Happy Healthy Puppy - Your guide to choosing a happy and healthy new puppy dog.

Choosing the Right Dog

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:06:39 +0000

So you want to get a dog. How do you go about selecting a dog?

Knowing why you want a dog can help you figure out the kind of dog that best meets your needs.

Dog experts, including world-famous dog whisperer Cesar Millan, suggest you know your needs before selecting a dog. Take our quiz to find out if you're really ready to get a dog.

Choosing A Dog
If you're really ready to get a dog, your next step is to decide the type of dog you want. Do you want a puppy, an adolescent dog, an adult dog, or a senior dog? Do you want a specific breed, a purebred, or a mutt? Are you looking for a particular type of personality or temperament? Do you want a non-allergenic or non-shedding dog? Do you want a dog that has a specific look? Selecting a dog is a complex business.

Your lifestyle plays an important role in choosing a dog, as do the characteristics of specific dogs and breeds. Be patient, it can take some time to determine what kind of dog you want, research different veterinarians, breeders, adoption options, and training facilities. Even then, you may have to wait for the perfect dog for you to appear.

But don't worry, it'll be worth it! In the end, you should have a happy, healthy, dog that you'll enjoy living with for years to come.

Your lifestyle
The way you live your life and your personality play a key role in choosing the right type of dog for you. Some key questions can help you determine what you want when you're choosing a dog:

Do you live in on an acreage, in a house, or an apartment?
Do you have a fenced back yard? Is it large enough for the type of dog you want?
Do you live in an inner-city area, the suburbs, or in a rural area?
Can you spend a great deal of time with your dog?
Do you live with other people, especially children? Choosing the best dog breed for children is an especially tough task.
Are you selecting a dog for a specific purpose, such as herding sheep, or guarding your house?
What is your budget for keeping your dog healthy?

Choosing a puppy can be more expensive than an adult dog.

Do you want short or long fur?
Do you have allergies or asthma?
Do you want a dog that doesn't shed?
How long will your dog stay alone each day?
Do you need a dog that is easy to train, or do you have the time and ability for selecting a dog that is harder to train?

Dog Size
A dog's size is an important consideration when choosing a dog. If you have a small city apartment, you may want to think about selecting a dog that is small or tiny, rather than a larger dog or a giant dog breed.

If you want a dog that will cuddle on your lap, a 30 pound dog may be as large as you want. If you're looking for a dog to do a lot of running, hiking and camping, you'll probably want to consider medium or larger dogs.

If you have a large home, with a large yard, and are able to give the dog lots of exercise, selecting a dog that's larger may be a good choice. If you have small children, you may want to consider that a larger dog may be able to bowl them over and hurt them.

Transportation is also something to think about. You probably won't want to get an overly large dog like a Saint Bernard if you drive a tiny compact car.

Trainability
Some dog breeds are notoriously more difficult to train than others. If you don't have the time or inclination for training dog breeds that are stubborn or difficult, you should consider a selecting a dog that is more docile and easily trainable.

Active Dog or Couch Potato?
The activity of dog breeds varies tremendously. There are dogs that are nothing more than furry couch potatoes and that are perfectly happy to go outside and walk for only a short time every day.

Other dog breeds are much more active - they seem like they're permanently wired on about ten cups of coffee, and need enormous amounts of exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. Most dogs fall somewhere in between, and need an hour or two of solid exercise each day.

Adult Dog, Puppy, or Senior?
One of the key decisions you'll make when selecting a dog is the age of the dog. Do you want an adult dog or a puppy? When we think about choosing a dog, most people automatically think of choosing a cute puppy from a litter. Sure, puppies are absolutely adorable, but they are a lot of work.

If you don't want to go through the trials of housebreaking and chewed shoes, adopting an adult dog can be a great choice. Don't discount a senior dog that may have a few great years to give you!

Male or Female Dog
Dog owners tend to have pretty strong feelings about selecting a dog based on gender. Many owners feel that female dogs are more docile, while males are more aggressive. On the other hand, some owners feel that males are more protective and playful. Generally, these are pretty broad generalizations that tend not to hold true. Deciding if you want a male or female dog is a pretty complex issue.

A Purebred or a Mutt
The benefits of purebreds and mutts (mixed breeds) can be a controversial topic among dog lovers, and you'll run into people prepared to swear to their death that either purebreds, or mixed breeds, are the best choice.

