the dachshund back issues by not allowing the dog on furniture and limiting the steps it would go up and down. But I want to explore my other options. Any suggestions?
The dog that had to be put down was 5 years old, perfect weight and very active. He would follow my sister around on a horse farm for exercise.
My parents dachshunds were both rescued from situations where people no longer wanted them. They didn’t choose them from a breeder or a puppy mill pet store. They offered them a home when they were sure to have been put down or worse.
I realize that these dogs probably came from bad breeders. The one remaining dachshund is 10 years old and is, in my mom’s words, a lowrider dachshund. He is about 24 inches from nose tip to rump and his legs are only about 4-6 inches from his shoulder and hip. He is also bowlegged in the back. TJ had much longer legs and a shorter back, but he was roach-backed (his back arched up). I just wanted to add this information because I didn’t want to get a rant from anyone about my parents having puppy mill dogs. I would never buy a puppy from a puppy mill but they deserve to be rescued as well. Puppy mill dogs deserve love too. The owners of the mills should be the ones that are put down (aka put out of business and never allowed to own an animal again).

A: As stated above, pretty much any pure bred will have health issues, because of the genetic bottleneck that created them. So you’ll need to decide what if any health issues you are willing to risk, if you are set on pure bred. If you are, many of the small terriers have similar personalities are naturally alert dogs and intelligent enough to train. Jack Russells, Yorkies, Westies, and fox terriers are all great.
You can also consider adopting a dachshund mix. Or just a general small mix. The nice thing about adopting is that a lot of the dogs are a bit older, so you will be able to tell what their temperament is and whether or not they seem trainable. And if you are looking for a puppy, you can still find them, as well.
Good luck.
Also, despite all the thumb downs, I’d take Melissa K’s opinion seriously. She’s an animal behaviorist, which if she is accurately listing the title, means she not only went to vet school for four years (unlike the people who gave her a thumbs down) but then went on to specialize in animal behavior, which is basically what your question is about; you’re asking for a dog who behaves like a dachshund.
And to address Loki, yes any dog (or human) can have genetic issues. The liklihood is higher with prue breds, though, because of the gentic restrictions and inevtiable inbreeding. Even if the current breeder is very responsible, to get a group of animals so phenotypically and genotypcially similar required inbreeding at one point, and this highly increases the risk of disease. To each his own, and as a breeder and shower, I assume your own his breeding, and thus I understand why you are defending this point so intensely.
I didn’t mean to imply you bred Doxies, just that you bred. Siberian Huskies have their own slew of health problems. But I respect your point, and I do acknowledge that if this practice of eugenics breeders find so fulfilling and monetarily rewarding is done well, it can be quite harmless and even beneficial. And I commend you for at least appearing to be one of the responsible breeders out there. And as much as you feel insulted for being attacked for prefering pure breds, I’m sure you can relate to the equally offensive generalizations that many pure bred lovers make about mixed breeds. I defend my point only because there are so many good animals in need of a home that buying from a breeder is at this time unnecessary and counter-productive. And unfortunately, it is true that through bad breeding and standards of selection that are based primarily on appearance and not health or temperament a lot of pure breds now have more problems that a lot of more genetically diverse dogs (mixed breeds in many cases). Not that mixed breeds can’t have problems, but the percentage is not as high.
Irregardless of either of our points, she was looking for a non-dachshund dog, and so I suggested a mix, along with a few pure bred terriers. You suggested a dachshund, which doesn’t exactly help her in her search for a non-dachshund.

Q: If any, is there a dog breed with the most health issues?
Any purebreds that have the most health issues? I just want to know because it got me curious when people asked if there are any dog breeds with LESS health issues. So I wonder which had the MOST.
Thank you in advance!
Great Danes, and English Bulldogs?
If to be mistaken, dont Golden Retrievers have some health issues too?

A: English Bulls win, followed by Dobermans, Irish Setters, and Dalmations, who experience a high number of genetic defects. (Obviously poorly bred dogs have much more problems than those from a quality breeding program!) Generally speaking, giant breeds like Great Dane, St Bernard, and Neopolitan Mastiffs would come next, as they have a much shorter life expectancy and are prone to joint, gastric, and heart diseases. And yes, Goldens are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as allergies. Again, well bred dogs are healthier by far than puppy mill dogs, so where you get your dog is as important as what dog you get.

Q: what type of dog has the least health issues?
i want a dog thats cute and has the least health issues. i was thinking about an australian shepherd but i looked them up and they have alo. ecspesially epilepsy. i dont want it to small. like medium size.

A: Don’t listen to the first two posters, they are spewing lies and myths. Mongrels are just as vulnerable to genetic ailments, if not more so, than purebreds. That “genetic diversity” they talk about, can actually make genetic illnesses pop up even more so, and since mongrel breeders never health test, they are unhealthier than a reputably bred purebred.

I’d say one from a reputable breeder who health tests and shows/works their dogs. Not breed specific.

Q: should I get ACL surgery on an 11 year old dog with other health issues?
the other health issues are: borderline cushing’s disease, reduced kidney function, and copper storage disease (liver)….PLEASE, any help would be so appreciated!!! Is it time to let her go?

A: I would try medication,glucosamine/chondroitin supplements and rest first.The vet can also apply a splint or brace. You wouldn’t want to have the surgery be a success only to have her kidneys shut down from the anesthesia. I have had two large,older dogs with torn ACLS and they healed just fine with the aforementioned treatments.

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