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Heritable Disorders in Old English Sheepdogs
Owning any animal has its pitfalls, just as being a parent does. It is not a bad idea to have some idea of the kinds of things that can go wrong with your pet. It also gives you something to talk to the vet about during checkups. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, but it does not have to be. It can also be quite helpful.
The following disorders came from the web site listed at the end of the page. Check it out sometime.
9a. Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism): a disease characterized by inadequate secretion of cortisone from the adrenal glands. More common in Old English sheepdogs, standard poodles and bearded collies. (See #159a.)
27. Behavioral abnormalities: a whole range of abnormal behavior patterns, such as aggression, panic disorders, etc.
38. Cardiomyopathy: a disease of weakened heart muscles. Seen in giant breeds, boxers, American cocker spaniels, Doberman pinschers.
42. Cataract: as in humans, a change in structure of the lens of the eye leading to cloudiness and usually to blindnes
80. Demodicosis: a kind of skin disease (mange) caused by microscopic Demodex canis mites living within the skin layers and producing an immunodeficiency syndrome.
88. Distichiasis: abnormally growing eyelashes.
103. Entropion: an abnormal rolling in of the eyelid.
122. Factor IX deficiency or hemophilia B: same as hemophilia A, but more rare and involves a different clotting factor. Affects about 20 dog breeds.
129. Folliculitis: an infection of the hair follicles.
140. Granulomatous sebaceous adenitis: a disease of sebaceous (sweat) skin glands characterized by reactive tissue growth and autoimmune destruction of the sebaceous glands. Hair loss occurs and is poorly responsive to treatment. Common in standard poodles, Akitas, Samoyeds and vizslas.
146. Hemolytic anemia: anemia caused by the destruction of the red blood cells by an autoimmune process. Particularly common in cocker spaniels and Old English sheepdogs, as well as several other breeds.
148. Hemophilia B: a blood clotting disorder due to lack of coagulation factor IX. (See #122.)
149. Hepatic portosystemic shunt or arteriovenous fistula: a malformation of blood vessels in the liver or an abnormal communication between the arteries and veins in the liver.
152. Hip dysplasia: a developmental malformation or subluxation of the hip joints.
159a. Hypoadrenocorticism: a disease where autoimmune or other causes of destruction of the adrenal glands produces a deficiency of corticosteroids. (See #9a.)
161. Hypopigmentation, lips and nose: a condition where an animal lacks pigment (color) in areas where it is usually present. (See #328.)
166. Hypothyroidism: a common endocrine disease where the body produces an abnormally low amount of thyroid hormones. An autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland which affects more than 50 dog breeds. (See #192, 312.)
172. Intestinal malabsorption: a disease where the intestinal tract does not absorb nutrients properly. Also known as protein- losing enteropathy as a consequence of inflammatory bowel disease. In Irish setters there is also a wheat-sensitive enteropathy.
192. Lymphocytic thyroiditis: an autoimmune disease causing inflammation and destruction of the thyroid gland, which becomes infiltrated with lymphocytes (white blood cells) and leads to hypothyroidism. This is the most common endocrine disease of the dog and has an inherited predisposition. (See #166, 312.)
199. Microphthalmia: a condition where one or both eyes are too small.
221. Osteochondritis dissecans: a specific form of inflammation of the cartilage of certain joints which causes arthritis. (See #221a.)
221a. Osteochondrosis: a group of developmental diseases resulting in abnormal formulation of joint cartilage. Commonly involves the shoulder, stifle, hock or elbow. (See #221.)
250. Pododermatitis: a skin infection of the paws.
256. Progressive retinal atrophy: a disease where the retina slowly deteriorates, producing night blindness.
269. Retinal detachment: where the retina is unattached to the back of the eye.
270. Retinal dysplasia: a condition where the retina is malformed.
273a. Sebaceous adenitis: (See #140.)
292. Spondylolisthesis (Wobbler's syndrome): a condition where the vertebrae of the neck slip out of joint and are malformed causing progressive incoordination of the rear legs. Commonly seen in Doberman pinschers. (See #51, 332.)
311a. Thrombocytopenia: a reduced number of platelets in the blood which causes pinpoint hemorrhages in the skin and mucosa. Often accompanies #146 as an autoimmune syndrome called Evans syndrome. (See #249.)
312. Thyroiditis: an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland. (See #166, 192.)
328. Vitiligo: a lack of pigment in the skin (called vitiligo in man and hypopigmentation in nonhuman animals). Common in rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, Old English sheepdogs and dachshunds. (See #161.)
330. von Willebrand's disease: a type of bleeding disorder caused by defective blood platelet function. Occurs in 59 dog breeds but most often in Doberman pinschers. An autosomal trait affecting both sexes.
42. Cataract: as in humans, a change in structure of the lens of the eye leading to cloudiness and usually to blindness.
105. Eosinophilic panosteitis: a painful inflammatory bone disease of young, rapidly growing dogs, often characterized by increased eosinophils in the blood. (See #231.)
166. Hypothyroidism: a common endocrine disease where the body produces an abnormally low amount of thyroid hormones. An autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland which affects more than 50 dog breeds. (See #192, 312.)
231. Panosteitis: (See #105.)
256. Progressive retinal atrophy: a disease where the retina slowly deteriorates, producing night blindness.
330. von Willebrand's disease: a type of bleeding disorder caused by defective blood platelet function. Occurs in 59 dog breeds but most often in Doberman pinschers. An autosomal trait affecting both sexes.
119. Factor II deficiency or hypoprothrombinemia: a rare deficiency of prothrombin, a clotting factor needed to control bleeding.
152. Hip dysplasia: a developmental malformation or subluxation of the hip joints.
166. Hypothyroidism: a common endocrine disease where the body produces an abnormally low amount of thyroid hormones. An autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland which affects more than 50 dog breeds. (See #192, 312.)
221. Osteochondritis dissecans: a specific form of inflammation of the cartilage of certain joints which causes arthritis. (See #221a.)
221a. Osteochondrosis: a group of developmental diseases resulting in abnormal formulation of joint cartilage. Commonly involves the shoulder, stifle, hock or elbow. (See #221.)
249. Platelet disorder: a group of abnormalities of small blood cells necessary to control bleeding. (See #311.)
274. Sebaceous cyst: a small mass in the skin with a secretory lining and filled with a yellow waxy-like material. (See #107.)
311. Thrombocytopathy: a functional abnormality of small blood cells (thrombocytes or platelets) which are needed to control bleeding. (See #249.)
330. von Willebrand's disease: a type of bleeding disorder caused by defective blood platelet function. Occurs in 59 dog breeds but most often in Doberman pinschers. An autosomal trait affecting both sexes.
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