Purebred devotees swear by the reliability of a purebred's temperament and physical characteristics. Similarly, mixed breed, or mutt, lovers often swear by their dog's wonderful personality and gorgeous looks.

While both purebred dogs and mixed breeds both have advantages, the key thing to remember is that all dogs are individuals. You can take any purebred and any mixed breed, at random, stand them side-by-side, and either one could be more attractive, intelligent, a better family pet, or healthier. Selecting a dog based on the individual dog's personality is probably the best tactic.

At the same time, in general terms, there are some interesting comparisons between purebred and mixed breed dogs. Just remember that these are only generalizations, and that all dogs are individuals first.

Genetic Gastrointestinal Disorders in Mixed Breed Dogs

mckosman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:16:00 +0000

Knowing the risk of developing a gastrointestinal disorder is relatively easy for a purebred dog. The risk of genetic gastrointestinal disorders is well understood for many breeds.

However, the risk of a gastrointestinal disorder for a mixed breed dog is hard to determine, since the exact breeds that make up a mixed breed dog aren't often known.

However, mixed breed Dog DNA tests now provide a way to find out the breeds that make up a mixed breed. Once a dog's parents or grandparents breeds are known, a vet can determine if a mixed breed may be at risk of a genetic gastrointestinal disorder.

Disorders of the gastrointestinal system include:

Chronic hepatitis
Cleft lip
Cleft palate
Copper-associated hepatitis
Copper toxicosis
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)
Gluten (wheat)-sensitive enteropathy
Histiocytic ulcerative colitis
Hyperlipoproteinemia
Immunoproliferative enteropathy/lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis
Intestinal lymphangiectasia
Megaesophagus
Pancreatitis
Perianal fistula
Portosystemic shunt
Protein-losing enteropathy
Protein-losing enteropathy and nephropathy
Pyloric stenosis
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

Other disorders
Purebreds can also suffer from other inherited disorders, including rarer disorders of the blood, skin, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, immune, nervous, respiratory, and urinary and reproductive systems. Be sure to ask a reputable breeder, or consult your veterinarian, about diseases common to specific breeds.

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Genetic Eye Disorders in Mixed Breed Dogs

mckosman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:14:43 +0000

Inherited eye disorders are common in many purebreds. Some disorders can be predicted with genetic testing, but others can only be diagnosed with health testing, which will tell you if the dog has the disorder at a specific point in time.

Knowing if your dog is at risk for genetic eye disorders is relatively easy for purebreds, since some diseases are well known to exist within certain breeds. However, it's much harder to determine if a mixed breed dog is at risk of a genetic eye disorder, since most owners don't know the exact breeds that make up their mixed breed dog.

Mixed breed Dog DNA tests now offer a quick, at home, way to determine the breeds that make up a a mixed breed dog. Once the breeds of a dog's parents or grandparents are known, a vet can tell if a mixed breed is at risk for a genetic eye disorder.

The CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) does health and genetic testing for a number of eye-related disorders, including third eyelids, and corneal dystrophy. CERF has a registry for dogs that are certified free of heritable eye disease. Individual dog's identities are confidential and are not released. CERF Certification is valid for 12 months from the date of the exam.
You can find more information on CERF’s website at: www.vmdb.org/cerf.html.

Eye disorders include:

Cataracts
Collie eye anomaly
Corneal dystrophy
Dermoids
Ectropion
Entropion
Exposure keratopathy syndrome
Eyelash abnormalities - ectopic cilia, distichiasis, trichiasis
Glaucoma
Imperforate lacrimal punctum
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)
Lens luxation
Microphthalmia (ocular dysgenesis)
Optic nerve hypoplasia and micropapilla
Pannus (chronic superficial keratitis)
Persistent pupillary membranes
Progressive retinal atrophy
Third eyelid (nictitating membrane) abnormalities

Cataracts
Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes less transparent. Cataracts can result in blindness if untreated. Most cataracts are inherited, but can occur from trauma or exposure to toxins.

