Congenital & Hereditary
 Dog Diseases

Epilepsy: Canine epilepsy: is characterized by "fits" or seizures. Seizures are not always hereditary. Some are the result of exposure to toxins, some are the indication of another underlying disease, and some are the result of injury. In most cases, if there is no permanent brain damage, once the dog is treated and cured of the condition, the seizures will stop. When a thorough veterinary examination and testing cannot establish why the dog is having seizures, the seizures are classified as idiopathic epilepsy. Idiopathic epilepsy is considered to be genetic. Seizures basically are the body's reaction to a sudden, uncontrolled burst of neuralgic activity in the brain. All dogs have a seizure threshold at which the neuralgic activity in the brain is in a sort of balance. When the neurologic activity increases beyond the threshold, due to injury, toxins, disease or genetic predisposition, a seizure occurs. Occasionally this activity can be localized in a small area, such as the face or one leg, but usually it affects the entire body. It's like the brain suddenly sends a repeated message to all muscles in the body to contract. No two seizures are exactly alike, but can follow a general scenario. It is vital to remain calm and be sure the dog is in a safe place where it will not be injured. It is important to time the seizure and watch the dog's actions so that you can give the veterinarian the complete details of the seizure. Never put your hands near the mouth of a dog having a seizure. A dog in seizure will not "swallow its tongue."

Hip dysplasia: Canine hip dysplasia is a general description of malformation of the hip joint that ultimately leads to arthritis. It can affect all the breeds, but it is most common in the middle size ones (German Shepherd, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Saint Bernard, Rottweiler, Terranova, etc). The hip joint is a ball-and-socket arrangement that allows for mobility of the dog's rear. The ball is the femoral head, the knob at the top of the upper leg bone or femur. The socket is the acetabulum, a scooped out area on the pelvic structure. The two parts must fit together and be lubricated by sufficient joint fluid to maintain structural soundness and avoid arthritis. Hip dysplasia is joint malformation that occurs when the ball and socket are misaligned, loosely fitted, or misshapen. Dysplastic dogs experience pain, generally are not as active as healthy dogs, and may need expensive corrective surgery as they age. AS this is a genetic disease, we should avoid reproduction of affected animals. Canine hip dysplasia is almost unnoticeable in pups. There are "values" that indicate the development of the disease. "A", which is normal, "B" which means there is a hint of it, "C" which is slight, "D" is moderate, "E" is serious.

Retina degeneration: These are common in Collie, Irish Setter, Cocker, Labrador and others. It is more common in European dogs then in American though. Clinic signs of this are gradual night blindness, which ends up in the lost of the sight. In this case the animal has to be under control, it would be a good idea to hang bells from its collar, so you know where it is. Using noisy balls is also useful, when playing; the dog recognizes its habitat by listening to the ball bouncing.