Allergies:
An allergic reaction is an unwanted side effect caused by
an inappropriate response of the immune system to various
substances such as pollens, mold, dust or insect bites,
certain foods, drugs and chemicals. Exposure to them triggers
a reaction, usually through itching, sneezing, coughing,
tearing, vomiting or diarrhea. The most frequently encountered
allergies in Swissys are reaction to certain types of food,
flea bites and pollen. Food allergies occuring at a young
age sometimes disappear, i.e. the dog outgrows the allregic
reaction eventually. Becaue the cause of an allergy is
often difficult and sometimes impossible to determine,
allergies can be very frustrating for the owner, and patience
is often the only recourse!
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus
(GDV):
Commonly called bloat and stomach torsion, this
is a potentially fatal condition in which a dog's
stomach distends with gas, food or fluid and
then rotates and twists. The twisting action
blocks both the entrance to and the extit from
the stomach. Distention and twisting can occur
independently of one another. But when both take
place, rapid veterinary intervention is absolutely
critical. Signs of GDV may include: - Abdominal
swelling and tenderness - Unsuccessful attempts to vomit
- Excessive drooling - Restlessness - Panting or labored
breathing GDV requires immediate surgery. This entails possible
removal of dead stomach tissue, repositioning of the stomach
followed by stomach attachment (gastropexy) to prevent the
risk of future volvulus. There are several types of stomach
tacks. A popular procedure today is the belt-loop gastropexy
in which a portion of the stomach is attached to a belt loop
flap created in the abdominal wall. Like many other large,
deep-chested breeds, Swissys are definitely prone to GDV.
While the condition occurs more frequently in dogs over 5
years, it can happen at any age. To date, research on the
condition has remained inconclusive, it seems to be multifactorial
in nature, i.e. no single food type, ingredient or feeding
method has been shown to cause GDV. Indeed, some Swissys
have bloated on entirely empty stomachs. Stress may be the
triggering factor under certain conditions. And while heredity
is suspected by some researchers, no conclusive evidence
has been produced to date. At present there are no clear
cut preventives for bloat. The most important tool to prevent
a fatal ending to GDV is to recognize the signs and get immediate
veterinary care.
Cancer:
Age is the most important risk factor for the development of
cancer in dogs, for it is the aging that permits the long-term
events leading to tumor development and progression to occur.
For most tumor types, the risk for cancer increases with
increased age. There are many types of cancer occurring in
dogs such as: various types of skin tumors or carcinomas
- tumors of the bone such as osteosarcoma - tumors of the
lymphoid tissues such as lymphosarcoma - tumors derived from
blood vessel such as hemangiosarcoma. To date, Swissys do
not appear to be predisposed to a certain form of cancer.
And although a few cases of cancer in young dogs have been
reported, so far it is clearly the older population that
is subject to the various forms of cancer.
Cataract:
This is the loss of normal transparency of the eye's lens.
The opacity is usually white but may also give bluish white
cast to the lens behind the pupil. A cataract can be singular
or multiple, of any size or shape and may affect the entire
lens. The degree of vision impairment is determinded by the
size and location of the cataract within the lens. While
most cataracts are considered to be inherited, some may result
from trauma to the eye or from metabolic disorders such as
diabetes. Congenital (present at birth) cataracts may or
may not be inherited and generally do not progress to blindness.
Most hereditary forms of cataract occur in dogs under the
age of 5 years. Senile cataracts in older dogs are quite
common and are considered to be the result of the aging process.
Like any other ocular abnormality, cataracts can be confirmed
by an ophthalmological exam. In general, Swissy breeders
will not breed a dog with cataracts unless trauma has been
clearly established as the cause of the condition.
Canine Hip Dysplasia
(CHD):
This is the irregular formation of the coxofemoral joint. This
is the joint that joins the femur, the longest bone in the
body, to the hip socket. The hip is a ball and socket joint,
and the ball (femoral head) must fit well into the socket (cup)
for the joint to function properly. The main contributors to
the development of CHD are joint laxity and the depth of the
acetabulum (cup). Early signs of CHD include: - Reluctance
to go up and down stairs or to jump - Difficulty rising or
laying down - Bunny hopping when running, i.e. both hind limbs
move together. Diagnosis is made through radiographic findings,
either by the method advocated by the Orthopedic Foundation
for Animals (OFA) or by that of the University of Pennsylvania
Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) which measures joint laxity.
While CHD is among the principal orthopedic diseases in the
GSMD, fortunately for Swissys, it manifests itself rarely in
a severe and crippling form. Indeed, unless x-rays are taken,
many Swissy owners are not even aware that they have a dysplastic
dog. Quite often, mildly and even moderately affected Swissys
do not show any or only very subtle clinical signs of the disease.
While treatment options for severely dysplastic dogs are available,
we will not discuss them here as they are so rarely applicable
to Swissys. Prior to breeding, Swissys should be screened for
CHD and evaluated by an established registry such as OFA or
PennHIP. It is preferable to use only CHD free animals.