Inherited cataracts have been identified in the following breeds:

Afghan Hound
Akita
Alaskan Malamute
American Cocker Spaniel
Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler)
Australian Shepherd
Basenji
Beagle
Bearded Collie
Bedlington Terrier
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Bichon Frise
Border Collie
Boston Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
Brussels Griffon
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chow Chow
Clumber Spaniel
Collie
Curly-coated Retriever
Dachshund
Dalmatian
Doberman Pinscher
English Cocker Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
German Shepherd
German Short-haired Pointer
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Great Dane
Havanese
Irish Setter
Irish Wolfhound
Italian Greyhound
Jack Russell Terrier
Japanese Chin
Labrador Retriever
Lhasa Apso
Lowchen
Mastiff
Miniature Schnauzer
Newfoundland
Norbottenspets
Norwegian Elkhound
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Old English Sheepdog
Papillon
Pekingese
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Portuguese Water Dog
Rottweiller
Saint Bernard
Samoyed
Scottish Terrier
Shar Pei
Shetland Sheepdog
Shih Tzu
Siberian Husky
Smooth Fox Terrier
Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Standard Poodle
Standard Schnauzer
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
Welsh Springer Spaniel
West Highland White Terrier
Whippet
Wire-haired Fox Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier

The specific genes responsible for cataracts are not identified for most breeds. There is no genetic testing available for the disorder, but health screening can identify dogs that are likely to develop the disorder. Ask breeders of any breeds where inherited cataracts have been identified if any if their breeding dogs for several generations back have been screened for cataracts.

Corneal dystrophy
Corneal dystrophy is a disorder of the cornea that usually affects both eyes. Most commonly, it does not impact vision, and is not treated.

Corneal dystrophy can also be called endothelial corneal dystrophy, corneal lipid dystrophy, Boxer corneal ulceration, epithelial/stromal corneal dystrophy, indolent/persistent ulcer, or epithelial erosion.

Breeds affected with corneal dystrophy are:

Airedale
Afghan Hound
American Cocker Spaniel
Basenji
Beagle
Bearded Collie
Bichon Frise
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Briard
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chihuahua
Chow Chow
Dachshund
English Springer Spaniel
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Irish Wolfhound
Labrador Retriever
Miniature Pinscher
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Rough Collie
Samoyed
Shetland Sheepdog
Siberian Husky
Vizsla

The specific genes responsible for corneal dystrophy are not identified for most breeds. There is no genetic testing available for the disorder, but health screening can identify dogs that currently have corneal dystrophy. You should ask breeders of any breeds where corneal dystrophy have been identified if any if their breeding dogs for several generations back have been screened.

Eyelash abnormalities
While normally not a serious disorder, these can be uncomfortable for the dog. Common eyelash disorders are: distichiasis (where extra eyelashes grow on the inside edge of the eyelid), ectopic cilia (where extra eyelashes grow through the eyelid to inside the eye), and trichiasis (where eyelashes turn inward).

Distichiasis is seen in the following breeds:

American Cocker Spaniel
Australian Shepherd
Bedlington Terrier
Boston Terrier
English Bulldog
Boxer
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Clumber Spaniel
Collie
Curly-coated Retriever
Dachsund
Doberman Pinscher
Field Spaniel
English Cocker Spaniel
Flat-coated Retriever
German Shepherd
German Short-haired Pointer
Golden Retriever
Great Dane
Irish Setter
Labrador Retriever
Lhasa Apso
Lowchen
Miniature Poodle
Norwegian Elkhound
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Pekingese
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pomeranian
Portuguese Water Dog
Pug
Samoyed
Saint Bernard
Shih Tzu
Shetland Sheepdog
Sussex Spaniel
Tibetan Spaniel
Toy Poodle
Weimaraner
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Yorkshire Terrier

Ectopic cilia is seen in the following breeds:

Bulldog
Lhasa Apso
Pekingese
Shih Tzu

Trichiasis is seen in American Cocker Spaniels.

It is not known how eyelash abnormalities are inherited, and there is no genetic testing available, although health screening can identify dogs with eyelash abnormalities. You can ask breeders if any if their breeding dogs have been screened for eyelash abnormalities. However, given that eyelash abnormalities are generally uncomfortable, rather than fatal or debilitating for the dog, you may even consider a dog with eyelash abnormalities in its pedigree.

Progressive renal atrophy
Progressive renal atrophy occurs when cells in the dog's retina begin to die. It can cause blindness, and there is no treatment.
Specific genes that lead to progressive renal atrophy are quickly being identified in many breeds.

