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| Schipperke
Health |
Schipperkes are a
fairly healthy long
lived breed. That
being said there are
occasionally problems
that show up.
The answer to "What
problems are most
prevalent in Schipperkes?"
will depend on whom
you talk to and their
individual experiences.
Many of these diseases
are genetic and reputable
breeders try their
best to avoid them
but there are not
tests for many of
them. There are tests
for MPS IIIB, Thryoid
problems and Eyes.
X-rays can be done
to check for skeletal
health.
It is important for
an owner to share
back to the breeder
the status of your
dog's health, good
and bad! Pet shop
breeders get NO feedback
hence buying a puppy
from a pet shop is
a bad idea.
Disclaimer:
Information provided
on this site is not
meant to be construed
as a diagnosis for
your dog. This is
simply a list of ailments
seen occasionally
in Schipperkes. If
your dog has a problem
take him/her to the
Vet. Central Rockies
Schipperke Club will
not be held responsible
for any injury or
expense as a result
of the information
provided here as it
may be incomplete
or inaccurate. Every
effort was made to
provide accurate information. |
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HEAD &
NECK:
Tracheal
Collapse:
Tracheal
collapse
is a condition
in which
the trachea
partially
collapses
as a dog
breathes,
leading
to tracheal
irritation,
coughing
and sometimes
secondary
changes
in the
lungs
or upper
airways.
It is
most common
in toy
breed
dogs but
can occur
in larger
breeds
at times.
Uneven
bite
Malocclusion
refers
to abnormal
tooth
alignment.
Overbite
(overshot,
class
two, overjet,
mandibular
brachygnathism)
occurs
when the
lower
jaw is
shorter
that the
upper.
There
is a gap
between
the upper
and lower
incisors
when the
mouth
is closed.
The upper
premolars
are displaced
at least
twenty-five
percent
toward
the front,
when compared
to the
lower
premolars.
An underbite
(undershot,
reverse
scissor
bite,
prognathism,
class
3) occurs
when the
lower
teeth
protrude
in front
of the
upper
jaw teeth.
When the
upper
and lower
incisors
do not
overlap
or even
meet each
other
when the
mouth
is closed,
the pet
has an
open
bite.
A wry
mouth
or bite
occurs
when one
side of
the jaw
grows
longer
than the
other.
It is
considered
hereditary
and difficult
to correct.
If the
upper
and lower
incisor
teeth
meet each
other
edge to
edge,
the occlusion
is an
even or
level
bite.
Scissors
bite occurs
when the
lower
teeth
tuck cleanly
and closely
behind
the plane
of the
upper
teeth.
Level
and Scissor
are correct
in the
Schipperke.
EYES:
Cataract
(juvenille
or adult
onset)
A cataract
is defined
as any
opacity
of the
crystalline
lens or
its capsules.
The opacities
can range
from minute
areas
that are
barely
detectable
to complete
cataracts
in which
the lens
suffers
a total
loss of
light
transmission,
resulting
in blindness.
If cataracts
are extensive
and bilateral,
total
blindness
results.
Cataracts
in dogs
can arise
from a
variety
of causes
such as
inherited
defects
in lens
metabolism,
trauma,
nutritional
deficiencies,
diabetes
mellitus,
retinal
degeneration,
or spontaneous
developmental
abnormalities.
They may
be acquired
or congenital.
Distichiasis
Eyelids
of dogs
can grow
abnormal
hairs.
These
hairs
grow from
the oil
glands
(Meibomian
glands)
of the
lids and
are called
distichia
if the
hair protrudes
from the
oil gland
opening
onto the
edge of
the eyelid.
Distichia
are often
irritating,
especially
if the
hairs
are long
and stiff.
Entropion
Entropion
is a rolling-in
of the
eyelid.
This causes
the hair
on the
surface
of the
eyelid
to rub
on the
eyeball,
which
is both
painful
and often
causes
corneal
ulcers
or erosions.
The corneal
damage
can also
result
in corneal
scarring,
which
can interfere
with vision.
Usually
the dog
will squint
and tear
excessively.
Narrow
palpebral
fissure
an abnormally
small
opening
between
the upper
and lower
eyelids
Persistent
pupillary
membrane
Persistent
pupillary
membranes
are strands
of tissue
in the
eye. They
are remnants
of blood
vessels
which
supplied
nutrients
to the
developing
lens of
the eye
before
birth.
Normally
these
strands
are gone
by 4 or
5 weeks
of age.
