Old English Sheepdog Health Care & Feeding

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Old English Sheepdog Health Problems

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Complete list of Old English Sheepdog health problems

Hip dysplasia is the most serious orthopedic disease in the Old English Sheepdog.

The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of over 11,300 Old English Sheepdogs and found 19% dysplastic, which is bad. Elbow dysplasia also occurs in Old English Sheepdogs (3% rate), and occasionally Wobbler's syndrome, which is a disease of the neck vertebrae.

The most serious eye diseases in the Old English Sheepdog are:

• cataracts, appearing at any time from birth to 6 years old and often leading to blindness.
• progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which always leads to blindness.

Also reported are eyelid malformations (entropion) and retinal dysplasia.

Allergies cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma). A more serious skin disease, sebaceous adenitis, can occur in Old English Sheepdogs. Ear infections are common due to the profuse hair in the ear canals.

According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, Old English Sheepdogs have the 3rd highest rate of hypothyroidism of 140 breeds (up to 28% affected).

Heart disease and autoimmune hemolytic anemia are growing concerns. A serious neurological disease called cerebellar ataxia can occur in the OES at 2-4 years old.

As with all deep-chested breeds, Old English Sheepdogs are at higher-than-normal risk for the emergency gastrointestinal syndrome called bloat.

Old English Sheepdog pups can be born partially or completely deaf.

Chronic diarrhea can be caused by colitis (intestinal malabsorption).Blood-clotting diseases include hemophilia B, von Willebrand's, and thrombocytopenia.

Exercise-induced collapse is an odd disease in which young Sheepies who have been vigorously exercising suddenly begin swaying, collapse, and require a rest before they can move again.

Other health issues in Old English Sheepdogs include liver shunt, diabetes, and degenerative spinal myelopathy.

Old English Sheepdogs and other collie-type breeds often react adversely to certain drugs such as ivermectin (in heartworm prevention products such as Heartguard), Imodium A-D, flagyl, and certain anesthetics. If your dog has a mutant gene called mdr1, he cannot pump these drugs out of his brain, which results in neurological toxicity. Don't give any of these drugs to your Old English Sheepdog unless he has been tested for this mutant gene. It's a simple DNA test offered by the Washington State University Veterinary School.

Preventing health problems

Some health problems are inherited. For example, if your dog inherits from his parents the genes for an eye disease called PRA, he will go blind and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

But most health problems can be prevented by the ways you raise your dog.

FREE eBOOK! My free online health care program, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your Old English Sheepdog in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!