Related disorders include: rod-cone dysplasia, retinal degeneration, early retinal degeneration, central/generalized progressive retinal atrophy, progressive rod-cone degeneration, hemeralopia (day blindness), and nyctalopia (night-blindness).
Progressive renal atrophy is seen in the following breeds:

Akita
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
American Cocker Spaniel
Basenji
Beagle
Belgian Sheepdog
Border Collie
Briard
Brittany Spaniel
Cairn Terrier
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Collie
Dachshund
English Cocker Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Shetland Sheepdog
English Springer Spaniel
German Shepherd
German Short-haired Pointer
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Great Dane
Greyhound
Irish Setter
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Mastiff
Miniature Schnauzer
Norwegian Elkhound
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Old English Sheepdog
Papillon
Pekingese
Miniature Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Rottweiler
Samoyed
Shetland Sheepdog
Shih Tzu
Siberian Husky
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
Toy Poodle
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Yorkshire Terrier

Genetic testing is becoming available for many different breeds. You should ask breeders of breeds where progressive renal atrophy has been identified if any if their breeding dogs, for several generations back, were screened for the disorder.

Retinal dysplasia

Retinal dysplasia occurs when the retina is abnormally developed at birth. It can result from a virus before birth, but is more commonly inherited. Some dogs develop limited vision loss or blindness. Many dogs with milder forms of retinal dysplasia may compensate so well by using their excellent senses of smell and hearing that their owners are never aware that they have retinal dysplasia! However, the disorder can be more serious in some dogs, and ultimately result in blindness.

Retinal dysplasia is seen in the following breeds:

Akita
American Cocker Spaniel
Australian Shepherd
Beagle
Bedlington Terrier
Belgian Malinois
Border Terrier
Bull Mastiff
Cairn Terrier
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Clumber Spaniel
Collie
English Springer Spaniel
Field Spaniel
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Labrador Retriever
Mastiff
Norwegian Elkhound
Old English Sheepdog
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Rottweiler
Samoyed
Sealyham Terrier
Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
Sussex Spaniel
Yorkshire Terrier

In many breeds, retinal dysplasia is inherited. There is no genetic testing available, although health screening can identify dogs with the disorder. Ask breeders if any if their breeding dogs were screened, for several generations back, for retinal dysplasia.

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Genetic Skin, Urinary and Reproductive Disorders in Mixed Breed Dogs

mckosman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:13:31 +0000

Veterenarians today are armed with a great deal of knowledge about the genetic risks of disease for purebred dogs. Unfortunately, the risk of developing a genetic disorder for mixed breed dogs is much more difficult to determine. To know a dog's risk of getting a genetic disorder, a vet must know the breeds of any of the dog's purebred ancestors. In the past, this was almost impossible to determine.

Mixed breed Dog DNA tests now offer a relatively quick, at home method of determining if a mixed breed dog has a purebred parent of grandparent. Once this information is known, a vet can determine if a mixed breed is at risk of specific genetic disorders.

Skin disorders
Disorders of the skin with an inherited component include:

Acanthosis nigricans
Acral lick dermatitis
Acral mutilation syndrome
Atopy/allergic inhalant dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Canine acne
Colour dilution alopecia
Congenital hypotrichosis
Cutaneous asthenia
Cutaneous mucinosis
Dalmatian bronzing syndrome
Demodicosis/Demodectic mange
Dermatomyositis and ulcerative dermatosis
Dermoid sinus
Ectodermal defect
Epidermal dysplasia
Epidermolysis bullosa
Follicular dysplasias
Fold dermatitis/pyoderma
Growth hormone responsive dermatosis
Ichthyosis
Lethal acrodermatitis
Lupus erythematosus
Lymphedema
Lupoid dermatosis
Malassezia dermatitis
Nodular dermatofibrosis (nevi) and renal cystadenocarcinoma
Pattern baldness
Pemphigus
Perianal fistula
Psoriasiform-lichenoid dermatosis
Schnauzer comedo syndrome
Sebaceous adenitis
Seborrhea
Vitamin A-responsive dermatosis
Vitiligo
Zinc-responsive dermatosis

Urinary and reproductive disorders
Disorders of urinary and reproductive systems with an inherited component include:

Cryptorchidism
Disorders of sexual development
Familial kidney disease Fanconi syndrome
Nodular dermatofibrosis and renal cystadenocarcinoma
Urolithiasis (stones)

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Genetic Endocrine, Immune and Respiratory Genetic Disorders in Mixed Breed Dogs

mckosman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:12:18 +0000

Today, vets know with a great deal of certainty if a purebred dog is at risk of developing a genetic disorder. However, determining the risk to a mixed breed is much more difficult. Most of the time, owners of mixed breed dogs don't know with any certainty if their dog has purebred parents or grandparents.

