Common Health Problems of Purebred Dogs

There is something attractive about having a purebred dog, bonafide with papers and everything.  You know exactly how the dog will look once it reaches maturity, its physical attributes, size coloring and temperament.  Some breeds have developed certain physical traits that were achieves by many generations of active breeding and even inbreeding.  Such structured breeding has produced the results that were intended, however there will always be side effects when the gene pool becomes limited.  If you are considering owning a purebred dog, it is important for you to know that each breed has its own defects that may or may not show up in every member of that breed.  In general, skeletal problems arise in both the very large breeds and the very small breeds, which have been selected and bred for their size and appearance, not for their longevity.

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In the largest breeds such as the Great Pyranees, Great Dane and Newfoundland, the major skeletal problems are in the hip and shoulder joints.  These dogs have been bred over time to grow to an abnormally large size and put on a lot of muscle.  Unfortunately, the dogs that were selected to be bred through several generations were simply the biggest, strongest and most attractive, not necessarily the most healthy and structurally sound.  The shoulder and hip joints support all of the massive weight of these large animals and they tend to wear out prematurely, leaving the dog in a state of lessened mobility and a great deal of chronic pain.

In the smallest breed such as the Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier and Toy Poodle, there are two major issues: the knees and necks.  These dogs were bred to be companions and so those selected to breed were the most attractive and smallest.  These small dogs tend to have very thin, weak necks with very little musculature for support and are prone to a condition where the trachea collapses and makes breathing difficult.  A collapsed trachea usually happens as a result of prolonged tugging at a collar, or a hard jerk from a choke chain.  This is why it is advisable to avoid using a choke chain or a traditional collar with small lap dogs.  Instead, a Y or H harness is a much safer alternative.  Small breeds also tend to have knee joint problems, and they must never be allowed to jump from high tables or chairs, since the muscles and tendons surrounding the joint are also small and not very supportive of the joint.

Tags: ailments, big dogs, chihuahuas, choke chains, dogs, health problems, large breeds, purebred dogs, small breeds, small dogs

Category: Dog Health, General Dog Information