Elbow Dysplasia (ED):
Manifested as: OCD, FCP(fragmented coronoid process), UAP (ununited
anconeal process), DJD (degenerative joint disease, note
that DJD may also occur in the cartilage of other joints).
The form most often diagnosed in Swissys appears to be DJD,
a slowly progressive form of cartilage degeneration usually
caused by trauma or abnormal wear on the joint. DJD is classified
as primary (idiopathic or no known cause) or secondary (a
known predisposing cause or injury exists). Anecdotal evidence
suggests that most Swissys diagnosed with DJD during radiographs
of the elbows for OFA certification fall into the mildest
form grade I. They have never displayed any clinical signs
such as pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion or lameness.
With DJD, genetic predisposition cannot be established as
definitely as with other orthopedic conditions. Hence, there
is a wide range of opinions among Swissy breeders with regard
to breeding a dog affected with DJD grade I. There is, however,
general consensus among breeders not to use Swissys with
DJD beyond grade I as well as with any of the other forms
of ED.
Entropion (eyelid
rolled inward):
Distichiasis (extra eyelashes or row of lashes growing from
the lid margins): If present in acute clinical form, both conditions
can cause irritation to and possibly damage the cornea. Signs
of these defects are excessive tearing, ocular discharge and
squinting. Clinical entropion and distichiasis can be very
successfully corrected by surgery. While these hereditary conditions
are present in Swissys, they are often so minor that they do
not present any clinical evidence. This applies in particular
to distichiasis. Many Swissys have extra eyelashes which are
only apparent upon careful examination of the inside of the
eyelids. Like with all ocular abnormalities, Swissys can be
screened for these most frequently occuring defects and registered
with the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF).
Ostechondrosis dissecans (OCD):
Osteochondrosis is a generalized disturbance of
the normal development of cartilage. The articular
cartilage becomes abnormally thickened and small
fissures and cracks may develop. The "dissecans" refers
to the stage when cartilage becomes dissected resulting in
cartilage flaps. These flaps may remain attached or become
loose and fall into the joint space. In Swissys, the vast majority
of OCD cases occur in the shoulder joints and occasionally
in other joints such as elbows and hocks. The onset of the
disease may begin as early as at 4 months and as late as at
14 months. The most typical age of appearance, however, is
between 6 and 8 months. Except for very mild cases without
flap development, the clinical signs are almost invariably
persistent, and less frequently, intermittent lameness. The
dog may be stiff after resting and the lameness is usually
aggravated by exercise. OCD is diagnosed by radiography. However,
in the early stages, radiographic findings might be inconclusive.
In such situations, contrast radiography (arthrography) may
be necessary for definite diagnosis. Treatment depends on the
severity of the case. OCD lesion in the shoulder joint. Lesion
evident on the joint surface of the humeral head Mild cases
without cartilage flaps may be treated and heal spontaneously
with several weeks of rest and treatment with the drug Adequan
and supplements such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin, MSM and
Vitamin C. Many cases, however, will require surgery which
consists of the removal of flaps and loose fragments and the
scraping and smoothening of the defective surface. Surgical
repair of OCD of the shoulder usually renders excellent results.
Surgical results involving other sites are not as predictable.
Because mild forms of OCD can occur without presenting clinical
signs, a prudent approach is to radiograph shoulders prior
to breeding so that affected Swissys can be eliminated from
a breeding program. In fact, Swiss health data has convincingly
shown that by excluding affected dogs and bitches, incidences
of OCD can be significantly reduced.
Panosteitis:
Also known as Shifting Leg Lameness or Pano. This is a spontaneous,
self-limiting inflammatory disease of the long bones in the
legs of young, fast-growing breeds. Most dogs are diagnosed
between 5 and 12 months but pano can occur as early as 2 months
and as late as 7 years. The vast majority of pano cases are
resolved by by the age of 2 years. The cause of the disease
is unknown but it has been associated with reactions following
viral or bacterial infections, von Willebrand's disease and
hyperestrogenism in females in association with the first estrus.
Clinical signs are persistent or intermittent lameness that
may shift from leg to leg, hence the term -shifting leg lameness.
Deep palpation of the affected bone will ellicit a painful
response. X-rays may demonstrate an increased patchy density
of the bone cavity with a roughened surface. Diagnosis of pano
is very important as acute lameness may signal any of several
orthopedic conditions such as OCD or elbow dysplasia. There
is no cure for pano because the disease is self-limiting and
hence research on the condition is almost non-existent. Treatment
consists of alleviating the pain with analgesic and anti-inflammatory
drugs and plenty of rest as restricted activity can prevent
more severe pain from developing. Because this disease is self-limiting
and causes and heredity are not fully understood, most Swissy
breeders do not consider it as breeding excluding condition.
Patella Luxation:
Also called slipping kneecap or popping knee, this condition
is mostly inherited but may in rare cases be caused by trauma.