Mixed breed Dog DNA tests have changed all that. These tests can tell owners and their vets if a mixed breed dog has a parent or grandparent that was a purebred. By knowing a dog's purebred ancestry, a vet can then help determine if the dog is at risk of developing genetic disorders.

Endocrine disorders
The endocrine system produces hormones that have a wide-ranging effect on the dog's body and brain.
Inherited endocrine disorders include:

Diabetes mellitus
Growth-hormone responsive and adrenal sex-hormone dermatoses
Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's syndrome)
Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease)
Hypothyroidism
Juvenile hyperparathyroidism
Pituitary dwarfism

Immune disorders
Inherited immune system disorders include:

Atopy
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Bullous pemphigoid
Complement deficiency
Cyclic hematopoiesis
German shepherd pyoderma
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
Lupus erythematosus
Pemphigus
Selective Immunoglobin A deficiency
Severe combined immunodeficiency
Weimaraner immunodeficiency

Respiratory disorders
Disorders of the respiratory system with an inherited component include:

Brachycephalic syndrome
Hypoplastic trachea
Laryngeal paralysis
Tracheal collapse

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Genetic Skeletal and Muscular Disorders in Mixed Breed Dogs

mckosman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:11:04 +0000

Problems with the skeletal and muscular systems are among the most common disorders among purebred dogs.

However, owners of mixed breed dogs with a purebred ancestry often have no idea if their dog is at risk of developing disorder of the skeleton or muscle. This is because many mixed breed owners do not know if their dog has a purebred parent of grandparent.

Mixed breed Dog DNA tests, only available in the past few years, can tell if a mixed breed dog has parent or grandparent that was a purebred. Your vet can determine if your dog is at risk of inheritied genetic disorders once your vet knows the purebred ancestry of your mixed breed dog.

Common disorders include hip and elbow dysplasia, and patellar luxation. Other disorders of the muscular and skeletal system include:

Cervical vertebral instability (Wobbler syndrome)
Craniomandibular ostopathy (lion jaw)
Elbow dysplasia - OCD, osteochondrosis of humeral condyle, fragmented medial coronoid process, ununited anconeal process, incongruent elbow
Hemivertebra
Hereditary myopathy
Hip dysplasia
Intervertebral disk disease
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
Masticatory myositis
Myotonia
Odontoid process dysplasia
Osteochondrodysplasia - skeletal dwarfism
Panosteitis
Patellar luxation
X-linked muscular dystrophy

Specific registries record muscular and skeletal health and genetic disorders in dogs, and that provide testing for specific disorders. A good breeder should be affiliated with one or more of these organizations.

The OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) is an organization that tests dogs for a variety of health disorders, including hip dysplasia and elbow displaysia, and thyroid and cardiac disorders. Reputable breeders will most likely have used the OFA for their testing. You can search the OFA’s online database to determine the relative incidence of health or genetic disorders in specific dog breeds.

You can find more information at the OFA’s website at www.offa.org.

The Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals (GDC) is a non-profit organization. It is an international open registry for canine orthopedic genetic diseases, eye, heart, cancer, Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy, skin diseases (only for some breeds), and other genetic diseases. The GDC has an online, searchable registry that contains all breeds and known and suspected genetic diseases. The database contains information from veterinary screening of individual dogs.
You can find more information at the GDC’s website at www.gdcinstitute.org.

PennHIP, the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program, is also often used to detect hip dysplasia, or susceptibility to hip dysplasia, in dogs. Canine hip dysplasia is a serious disorder, mostly of large breeds, that can result in osteoarthritis in the hip, and potentially lead to lameness. Reputable breeders often use PennHIP testing to test their dogs for hip dysplasia. Currently, the tests can only be done on puppies over 16 weeks of age.
You can find more information at PennHIP’s website at www.pennhip.org.

Hip dysplasia
This occurs when there is a disorder in the way a dog’s thigh bone fits into the hip socket. Over time, the joint may degenerate and develop osteoarthritis, causing pain, weakness and lameness in the joint. Hip dysplasia gets worse with time, can be a crippling disorder, and occurs mainly in large and giant breeds.

