Weimaraners are no exception to common health problems. These include congenital, genetic, and hereditary conditions. Let’s examine some of the most common skin problems that affect this breed. If you think your Weimaraner is a rare breed, you may be surprised to find out that the breed can be affected by any of these conditions.
Distichiasis
Distichiasis is a common skin disorder in Weimaraners that affects the eyelids. It causes abnormal growth of eyelashes that can cause irritation and sometimes corneal ulcers. It can also lead to infection and partial blindness. Surgical treatments, including electrolysis, may be necessary for severe cases.
There is no known preventative treatment for distichiasis, so it’s best to follow your veterinarian’s advice. However, you can help minimize the occurrence of this condition by avoiding breeding affected Weimaraners. It’s important to see a veterinarian if you notice distichiasis in your dog, since it’s a hereditary problem.
If you notice lumps in your Weimaraner’s skin, consult your vet. The lumps may be benign, but cancerous ones can also appear in this skin condition. Your vet will be able to accurately diagnose any possible skin tumor and prescribe appropriate treatment.
The condition can lead to corneal ulcers, hyperpigmentation, and corneal neovascularization. These conditions can affect a dog’s eyesight and can lead to permanent eyelid damage. However, distichiasis can be treated successfully with the right treatments.
In addition to distichiasis, other Weimaraner skin problems include joint problems and elbow dysplasia. In the latter case, surgery may be required. Either way, a Weimaraner’s lifespan is 11 to 14 years, and these are typical breed-specific lifespans.
As with any other breed, the Weimaraner should be bathed at least once a month. Regular bathing is necessary to keep the coat clean. If you want healthy skin, a gentle soap-based shampoo is recommended.
Hypomyelination syndrome
Hypomyelination syndrome of the Weimaraner is characterized by decreased or absent myelination of the central nervous system. This condition is often hereditary. To study the condition, tissue samples from three affected dogs were embedded in paraffin wax and examined with histochemical staining. The authors found evidence of reduced myelin in the ventral funiculi and spinal cord.
The exact cause of hypomyelination is not yet known. However, abnormal glial differentiation has been implicated. Symptoms often present themselves within a few days of birth. Clinical signs are more common in males than females, although females remain asymptomatic carriers.
This disorder is inherited as a simple autosomal recessive disorder. Carrier frequency is approximately four percent. Puppies that have the disorder often experience tremors when they are awake. The condition usually resolves on its own within three to four months. Some dogs may show a persistent hind leg tremor.
Weimaraners can be born with heart defects or develop them later in life. These defects mostly affect the dividing wall of the heart. If not detected early, they can become life-threatening. If the condition is severe, a dog may develop a heart condition called ventricular arrhythmia. The heart is unable to function properly if it is not receiving enough oxygen.
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) is a disease that affects the bones and joints of Weimaraners. This disease is also affecting the nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Although it is usually a mild disease, some dogs will develop severe cases after being vaccinated against the canine distemper virus. The symptoms of this disease include fever, depression, anorexia, and gastrointestinal and nervous signs. Radiology of the affected dog reveals radiolucent zones in the metaphyses and diaphyses, along with formation of periosteal bone. The disease has been linked to genetic susceptibility in Weimaraners, as well as to vaccination against the killed virus.
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy is caused by the abnormal growth of the bones. Long bones are comprised of different sections – the shaft, the ends, and the “growth plate.” In a healthy dog, this growth plate allows for normal bone growth. In hypertrophic osteodystrophy, the bone growth plate does not have enough room and causes the bones to grow out of proportion. The condition often affects the forelimb, but it can also occur in the hind limb.
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy is a condition that causes painful growth plates in long bones. The condition can also lead to lameness and immobility. Treatment for this condition usually focuses on managing the dog’s pain. The veterinarian may prescribe pain medications or steroids. This condition is usually a temporary condition and most dogs grow out of it on their own.
This condition can occur in both male and female dogs. Young dogs are more likely to develop it than adult dogs. Symptoms of HOD include persistent limping, yelping, pulling away from touch, and skin inflammation around the joints.
Skin tumors
A Weimaraner can develop lipomas on its skin. These benign tumors can be removed by a veterinarian. While most lipomas are benign, some are dangerous and require medical intervention. Lipomas are more likely to develop in overweight dogs, and a change in diet may help.
Weimaraners may develop the condition due to the breed’s genetics. While this genetic disorder is typically associated with large and giant breeds, it can also occur in medium-sized breeds like the Weimaraner. Dogs with this condition are born with normal hips, but the soft tissues around the joint are abnormally formed.
Gastric dilatation volvulus
Weimaraner skin problems can range from irritation to inflammation, requiring medical intervention in some cases. In addition, Weimaraner dogs can be prone to bloating, which may require surgical correction. Other common ailments include hip and elbow dysplasia. These conditions are hereditary and typically begin when the dog is only five or six months old.
Eyelid abnormalities are another common cause of Weimaraner skin problems. Excessive eyelashes may irritate the eye and cause minor wounds. They can also result in the eyelid folding inward, reducing the eye’s visibility and possibly causing damage to the cornea. These conditions require careful attention from owners, who should be aware of any symptoms in the eye.
These health problems are common among any breed of dog, and Weimaraners are no different. While many Weimaraner problems are not serious, it’s good to know what to look for. Keeping the Weimaraner’s teeth, ears, paw pads, and undercarriage clean is a good start. Large dogs can also suffer from bloat, a condition caused by gastric dilatation-volvulus.
A genetic condition, Weimaraners are also prone to autoimmune and immune deficiency problems. Some Weimaraner genotypes are prone to autoimmune thyroiditis, a disease characterized by a persistent immune response resulting in clinically-expressed hypothyroidism. The disease is also accompanied by low levels of immune globulins.