Are some breeds much more subject to inherited diseases than others?

Adapted from
www.healthypets.in



Are some breeds much more subject to inherited diseases than others?

There are seven breeds which it is known can suffer from twenty or more different disorders of genetic origin: American Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bulldog and toy and mini Poodles. A further ten breeds are each subject to at least ten separate inherited diseases: Chihuahua, Collie breeds, Dachshund, Fox Terrier, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Labrador Retriever, Pekingese, St. Bernard and the Shetland Sheepdog.

Are some breeds of dog more prone to certain illnesses?

Adapted From
www.healthypets.in

Are some breeds of dog more prone to certain illnesses?

Yes, most canine breeds are likely to suffer from one or more specific types of disorders, some of which are definitely known to be inherited. Hereditary cataract can occur in Boston Terriers, American Cocker Spaniel, Miniature Schnauzer and Old English Sheepdogs ultimately resulting in complete loss of vision. Collie eye anomaly is an inherited defect of the Collie breed which causes poor vision Hip dysplasia can occur in all breeds but affects more than 20% of dogs in some of them, including German Shepherds and Retrievers. Chihuahuas may suffer from hydrocephalus due to an excess of cerebral fluid. In Bull Terriers, Dalmatians and Sealyhams deafness is commonly found in dogs with a white coat or predominantly white marking and so on and so on.

FEEDING YOUR DOG

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www.healthypets.in


Todays Tips -How to Feed your Dog


Is your dog hungry? If you are giving your dog treats in between meals he may not be hungry. Treats should comprise no more than 10% of your dog's diet. Make sure that the whole family is aware of the treat ration for the day and that you all have a system for communicating when the dog has received treats. Too many treats can not only lead to a finicky dog but an overweight dog!

- Is the food too cold? While the temperature of the food does not matter to your dog, the aroma makes a difference. Cold food has less of an aroma than room temperature food. You can add a bit of hot water to the food to bring out the aroma.

- Does your dog have a feeding schedule? Free feeding can lead to a finicky dog. Free feeding is not a good choice for any dog. Some breeds are prone to obesity, and will just continue eating even when full. If food is left out for them at all times, they will eat it!

- Change the texture. Some dogs may prefer moist food to dry or vice versa. If you are giving your dog dry food, try adding a bit of broth or hot water to moisten the food. If you are giving your dog moist food, add kibble to give it some crunch. In making the change, make small adjustments to test what will work. Finicky dogs will be slower to adjust so give it time.

- Change the feeding schedule. If your dog is on a twice per day schedule, try switching to once per day. Do not overfeed as this could lead to gastric problems. As long as your dog is healthy and not overweight, it is okay to try the once per day schedule. Some dogs do better with one daily feeding.

- Change the flavor. It may not always be practical to run out and buy a new flavor of dog food, but you can make subtle changes to the existing food. Add a little bit of unsalted meat to the food, or poultry broth. If you are due for a new bag of food, try a different flavor. One caution here, don't buy the biggest bag of food! Buy a small bag so that you can try it. Remember your finicky dog may well reject the brand!

- Bribe your dog. Is there a treat that your dog loves? Break it up into the food. You can try to gradually decrease the treat until your dog eats the food alone. Remember that treats should comprise no more than 10% of your dog's diet.