Health status depends on genetic factors Most people, before they get a dog, not only hope that the dog has a cute appearance and smart response, but also hope that the dog they bring home after a long search will be a lively and energetic healthy baby. However, having a dog is a lifelong matter, before deciding to get along with him, in addition to appearance and personality, there are many other areas that you should pay attention to, which is an important issue that you should not be unaware of as an owner. According to the author’s in-depth research, genetically speaking, there is really no breed of dog in the world whose health status is perfect, even humans cannot escape the problem of hereditary diseases, and dogs are certainly no exception. Every dog has more or less bad genes in its body, and these bad genes will cause some disease problems in the future. Dog health depends on owner concern Although not all dogs get sick, I still hope that before we decide to get a dog, we can have a deeper understanding of our favorite dog breed and pay more attention to the problems and conditions of dogs in the area. This way, I believe owners will have a better understanding of their dog’s health and make greater progress with their dog’s health. Strict control! In this issue, I will first discuss several of the more popular dog breeds in Taiwan at present, and briefly discuss several of the more common hereditary diseases with your readers. I also hope that through the introduction of this unit, many owners who were originally unaware of their dog’s health condition will be able to have a more in-depth understanding. Please remember that for dogs, only careful love and gentle care from their owners can bring them a happy and healthy life. Pomeranian Beware of Tracheal Collapse Let’s talk about the lovely Pomeranian first. The Pomeranian is a dog that most readers are familiar with. The general impression of the Pomeranian is that it is small, barking, and prone to nervous reactions, but for those who like the Pomeranian, the miniature size and responsiveness are what attracts them the most. From the perspective of genetic defects in the Pomeranian, there are several key issues that breeders need to pay close attention to. First, the Pomeranian has very fragile bones and is more prone to fractures in the front limbs and knee dislocations in the hind limbs. More care should be taken when running and jumping. In addition, the Pomeranian is particularly prone to endocrine problems, such as hypothyroidism, and dermatitis due to endocrine imbalances in the skin. In terms of cardiovascular problems, Pomeranian females are also prone to Patent ductus arteriosus (open ductus arteriosus), an abnormal blood vessel between the aorta and pulmonary artery of the heart, which can cause a mixture of oxygenated and hypoxic blood in the process of blood transport. In addition, in terms of eye diseases, Pomeranians over the age of four are prone to cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy (this disease is prone to occur at the age of six); and the older the Pomeranian, the more likely it is to have respiratory problems of tracheal collapse. The percentage of tracheal collapse in Pomeranians is quite high, usually with symptoms of coughing, and the degree of tracheal collapse needs to be determined by X-ray. Shelties – Watch out for skin problems Generally speaking, Shelties are rarely sick. They are a healthy breed, but this does not mean that Shelties are free of genetic problems. It is believed that many dog owners in their families must understand that the most common problem is a skin condition. The most common skin problem in Shelties is atopic dermatitis and occurs in female dogs from six months of age until seven years of age; in addition, in Miniature Shelties, they are also prone to a disease called Schnauzer comedo syndrome. Schnauzers have sensitive skin and are prone to superfical suppurative necrolytic dermatitis due to incomplete cleaning or allergies, or inflammation of the skin due to allergies to sulfonamide type medications. In addition, Shelties are also prone to endocrine problems related to diabetes and hypothyroidism. The gastrointestinal tract is susceptible to congenital hepatic portal shunts and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (usually occurring between 2 and 4 years of age). This hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is not caused by a virus, but is more likely to occur in small schnauzers. In large schnauzers, feeding is important because they have problems absorbing vitamin B12 and it is likely to cause anemia (usually occurs in dogs for 6 to 12 weeks). In terms of the kidneys and urinary tract, the following are the most common types of stones that occur in Shelties: things like Urate, Calcium Oxalate, Struvite, Calcium Phosphate, Silica, etc. are all common stones. In terms of the eyes, it is important to pay close attention to glaucoma and cataract symptoms. Labradors – Protecting the Hip Joint Carefully Nowadays, more and more people are breeding Labradors, and most owners of Labradors now recognize that these large breeds are prone to hereditary hip joint problems, but the lovely Labradors are not the only ones with hereditary problems! Let’s start with hereditary diseases of the bones and joints in Labradors. As mentioned above, the most common problem in Labradors is hip dysplasia, followed by osteochondrosis, which usually occurs in the shoulder, ankle, and elbow joints of dogs. Young Labradors are also prone to rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. In terms of hematology, Labradors are prone to hemophilia B because they are prone to coagulation factor 9 deficiency (their blood type is usually DEA 1.1 and DEA 1.2 positive). In terms of endocrinology, Labrador females are prone to Adrenocortical tumor, which also occurs in middle-aged and older dogs. In addition, skin problems such as atopic dermatitis and food allergies are also common genetic diseases in Labradors, as are seborrhea, septic traumatic folliculitis, and Pemphigus foliaceous, which is caused by drugs. Owners of Labradors should find that Labradors are also prone to nose pigmentation (common in yellow Labradors) or hyperkeratosis (common in dogs between six months and 12 months of age).