Hip dysplasia can be caused by mutations in many different genes, none of which are well identified. As a result, there is no genetic test for hip dysplasia. However, health screening can identify dogs that are likely to develop the disorder. Ask any breeder of large or giant dogs for hip certification in their breeding dogs for several generations back.

Elbow dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia actually refers to a collection of different disorders, including ununited anconeal process. osteochondrosis of the medial humeral condyle, fragmented medial coronoid process, and incongruent elbow. These disorders often affect both front legs, and cause elbow pain and lameness in the forelimbs. It is currently thought that these disorders are actually the result of a single disease, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). OCD occurs when cartilage develops abnormally.

Elbow dysplasia occurs primarily in large and giant breeds, and affects male dogs more often than females. It is common in the following breeds:

Basset Hound
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bloodhound
Bouvier des Flandres
Chow Chow
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Great Pyrenees
Irish Wolfhound
Labrador Retriever
Mastiff
Newfoundland
Rottweiler
Saint Bernard
Weimaraner

Like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia results from disorders in several genes, but it is not known which genes. There is no genetic testing available for the disorder, but health screening can identify dogs that are likely to develop elbow dysplasia. Ask any breeder of large or giant dogs if their breeding dogs for several generations back have been screened for elbow dysplasia.

Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation results from a disorder in the way the patella (knee cap) fits into the femur (thigh bone). Patellar luxation occurs when the knee cap slips out of the groove in the femur. Over time, it can lead to degenerative changes, including osteoarthritis, and can be painful and result in lameness.
Patellar luxation is common in many smaller breeds, including:

Basset Hound
Boston Terrier
Chihuahua
Lhasa Apso
Miniature Poodle
Pomeranian
Pekingese
Shih Tzu
Silky Terrier
Toy Poodle
Yorkshire Terrier

While patellar luxation results from disorders in several genes, it is not known which genes cause the disorder. There is no genetic test currently available.
Health screening can identify dogs with patellar luxation. Ask any breeder if their breeding dogs for several generations back have been screened for patellar luxation.

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Inherited Cardiovascular and Nervous Disorders in Mixed Breed Dogs

mckosman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:09:52 +0000

It can be extremely difficult to tell if a mixed breed dog has a genetic tendency to develop a cardiovascular or nervous disorder. This is because most owners don't know the exact breed makeup of their mixed breed, and genetic disorders are well linked to specific breeds.

Today, mixed breed Dog DNA tests can help erase that inequality. Mixed breed dog DNA tests can determine a mixed breed dog has a purebred parent or grandparent. Once you know the purebred makeup of your dog, your vet can determine if your dog is at risk of inheritied genetic disorders.

Inherited cardiovascular disorders include:

Aortic Stenosis
Atrial Septal Defect
Cardiomyopathy
Mitral Valve Dysplasia
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Vascular Ring Anomaly
Portosystemic Shunt
Pulmonic Stenosis
Sick Sinus Syndrome
Tetralogy of Fallot
Tricuspid Dysplasia
Ventricular Septal Defect

Nervous disorders
Nervous system disorders are often seen in purebred dogs. They can occur in many purebred breeds, and are often difficult to diagnose and treat. Disorders of the nervous system of dogs, with an inherited component, include:

Cerebellar abiotrophy
Cerebellar hypoplasia
Cervical vertebral instability (Wobbler syndrome)
Congenital deafness and vestibular disease
Deafness
Degenerative myelopathy
Globoid cell leukodystrophy
Hypo-/dysmyelinogenesis
Hydrocephalus
Idiopathic epilepsy
Laryngeal paralysis
Leukodystrophies
Lissencephaly
Lysosomal storage diseases
Meningitis
Myasthenia gravis
Myelodysplasia
Neuroaxonal dystrophy
Peripheral neuropathies
Shaker dog syndrome
Scotty cramp
Spina bifida
Spinal muscular atrophy
Vertebral stenosis

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Genetic Blood and Lymphatic Disorders in Mixed Breed Dogs

mckosman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:08:45 +0000

Genetic disorders, including disorders of the blood and lymphatic system, in dogs are well linked to specific breeds. If your dog is a purebred, it is relatively easy for your vet to determine if the dog is at risk of a specific genetic disorder.