In Schipperkes
where
it is
not known
to be
genetic,
parents
and siblings
of affected
dogs should
be examined
ophthalmoscopically.
If close
relatives
are affected,
breeding
is discouraged.
Where
PPM appears
to be
an isolated
incident,
breeders
may use
their
discretion.
Progressive
retinal
atrophy
The term
progressive
retinal
atrophy
covers
several
types
of inherited
degeneration
(deterioration)
of the
retina.
Sub-classifications
of PRA
are based
on the
age at
which
dogs show
signs
of the
disease
and the
type of
retinal
cell which
is affected.
REPRODUCTIVE:
Crytporchidism
Cryptorchidism:
Greek
derivation;
Hidden
testicle.
Cryptorchidism
is a condition
affecting
the dog
in which
one or
both testicles
do not
fully
descend
into the
scrotum.
The condition
may be
presented
in two
forms:
1.) Unilateral
cryptorchidism
refers
to the
normal
descent
of a singular
testis.
2.) Bilateral
cryptorchidism
results
in the
retention
of both
testes.
Bilateral
cryptorchids
are sterile.
Unilateral
cryptorchids
can produce
get. Current
research
provides
that it
is probable
that multiple
genes
are responsible
for the
condition
of cryptorchidism.
Lack
of Mammary
tissue
in bitches
(insufficient
milk production)
While
it is
thought
that insufficient
prolactin
secretion
may be
involved
in cases
of insufficient
mammary
development
and/or
agalactia
due to
mammary
underdevelopment,
studies
have not
yet been
done to
determine
this.
SYSTEMIC:
MPS
IIIB (genetic,
lethal)
Please
read about
this very
important
lethal
disease
in Schipperkes.
Cancers
(some
may be
genetic)
Schipperkes
are experiencing
varying
types
of Cancers
some of
which
have family
incidence.
For example,
Muco Epidermoid
Carcinoma
(rare)
was seen
in two
half brothers'
nasal
passages,
who's
sire died
of cancer
in the
jaw. (Incidently,
one brother
and the
sire both
had hypothyroidism
too.)
Allergies
(also
see Atopic
Dermatitis
below)
About
20 percent
of the
dogs in
the United
States
suffers
from some
type of
allergy,
whether
it be
atopic
dermatitis,
flea allergy,
food allergy,
inhalant
allergy,
contact
allergy,
or bacterial
allergy.
Hypothyroidism
(genetic)
Please
read this
important
article
by Dr.
W. Jean
Dodds
DVM on
Hypothyroidism.
Idiopathic
Epilepsy
(genetic)
An early
study
done at
the University
of CA,
Davis
showed
that seizure
incidence
was genetic
in Schipperkes.
Research
into Epilepsy
is currently
being
dong a
the Univ.
of Missouri
and Univ.
of Minnesota
to find
the gene(s)
responsible
for the
predisposition
to seizure.
For more
information
see http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/cerc.html.
Diabetes
mellitus
Diabetes
Mellitus
is a group
of conditions
in which
there
is a deficiency
of the
hormone
insulin
or an
insensitivity
to it.
Heart
murmur
(shown
to be
genetic)
In aortic
stenosis
(heart
murmur),
there
is a partial
obstruction
to the
flow of
blood
as it
leaves
the left
side of
the heart
(the left
ventricle)
through
the main
blood
vessel
(the aorta)
that carries
blood
to the
rest of
the body.
The obstruction
ranges
from small
nodules
to a fibrous
band,
most commonly
just below
the aortic
valve
("subvalvular
aortic
stenosis").
Due to
the obstruction,
the heart
must work
harder
to pump
out an
adequate
blood
volume.
Clinical
signs
and long-term
outcome
depend
on the
degree
of narrowing,
or stenosis.
Affected
individuals
should
not be
used for
breeding,
and littermates
should
be carefully
screened.
Hemorrhagic
Gastro
Enteritis
- HGE
(cause
unknown)
usually
causes
a very
sudden
onset
of vomiting,
bloody
diarrhea,
dehydration
and depression.
Dogs affected
by this
condition
get very
sick,
very fast.
To the
best of
the Vet's
knowledge,
the exact
cause
of this
disease
is unknown.
It appears
that Clostridium
species
bacteria
may be
part of
the cause.
The disease
is more
frequent
in small
breed
dogs but
can occur
in any
dog. Dogs
that have
this problem
seem to
have a
high risk
of getting
it again.
