This photo belongs to a Bhutiya dog from India. Bhutiyas are indegeneous to the country.

In the past few weeks, we have been having a lot of discussion on dog health (INDog or otherwise). Considering the number of emails I have received, I thought it was a good idea to turn the posts into a series.

We are all used to seeing our dogs running, jumping, chasing birds and cars, and generally very active. That is why, whenever they fall ill, we are taken off guard. The fact is that they are as susceptible to illnesses as we are. So, it is good to have prior knowledge of the ailments that your dog/s are susceptible to in order to take preventive actions quickly.

We have created a generic checklist of preventive measures that all dog owners should take on part 1 of this series. This part deals with ailments that are specific to some of the more popular dog breeds.

1. Labrador Retriever

THE MOST POPULAR dog breed in the world, the labrador retriever has some ailments common to its breed:

1. Hip Dysplasia
2. Elbow Dysplasia
3. Retinal atrophy
4. Epilepsy

Most of these symptoms occur in Labradors as a result of overbreeding. It is a price these dogs have to pay for their popularity. So, if you are planning to get a Labrador for your pet, it might be a good idea to screen the dog/puppy before you bring them home.

If you are already a proud owner of one, then keep a close watch on your dog for the slightest symptoms. Slow movement and limps can often be the first warning signs of hip and elbow dysplasia.

When you see your dog bumping itself against furniture, it means it is having problems with its eyesight. Take the dog to the vet immediately.

However, the best way to keep your dog from suffering is to take preventive action. Print out our Dog Health Checklist. Follow every word written in it. Your dog will love you for not letting him/her suffer.

2. Golden Retriever

Here are some of the most common illnesses seen among Golden Retrievers:

1. Cancer
2. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
3. Cataract and other vision related ailments

You can safely follow the steps mentioned in our write up for the labrador retriever, in case your golden begins showing signs of dysplasia or problems in vision. When it comes to CANCER, I know that the very word can unnerve the most seasoned dog owner.

It is important to keep in mind that the symptoms of cancer in dogs are same as those in human beings. Look out for bumps and lumps in your dogs where they are not supposed to be. Now, there can be two types of such lumps – the first being a fatty tissue growth called Lipoma. These are generally harmless and benign. The other types are the malignant growth generally known as cancer.

It is important to take your dog to a vet as soon as you notice some thing abnormal. With the advance in veterinary technology these days, it is very much possible that early detection of cancer can be treated to make sure your dog gets to lead a long and healthy life.

Treatments include common methods like chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Some vets may also try IAT (Immuno Augmentive Therapy). With so many avenues now available, it is now up to you to keep a close watch on your pet and be on the lookout for anything abnormal.

You can find out more about dog health and how to care for your dogs by clicking here.

3. German Shepherd Dog

This breed was the most popular in the world before the retrievers dislodged it from it’s place of pride. It still is the third most popular dog breed in the world. They are big dogs and as such, ailments of the bones and joints are common among them. The most often seen ailments among GSDs are:

1. Hip and Elbow dysplasia
2. Arthritis
3. Von Willebrand Disease

In layperson’s terms, if your dog is bleeding excessively from minor bruisings, has bleeding gums, or loses too much blood while giving birth to its litter, there are reasons to suspect it has got VWD. It prevents the blood from coagulating.

If you suspect your dog has this disease, get him/her tested for the VWD factor in the blood. if the VWD factor is at 79 – 118%, then your dog is OK. If it is between 50% and 69%, then it is a borderline case. If the result is below 49%, then your dog probably suffers from VWD.

Click here to find out how to treat your dog for VWD.

I hope you found this article helpful. At the end of day, our dogs are as well taken care of as much as we care for them. So sit up and take notice. Pick your self the healthiest of puppies, and then love them enough to keep them that much healthy for life.

If you found this article useful, you might want to begin from the first two parts of this series.

1. The dog health series – part 1 (The pet care checklist)
2. The dog health series – part 2 (Lumps)