In the past, owners of mixed breed dogs had had a harder time determining if their dog was at risk for an inherited genetic disorder. That's changed now that mixed breed Dog DNA tests have come on the market. These tests can help you determine if your dog has a parent or grandparent that was a purebred. Understanding the purebred makeup of your mixed breed dog can help your vet determine if your dog is at risk of inheritied genetic disorders.

In dogs, problems with the blood and lymph systems that have an inherited component include:

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Basset hound thrombopathia
Coagulation (bleeding) disorders
Cyclic hematopoiesis
Hemophilia
Histiocytoma
Histiocytosis
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
Lymphedema
Phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency
Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency
Rare red blood cell abnormalities
Thrombasthenic thrombopathia
Von Willebrand's Disease

von Willebrand's Disease
von Willebrand's Disease is a common blood disorder among dogs (and people, as well). It is usually mild, and is caused by the lack of a clotting factor in the blood. Dogs with von Willebrand's Disease will bleed longer and more often than other dogs. They may have nosebleeds, and have more bleeding during surgeries (like neutering or spaying). In many dogs, von Willebrand's Disease is not serious, but in a smaller majority it can be severe.

von Willebrand's Disease is an inherited disorder. Genetic testing for von Willebrand's Disease is available for the following breeds:

Bernese Mountain Dog
Drentsche Patrijshond
Doberman Pinscher
German Pinscher
Kerry Blue Terrier
Manchester Terrier
Papillon
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Poodle

von Willebrand's Disease is seen in many different breeds and mixed breed dogs. It is common in these breeds:

Doberman Pinscher
Scottish Terriers
Shetland Sheepdog

Other breeds that have a higher than normal chance of von Willebrand's Disease are:

Basset Hound
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
German Shepherd
German Shorthaired Pointers
Golden Retriever
Miniature Dachshund
Miniature Poodle
Miniature Schnauzer
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Genetic Disorders in Mixed Breed Dogs

mckosman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:06:25 +0000

If your dog has a purebred ancestor, it may be susceptable to genetic disorders specific to purebreds. A mixed breed dog with a purebred ancestor can inherit a genetic disorder from its purebred parent or grandparent.

Unfortunately, owners of mixed breed dogs often have no idea if their dog is at risk of a genetic disorder. Until very recently, there was no way owners of mixed breeds could determine if their dog's parents were purebreds (other than finding out directly who the parents were). Unfortunately, many dog owners have no information on the parents of their dog.

In the past couple of years, mixed breed Dog DNA tests have come on the market that can help you determine if your dog has a purebred parent or grandparent. Knowing your dog's purebred ancestry can help you to determine if your dog is at risk of an inheritied genetic disorder.

Once you determine your dog's purebred ancestry with a mixed breed Dog DNA test, it's a good idea to take the test results to your veterinarian. Your vet can look over the results to see if your dog's purebred ancestry translates into an increased risk of specific genetic disorders.

Genetic disorders in mixed breed (and purbred dogs) can include disorders of the immune, circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal and nervous systems.

Some of the most common genetic disorders in dogs:

Blood and Lymphatic Disorders
Cardiovascular and Nervous Disorders
Skeletal and Muscular Disorders
Endocrine, Immune and Respiratory Genetic Disorders
Skin, Urinary and Reproductive Disorders
Genetic Eye Disorders
Gastrointestinal Disorders

This information is not intended as a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or care. Consult a veterinarian about specific disorders.

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Finding the Best Dog Life Vest

mckosman — Wed, 19 May 2010 05:51:41 +0000

Do dogs really need a life vest?
Most people believe that dogs are naturals in the water. This is a common misconception; some dogs hate the water and will panic if they fall in unexpectedly. Some dogs like greyhounds have almost no body fat, and so don't float well, and get cold in the water quickly. Breeds like labs love the water, but can run into trouble as they become older or overweight. Even fit water dogs can become tired when overexerting themselves in the water, and can drown from this fatigue.

Dogs are also just as vulnerable as people in a boating accident. A dog can be injured during a boat accident, making it difficult for the dog to swim. Dogs can also jump off boats when you're not looking, and drown while waiting for you to rescue them.

Besides, a dog life vest is ridiculously cute. Your dog will be the hit of the party in snazzy new waterwear.

Paws Aboard sells some of the best designer dog life vests out there.

What's the difference between a dog life vest and a dog life jacket?
Dog life vests cover the front of dog's body. A vest gives a dog more movement and freedom than a dog life jacket. Life vests are usually used in recreational activities like swimming pools.

