Frequent Diseases in Dachshunds
April 1, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
That is a little misleading since no disease is truly common in Dachshunds The overwhelming majority are born healthy and live long, mostly disease-free lives.Almost every dog can develop minor health issues even if they receive vaccinations and excellent life-long care. Even dogs that receive their vaccinations and excellent life-long care can develop some minor health issues in their lifetime.
Nevertheless, there are some conditions that tend to occur more frequently in Dachshunds that in other breeds.
Diseases of the Adrenal Gland
Hyperadrenocorticism, or Cushing’s Disease, is one common disease of the adrenal gland. In Cushing’s Disease, too much of the hormone cortisol is produced, either by the adrenal gland or by a primary tumor, or a malfunction of the pituitary gland, which is the master gland that tells the adrenal gland how much cortisol to produce. The elevated cortisol level results in excessive drinking and urination, hair loss, a pot-bellied appearance, skin conditions, and sometimes diabetes. Lab tests are performed to measure the cortisol levels and the ability of the adrenal gland to produce cortisol. Several different drugs can be used to decrease the level of cortisol. If adrenal cancer is present, surgical excision of the gland may be needed. Cushing’s disease is not limited to Dachshunds and can be found in other breeds, too.
The opposite condition is called low cortisol (hypoadrenocorticism) or Addison’s disease. Whereas, Cushing’s takes some time to present itself, Addison’s disease is a sudden episode of collapse due to to low of glucose (blood sugar) and an imbalance of the electrolytes. The sudden illness results in an emergency visit to the veterinarian for cortisone injections and fluid therapy to correct the imbalances. Being as the sudden collapse resembles many disorders, Addison’s is the most difficult disease to diagnose. Specialized blood tests are necessary to identify both Cushing’s and Addison’s Disease. Prednisone and electrolyte supplements will be needed for life long treatment of Addison’s disease.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Several eye diseases can affect Dachshunds, such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. PRA is a gradual deterioration of the retina, the back wall of the eye. This results in slow vision loss and eventual blindness. Because of the slow onset of the disease, it may not be diagnosed until the dog has already been bred, thus passing the condition to their offspring. There is no cure or treatment for PRA unfortunately. Other eye diseases that can affect Dachshunds are glaucoma, cataracts, optic nerve hypoplasia, abnormal eyelashes (distichiasis) as well as other conditions. Regular eye exams can help identify these eye-disorders early.
Intervertebral Disc Disease
By far the most common disease of Dachshunds is related to the discs between the vertebrae (the bones of the spine). The disc provides a cushion between the bones of the back (spine) and is normally gelatinous. In Doxies, this materials sometimes calcifies, or hardens, and sometimes ruptures. The disc protrusion causes pain and swelling around the nerves coming out of the spinal cord and sometimes compresses the cord itself. The herniated disc causes pain, a reluctance to jump up, partial paralysis and can progress to total paralysis. The majority of Doxies with disc disease can be managed medically with anti-inflammatory medications and pain medication. Some owners have tried holistic medicine, such as acupuncture or chiropractic manipulation to help with the pain. When total paralysis is caused from a complete rupture, immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord may help restor full function in the legs. The faster the surgery is performed, the greater the chances of full recovery.
Researchers are using lasers to fuse or burn the discs in order to prevent future herniation. Being as this is such a common problem in Doxies, I do recommend purchasing health insurance for your pet. Unfortunately, some owners cannot afford the surgery and pets suffering with total paralysis or extreme pain are euthanized. A few of my patients that were partially paralyzed did recover some function of their legs over time. It is impossible to predict which dogs will recover without the surgery.
Vaccination Reactions
Allergic reactions to vaccinations does seem to occur in the Dachshund more often than any other breed. The reaction is usually minor, resulting in swelling of the face and muzzle and occasional hives. Occasional vaccine reactions can occur with any dog so it is always a good idea to observe your pet for a few hours after their shots. Improvements in vaccine technology have decreased the side effects and the benefits of preventing disease outweighs the risks.