Conditions that predispose to dislocation of the patella are
a shallow groove, weak ligaments and malalignement of the tendons
and musclesthat straighten the joint. The patella slips in-
or outward. The signs may include difficulty straightening
the knee, pain in the stifle (knee joint) and lameness. The
diagnosis is confirmed by manipulating the stifle joint and
pushing the kneecap in and out of position. Treatment involves
surgery to deepen the groove and/or re-align the tendon. Like
with other orthopedic conditions presumed to be hereditary,
Swissys with non-traumatic patella luxation should not be bred.
Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE):
This is the term used by most experts to describe
the condition of frequent seizures with no identifiable
cause. Seizures occur when nerve cells in the brain
become hyperexited and send rapid-fire messages
to the body. If nerve cells in an isolated part
of the brain are defective, only part of a dog's
body is affected resulting in a partial seizure.
Partial seizures are exhibited by localized body
movements, such as head bobbing or imaginary fly-biting.
If circuits throughout the entire brain misfire,
the dog has a generalized seizure. Tonic-clonic seizures involve
teeth gnashing, frantic thrashing of the limbs, excessive drooling
and loss of bodily functions resulting in uncontrolled urination
and defecation. Treatment of IE depends on the severity of
the case and may involve daily administration of anticonvulsant
drugs such as phenobarbital, primidone, potassium chloride
and others. Unfortunately, all anticonvulsants have some undesired
side effects. Some affect liver functions, others can make
the dog drowsy or hyperactive or may cause vomiting and constipation.
IE is present in all Swissy lines. It typically surfaces between
the ages of 1 to 3 years but it can become evident as early
as 12 months and as late as 5 years.Unfortunately, no method
to identify carriers of epilepsy exists to date. It is only
after a dog or a bitch has produced offspring with IE that
we can assume that this particular sire or dam is probably
a carrier of epilepsy. However, the mode of inherintance of
IE is so complex that at the moment no one management method
will assure complete control of the disease. Prudent Swissy
breeders will not continue to breed a dog or a bitch that has
produced 2 or more offspring with IE, and of course no serious
breeder will ever consider breeding an affected animal. Many
Swissy breeders and owners participate in the all breed DNA
research project to locate the genetic marker for IE conducted
currently at the University of Missouri/Columbia. We all hope
that this research eventually will produce a reliable method
to identify carriers of IE and thus help the breeder to better
control or even erradicate this heartbreaking, unpredictable
and often lethal disease.
Splenic Torsion:
With this condition, the spleen rotates around its own axis,
either away from or towards the stomach. The spleen then
becomes engorged with blood and may expand to several times
its normal size. If the spleen rotates away from the stomach
it may torsion several times. As many as six revolutions
have been observed. If the spleen rotates towards the stomach
it may pull it along causing a partial or even complete gastric
torsion, creating a very dangerous and potentially fatal
situation calling for instant medical attention. Unless the
stomach is involved and obvious signs of GDV are present,
unfortunately the signs of splenic torsion are often quite
vague and may vary from case to case. Signs may include:
- Inappetence - Vomiting - Diarrhea or constipation - Low
level fever - General listlessness - Tucked up abdomen, tenderness
of the abdomen or slight abdominal distention - Pale gums
Splenic torsion is a life-threatening condition which requires
immediate veterinary care. In a surgical procedure called
splenectomy, the spleen is removed. Often, a gastropexy (stomach
tack) is performed at the same time if the animal's conditions
allows this additional procedure. The causes of splenic torsion
are not known. Like with GDV, the condition seems to primarily
affect large deep-chested breeds. In Swissys, dogs over the
age of 5 years appear to have a higher incidence, however,
quite a few cases of younger Swissys have been reported.
For the GSMD, splenic torsion unfortunately is one of the
major health problems. Indeed, many breeders believe that
probably a significant number of dogs that supposedly died
of GDV but were not necropsied after their death, actually
might have succumbed to splenic torsion. As with GDV, the
most important tool to prevent a fatal ending to splenic
torsion is to recognize the signs and get immediate veterinary
care. Remember, splenic torsion will kill if not recognized
in time to perform life-saving surgery.
The "Swissy Lick" :
This is an entirely unscientific term to describe the sudden
onset of frantic licking of anything in range such as carpet,
bare floor, walls etc. and the indiscriminate eating of anything
that can be swallowed such as grass, leaves, fiber from carpets
etc. and gobbling up of air. It is obvious that the behavior
is due to severe gastrointestinal discomfort. It sometimes
can be alleviated with medications such as Digel, Gas-X or
other gas and acid reducing remedies. Often, hydrogen peroxide
to induce vomiting will help. What exactly causes the "Swissy
Lick" is a matter of discussion among Swissy owners
but there seems to be no single or definite factor responsible
for this condition. Any number of theories have been offered,
from exessive gas pressure to acid reflux to allergic reaction
to a food substance. Some believe that it is a precursor
to GDV but this cannot be clearly substantiated either as
many Swissys who have had these licking episodes never went
on to develop GDV. While the condition appears to affect
primarily young dogs.