Dog life jackets are more buoyant than vests, but also cover more of a dog's body. Dog life jackets are usually used in situations that are potentially more dangerous, like deep or turbulent water, boats, or near rough ocean waves or undertows. Jackets can restrict a dog's movement more than a dog life vest. Some dogs are highly resistant to the confines of a dog life jacket may be less resistant to smaller, lighter dog life vests.

You’ll probably pay less for a dog life vest than a life jacket. Dog life vests are also smaller, with less buckles, making vests easier to put on and take off than a life jacket.

What should I look for in a dog life vest?
The best dog life vest will be comfortable for your dog, a bright color for safely, and made of a durable, easy to clean material.

Bright color
A bright color can make it easier for you and rescuers to see your dog. Reflective strips are a great addition, and can make it easier to see your dog at night or in limited visibility.

Proper fit
The vest should be snug to the dog's body. A snug fit will ensure the dog life vest will stay buoyant, protecting your dog from drowning.

If the vest is too loose, it could come off, defeating the vest's entire purpose. If the vest is too snug, the straps could dig into your dog's skin. You dog will resist wearing the vest, and the vest could chafe, making it uncomfortable, and possible wearing away the dog's fur.
Try to make sure the life vest gives the dog freedom of movement when out of the water. After all, your dog will probably spend a fair bit of time on land or on the boat, while wearing the life vest.

Tip! Once you've found a dog life vest that fits, give it a trial run! Test it in the pool, if possible. You can check to see if it keeps your dog's head afloat, and return it in time if there are problems. A vest that doesn't fit properly can cause your dog to roll over on its side, or even cause the dog's face to go into the water.

Material
Dog life vests are often made of made of thick, vinyl-coated foam.
In contrast, dog life jackets are often made of nylon and neoprene. Nylon and neoprene are both sturdy, durable materials that are easy to clean.
Neoprene is a durable, attractive material, but it can cause chafing, and can be hot.

Here's a quick checklist for what do look for in a dog life vest. Is the vest:

easy to clean?
safe?
comfortable?
buoyant?
easy to put on?

Fashion!
Some may scoff at this, but I say buy the best-looking dog vest that meets all the other criteria. If you feel good about your dog in the vest, she’s going to feel good. That means the vest will stay on when you’re on the water, which is the main point of the whole exercise. Besides, your dog will love the attention it gets in its cute dog life vest. Dog life vests come in bright, sporty colors, fashion conscious patterns, and even camouflage, if your pup is the outdoorsy type.

If fashion's a concern, dog vests even come in some great designer patterns and colors.

A dog life vest can make your life a lot easier. No more:

constantly supervising your dog by the pool or at the lake
worrying that your dog could panic in the water.
worrying that your dog's fallen in the water. You can relax and enjoy your time by the water.

A dog life vest can make hanging out around the water with your water-fearing dog a lot easier. When a nervous dog gets used to a life vest, they'll learn that it keeps them afloat in water. They often start to relax and play in the water, making your time at the pool or lake a lot more fun!

Look for a store that will let you return the vest, free of charge, if it doesn't fit.

Fitting dog life vests
Finding the right size dog life vests is pretty easy. You can buy a vest either based on your dog's weight or on the dog's chest measurement. To measure your dog's chest measure just behind her front legs.

Dog life vest sizes vary depending on the manufacturer, but generally are in this range:

XXS under 6 pounds. Best for tiny dogs like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Toy Fox Terriers and Yorkshire Terriers.
XS up to 15 pounds. Good for small dogs like Toy Poodles, Bichons, Silky Terriers, and Pekingese.
S from 15 to 20 pounds. This size is good for Daschounds, Jack Russels, and small Border Terriers or Boston Terriers, and Miniature Poodles.
M from 20 to 50 pounds. This size is great for Border Collies.
L from 50 to 90 pounds. Good for big dogs like large Labrador Retrievers.
XL over 90 pounds. It’s difficult to find a dog life vest for a dog over 90 pounds. In general, it’s hard to find gear for giant dogs like Burmese Mountain Dogs.

Tip! Give your dog treats the first time you put on the life vest. This will help the dog associate wearing the life vest with a positive experience.

One last tip! Don't leave your dog unattended when wearing a dog life vest. An unsupervised dog can become tangled in the vest.

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