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Rottweiler Health ProblemsCommon Rottweiler health problems include hip and elbow dysplasia, panosteitis, Addison's disease, aortic stenosis, cataracts, diabetes,
progressive retinal atropy, and Von Willebrand's disease.
The Rottweiler is intelligent, strong, and powerful. They have a very strong territorial instinct and will defend their home and family. Sometimes, they may not seem to
be as friendly as other breeds. Indeed, due to their aloof attitude, Rottweilers do not make immediate and indiscriminate friends.
The temperament of the Rottweiler breed varies from dog to dog. Some are fun-loving and affectionate, but some may be very reserved and obey only one family member.
As a working dog, the Rottweiler enjoys herding, competing in obedience, tracking, agility, and search and rescue.
In appearance, the Rottweiler is robust and powerful, giving an impression of great strength, agility and endurance. His coat is always black with defined rich tan
markings.
The Rottweiler is a rather popular breeds in the U.S.A.- Ranked 14th most registered breed by the AKC for 2008.
Common Rottweiler Health ProblemsLike all other breeds, Rottweilers are susceptible to certain health problems. Some of the more common Rottweiler health problems include:
Rottweiler Health Problems - Hip DysplasiaHip dysplasia afflicts many dogs including the Rottweiler. Hip dysplasia is generally considered to be inherited, but over-vaccination and obesity are also possible causes. The condition ranges from just a slight abnormality in the hip joint to the actual dislocation of the joint. Providing a natural diet, supplemented by chondroprotective medications (glucosamine and chondroitin) helps prevent and manage bone and joint problems. TopRottweiler Health Problems - Elbow DysplasiaOsteochondritis of the elbow (elbow dysplasia) is a hereditary disease (but may also be caused by poor nutrition or injury), characterized by the elbow joints of the front legs being malformed, due probably to different growth rates of the three bones making up the elbow. Dogs with this condition usually display an obvious limp - they may hold the leg out from the body while walking, or even attempt to carry the front leg completely, putting no weight on it at all. Signs may be noted as early as four months of age. Elbow dysplasia is a lifelong problem, although some dogs can be helped with surgery which, in some cases, can eliminate the problem totally. TopRottweiler Health Problems - PanosteitisPanosteitis (also known as "long bone disease," or "pano") is a common condition which suddenly causes lameness in a growing puppy or young dog. The lameness is a result of excessive bone production on the long bones of the front and hind legs, causing inflammation. It is most commonly seen in dogs between the ages of five to 12 months. Pano is common in the Rottweiler. Usually a dog affected by this condition will grow out of the problem by 18 months old, but it is painful. Puppies on a high-protein diet are prone to pano, because this kind of diet makes the puppy grow too fast. TopRottweiler Health Problems - Addison's DiseaseAddison's disease, aka Hypoadrenocorticism, is a serious disorder of the endocrine system caused by the gradual destruction of the cortex of the adrenal gland. The result is a decrease in production of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids - adrenal hormones that are necessary for a wide range of body functions. The most common form of addison's disease is an autoimmune disease. (Although addison's disease can also be caused by cancer, hemorrhage, or certain drugs.) Addison's disease is rather common in the Rottweiler. Visit our page on Addison's disease for suggestions of some natural remedies that can dramatically slow down the progression of Addison's disease in dogs. TopRottweiler Health Problems - Aortic Stenosis
One of the most common heart conditions seen in large breed dogs such as Rottweilers, aortic stenosis (AS) is a condition in which there is a partial obstruction to
the flow of blood as it leaves the left side of the heart (the left ventricle) through the main blood vessel (the aorta) that carries blood to the rest of the body.
Because of the obstruction, the heart must work harder to push the blood through the opening and, over time, this can cause problems and even death.
Aortic stenosis is hard to detect but with moderate to severe stenosis, the Rottweiler's heart may not be able to keep up with the body's demands during exercise.
Therefore, the dog may show reduced exercise tolerance - he may seem to run out of steam, or he may even faint due to inadequate blood supply to the brain.
Restricting the amount and intensity of exercise is necessary for Rottweilers with moderate to severe AS.
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Rottweiler Health Problems - CataractsA cataract is any opacity or loss of transparency of the lens of the eye. The opacity may be confined to a small area of the lens, or it may affect the whole structure. The Rottweiler is predisposed to juvenile cataracts, which occur in young dogs up to about 4 years of age, as well as adult cataracts, which occur in mature dogs. The only treatment of cataracts is to surgically remove the lens with cataracts and have a lens implantation (IOL). This treatment for cataracts in dogs is becoming more common and very often has a very high success rate, in which the dog can see close to normal. TopRottweiler Health Problems - BloatBloat, medically known as gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), is a serious and acute medical condition characterized by a rapid accumulation of gas in the stomach (gastric dilatation). In some cases, the distended stomach rotates on itself, resulting in a "twisted stomach" (volvulus), and the twisting can completely block entry of blood supply into the organ. Both conditions (dilatation and volvulus) are serious but volvulus is extremely critical and requires immediate medical attention. Big breeds with deep chests (such as the Rottweiler) are more susceptible to bloat. Symptoms include:
Rottweiler Health Problems - Progressive Retinal AtropyProgressive retinal atropy (PRA) is a family of diseases that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina. Early stages of the disease usually result in poor night vision. As the disease progresses, daytime vision also fails. The dog's pupils will become dilated, and the lens of the eyes may become cloudy, or opaque, resulting in a cataract. PRA affects some dog breeds early in life, while other breeds can be affected much later. Rottweilers affected by PRA usually develop night blindness between 2 and 5 years of age and progress to total blindness within a year or so. There is no treatment for PRA. With their acute senses of smell and hearing, dogs who have lost their vision can compensate very well, particularly in familiar surroundings. If your Rottweiler has PRA, you can help your dog live a normal life by developing regular exercise routes, maintaining consistent surroundings, introducing any necessary changes gradually, and being patient. TopRottweiler Health Problems - von Willebrand's Diseasevon Willebrand's Disease (vWD) is a common inherited blood disorder, characterized by a deficiency in clotting factor VIII antigen. This disorder afflicts Rottweilers quite often. Dogs affected by this disease are more likely to have excessive bleeding episodes upon injury, and one main symptom of vWD is excessive bleeding. The dog may also develop nosebleeds or bleeding from the gums, or bleeding in the stomach or intestine. Sometimes some dogs may have blood in their urine.
References Dog Breed Facts - Hereditary Diseases (http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/articles/hereditary-diseases.html) TOP of Rottweiler Health Problems |
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