MUSCULAR/SKELATAL:
Patellar
Luxation
(slipping
knee caps)
This condition,
commonly
called
slipped
stifles,
results
from several
abnormalities
of the
bones
of the
hind legs.
These
include
a shallow
trochlear
groove
and twisting
and bending
of the
femur
and tibia.
Legg-Calve-Perthes
disease
(femur
degeneration
in young
dogs)
occurs
when the
bone that
makes
up the
ball portion
of the
hip is
damaged
from lack
of blood
supply.
The reasons
this occurs
are not
clear.
Since
a higher
incidence
of this
disorder
is noted
in several
dog breeds,
including
terrier
breeds,
miniature
pinscher,
poodles
and possibly
Schipperkes,
it is
assumed
that there
may be
a genetic
component
to the
problem.
In Manchester
terriers,
the genetic
component
appears
to be
a strong
influence
and heritability
is pretty
high for
this problem.
Most of
the time
the clinical
signs
of this
disease
occur
in 4 to
11 month
old dogs
and usually
consist
of lameness
of one
leg only.
Pain may
be mild
to very
severe.
Slipped
Hocks
(over
extension
of hock
joint
due to
weak ligament)
Slipped
or double-jointed
hocks
are very
faulty.
When evaluating
the hocks,
gently
push against
the back
of the
hock joint
(do not
push past
the point
of resistance
and the
dog must
be standing
on the
leg firmly).
If the
hock collapses
forward,
the puppy
has a
slipped
hock.
This potentially
serious
problem
is far
too commonly
seen in
the Schipperke
world.
A slipped
hock is
when the
joint
itself
bends
the wrong
direction;
it hyper-extends
or collapses
forward.
The weakness
is in
the tissue,
not the
bone.
Slipped
hocks
can cause
serious
problems
for a
dog and
should
never
be overlooked
or dismissed.
Hip
Dysplasia
(hip socket
insufficient
for femur
head)
Hip Dysplasia
is a terrible
genetic
disease
because
of the
various
degrees
of arthritis
(also
called
degenerative
joint
disease,
arthrosis,
osteoarthrosis)
it can
eventually
produce,
leading
to pain
and debilitation.
SKIN:
Atopic
Dermatitis
Canine
atopic
dermatitis
(allergic
dermatitis,
canine
atopy)
is an
inherited
predisposition
to develop
allergic
symptoms
following
repeated
exposure
to some
otherwise
harmless
substance,
an "allergen,"
such as
dust mites
or pollen.
Most dogs
begin
to show
their
allergic
signs
between
1 and
3 years
of age.
The incidence
is increasing
both in
man and
animals.
Atopic
animals
will usually
rub, lick,
chew,
bite or
scratch
at their
feet,
muzzle,
ears,
armpits
or groin,
causing
hair loss,
and reddening
and thickening
of the
skin.
In some
cases
several
skin problems
can "add"
together
to cause
an animal
to itch
where
just the
allergy
alone
would
not be
enough
to cause
itching.
These
problems
include
air borne-allergens
(pollens,
etc.),
allergens
in food,
and allergens
from parasites
(fleas,
etc.)
and also
bacterial
or yeast
infections
of the
skin.
Eliminating
some but
not all
of the
problems
may allow
a patient's
itchiness
to go
away.
Therefore
it is
important
to treat
any other
problems
that could
be making
your pet
itch while
dealing
with allergy.
Pemphigus
(Autoimmune
disorder)
There
are several
related
immune
mediated
skin disorders
action
of which
the body
produces
antibodies
against
the outer
layer
of the
skin (the
epidermis).
Mites
- Demodex
(if generalized
infestation
can be
from immune
system
problem)
- Sarcoptes
(infectious
pest,
not immune
system
problem)
Color
Dilution
Alopecia
(genetic)
This condition
develops
in some,
but not
all dogs
that have
been bred
for unusual
coat colour,
especially
"blue"
(a dilution
of the
normal
black
coat color).
Alopecia
means
hairlessness
- affected
dogs have
a poor,
patchy
haircoat
progressing
to widespread
permanent
hair loss.
At the
cellular
level,
there
are abnormalities
of the
hair follicles
and uneven
clumping
of pigment
(melanin)
granules
in the
hair shafts
in affected
areas.
This condition
is found
occastionally
in the
genetically
undesirable
'blue'
coat color
in Schipperkes. |
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Send correspondence to:
Sue Geiger
Central Rockies Schipperke Club
of Greater Denver
3228 S. Garrison St. Apt.299
Lakewood, Colorado 80227
Email: CRSCSecretary@schipperke.com
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