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Please
note: Media Relations is unable to answer questions about pet health
problems. Contact your veterinarian.
Sources:
Dr. Barret Bulmer, 785-532-5690, bbulmer@vet.k-state.edu
Dr. James Roush, 785-532-4134, roushjk@vet.k-state.edu
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/MediaGuide/jroushbio.html
Pronouncer: Roush is (ROWSH)
News release prepared by: Amber Haag, 785-532-6415
Tuesday,
April 12, 2005
SPECIAL
CONCERNS TO CONSIDER WHEN OWNING A LARGE DOG
MANHATTAN
-- Owners may love their big dogs, but they should also be aware
of special health concerns for large, purebred canines.
Veterinarians
at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine said
two concern areas for large-breed dogs are orthopedic and heart
problems.
Dr.
James Roush, professor of clinical sciences at K-State's College
of Veterinary Medicine, said these issues arise because large-breed
dogs are bred to be the biggest and grow the fastest.
"You
don't see these problems in mixed-breed or wild dogs," Roush
said.
Dogs
considered "large breed" generally weigh more than 60
pounds. Typical breeds include the Saint Bernard, Newfoundland,
Great Dane, Labrador retriever and German shepherd dog, among others.
To
help prevent orthopedic problems, veterinarians recommend that owners
feed large-breed puppies a special dog food, usually called large-breed
dog food. Roush said this is recommended because growth rates are
different in large breeds.
He
said large breeds are prone to many diseases that depend on how
fast the dogs grow, which is primarily determined by the calcium
intake and energy levels they receive from food. Large-breed dog
foods are formulated to control these aspects of growth.
Roush
said the orthopedic problems that most commonly affect large-breed
dogs are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans,
hypertrophic osteodystrophy and cervical vertebral instability,
also known as wobbler's disease.
The
symptoms are similar for many orthopedic problems in large-breed
dogs, and include lameness, reluctance to rise, play or jump into
a vehicle and resistance to agility training. Treatment typically
involves surgery or arthritis medication.
Hip
dysplasia is a result of a poor fit in the hip joint that leads
to arthritis. Elbow dysplasia is a syndrome comprised of three diseases
that can be treated separately -- osteochondritis dissecans, ununited
anconeal process and fragmented coronoid process.
Osteochondritis
dissecans is a defect of joint cartilage in a major joint, usually
the shoulder, knee, elbow or "ankle" or between vertebrae.
Roush said the condition primarily affects young dogs.
Hypertrophic
osteodystrophy is an abnormal bone growth leading to pain at the
ends of bones. Like osteochondritis dissecans, Roush said a dog
suffering from hypertrophic osteodystrophy is usually young. The
dog may not want to walk much and may have visible swellings that
are painful and/or warm to the touch.
Cervical
vertebral instability is caused by a malformation of the cervical
vertebrae that causes instability between two vertebrae, usually
in the neck. Roush said the condition is often referred to as wobbler's
disease by veterinarians because a dog suffering from it will appear
"drunk" and "wobbly." Wobbler's disease leads
to neurological disease and eventually paralysis.
Roush
said large-breed dogs can be certified as free of orthopedic problems
by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals at 2 years of age.
Dr.
Barret Bulmer, assistant professor of cardiology at K-State's College
of Veterinary Medicine, said the most frequent cardiac condition
that affects large-breed dogs is a form of heart muscle disease
called dilated cardiomyopathy.
Bulmer
said dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart cannot
contract sufficiently to propel blood forward to vital organs and
exercising muscles. Symptoms may vary from subtle exercise intolerance
and lack of appetite to more severe signs like coughing and fainting
episodes, as well as fluid accumulation. Rarely, dogs may experience
sudden death without previous symptoms.
Bulmer
said the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy is unknown but could be
a combination of genetic, inflammatory, viral, environmental and
nutritional influences. Although it is incurable, veterinarians
can treat the symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy and improve a dog's
survival and quality of life.
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