Dachshunds can lead a very long and healthy life, sometimes upward to 15 years. Good dental care, proper diets, preventive health checks, vaccinations, and heartworm/parasite prevention can help your Dachshund live longer. You can find more information concerning your dogs health at LuvUrDog.com as well Dachshund breed gifts.
Reasons not to get pet insurance
Although pet insurance can save you money, there are also reasons not to get pet insurance for dogs and cats.
For one thing, insurance companies usually don’t cover senior dogs. That makes it difficult because usually that’s the kind of dog you’d want insurance for anyway, not a healthy 3-year-old dog. There are a few companies that offer coverage for an older dog, but that’s if the dog has been insured every year from a younger age. Petplan pet insurance will cover dogs older than 8 years old for life if they have been enrolled in the program continuously since at least age 7.
Another reason is the premiums start to get really expensive when you have more than one animal. Instead of paying $25 per month for one dog, you could be paying $100 per month for four dogs. You might be better off setting that money aside for when something comes up with one of your animals.
The third reason not to get pet insurance is if you know you are not willing to spend a lot of money on your animals if they get sick or injured. If you are the type of person who spends a minimum on your pets – like routine vaccinations only – then you probably aren’t going to spend money on cancer care for a dog regardless. As long as your dog is not in a great amount of pain, maybe you wouldn’t pay for surgery on a bad knee. So why would you get insurance to cover such illnesses?
Do you have pet insurance for your dogs and cats?
Salmonella and Our Pets
Salmonella and Our Pets -With the recent Peanut Butter Recall, Salmonella once more has become headline news. Salmonella is a bacterium that can affect both humans and animals and can be passed from human to animal and animal to humans (reverse zoonotic disease). Most infections occur through ingestion of contaminated food or water or through close contact with an infected host. In the Peanut Butter recall, contaminated peanuts were used as a flavoring or an additive in products including pet food and treats. Luckily, most dogs and cats infrequently develop disease, but handling the infected treats and then handling food or not washing your hands after handling infected products can transmit the bacteria to humans.
Signs of Samonellosis can include acute diarrhea, cramps, vomiting and dehydration. Babies, the elderly and immune suppressed are more susceptible to infection and can be exposed by contact with pets or humans harboring the bacteria without showing symptoms. The disease can cause severe debilitation and sometimes death in those that are most vulnerable. Salmonella is most often found in raw meat, poultry, eggs and sometimes vegetables
Cooking products to the proper temperature kills the bacteria. Most often, infections occur with cross contamination, such as cutting raw meat on a cutting board and then cutting vegetables for the salad on the same cutting board or handling a contaminated product then eating or handling food without washing hands. Most disinfectants and dilute bleach will kill the bacteria. Feeding raw meat, poultry or eggs to pets can result with Salmonella infection in our pets. Since some pets may not develop symptoms but harbor the bacteria, they may pass Salmonella in their feces for months and may cause infections in humans.
What can you do to reduce your exposure to Salmonella?
- Always cook food thoroughly. Do not ingest drinks or foods containing raw eggs (This includes licking the beaters when making cake mixes, a bad habit I am most guilty of)
- Wash hands after handling raw meats, poultry, and pets: especially turtles, baby chicks, reptiles and pet feces.
- Wash your hands before eating. (Mothers are always right)
- Wash utensils, cutting boards and plates after handling raw meat and poultry. (When grilling, always use a different plate when taking the cooked meat off the grill.)
- Do not feed pets raw meat, poultry or eggs.
- Wash hands after handling pet treats (pig ears, rawhides, peanut butter treats) or after playing with pets, especially turtles, birds, baby chicks and reptiles.
- Washing hands after changing diapers, or handling raw foods, will prevent cross contamination.
- If you are served undercooked meats at a restarurant, do not hesitate to send it back for further cooking. Also, you may want to ask for fresh salsa if it looks like it may have been left out too long. Salsa dips have been a source of Salmonella infections in the past.
- For extra protection, carry a hand sanitizer in your purse or car.
I have more tips and links to web sites concerning the Salmonella Peanut Butter recall at anchor 2 You can also view Facts about Salmonella at CDC.org.
