Weimaraner Health Issues
Weimaraners for the most part are a healthy breed, but like most other breeds have a few things that may be seen. Our dogs are bred with care and attention to minimize, if not, eliminate these health issues…
AUTO IMMUNE REACTIONS:
Acute reaction to combination shots, auto-immune reaction, sometimes occur in a small number of Weimaraner puppies. The first modified live virus shot may go smoothly, but the subsequent shots cause a severe immune system reaction from the puppy. Lethargy is noted which is rare for a puppy. A rising temperature, elevated white blood count, plus a lack of interest in food; the puppy may eat much less enthusiastically or not at all. The fever continues and lymph nodes swell. Swollen joints and weakness make the puppy unable to stand. A trip to the veterinarian is imperative. The Board of Directors of the Weimaraner Club of America recommends when vaccinating Weim puppies, the Distemper and Parvo shot vaccines be administered separately, a two week interval between each vaccine. Any other vaccines should be administered separately as well. While this protocol helps, it does not prevent the auto-immune response in all puppies. The shot schedule is more time consuming, but worth the effort.
BLOAT, GASTRIC TORSION or GDV:
Bloat is a disease common to deep-chested dogs that can involve twisting or torsion of the stomach with a subsequent blockage of the esophagus at one end and the intestine at the other. Bloat happens quickly and is often fatal without immediate veterinary attention. Its symptoms include retching with no vomiting, extreme salivation, obvious discomfort, distention of the abdomen, pale gums. Factors that increase bloat are feeding one meal a day, eating too quickly, drinking large amounts of water at one time, stress, having closely related family members with a history of bloat. Weimaraners should be fed twice daily to avoid eating too fast. Feeding moistened dog food and postponing exercise for a couple of hours after the meal may help prevent bloat. Treatment is expensive and not always successful. The fact that not all bloats happen in just the same way and the thought that some bloodlines are more at risk than others further complicates the issue.
DISTICHIASIS or DOUBLE EYELASHES:
Extra row of eyelashes, usually on the lower lid but can be on the upper lid, causing irritation to the cornea characterized by tearing.
HIP DISPLASIA, CHD, or POOR HIPS:
Progressive developmental deformity of hip joints; mild to crippling. Inheritance: polygenic; threshold.
HYPERTROPHIC OSTEODYSTROPHY or HOD:
Painful, swollen joints and bones; fever; may outgrow it but often left with bone deformities; most prevalent in giant breeds; auto immune reaction to vaccines; also associated with over supplementation. Inheritance is unknown. Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy: An article by Judy Colan. - October 1998 VON WILLEBRANDS DISEASE Von Willebrand is a bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of von Willebrand factor protein. This protein circulates in the blood stream and is involved in the first phase of blood vessel repair in response to vessel injury. Von Willebrand disease is not the same as hemophilia. Excessive bleeding in puppies may be noted after tail docking, dewclaw removal, tattooing, or when the pup is teething. In less severely affected dogs, abnormal bleeding is seen only after surgery or trauma. Slowed clotting time; prolonged bleeding. Inheritance: recessive, sex linked. Dogs testing in the 70-180% range are considered clear of vWD and at low risk for expressing or transmitting vWD. Dogs in borderline range cannot be accurately classified as carrier or clear of the trait based on that measurement. This is an overlap region of plasma vWF:Ag, where most individuals are clear, but some are carriers of vWD. Dogs testing in the abnormal range are considered carriers and are at risk for transmitting an abnormal vWF gene to offspring.
