SPRINGER HEALTH
First Aid - minor bugs and injuries
Keeping your Springer Healthy - info about worms, fleas etc
Case Book - first hand accounts of some minor and major problems
Interesting articles and Links
GENETIC/INHERITED CONDITIONS
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Having a happy and healthy Springer puppy like Lizzie here is great, but life isn't always so easy, so make sure you are prepared and you are aware of the minor and major health issues that can affect the breed |
There are a number of health issues within the Springer Breed that should be considered, especially if you are about to purchase a new puppy.
Any responsible breeder will be aware of the major health issues that affect the breed and will advise you of their screening to make sure that their puppies are free from any major hereditary defects, if a breeder looks at you blankly when you ask what sort of medical screening they have done, and if you ask about whether the health of the parents was taken into account when they decided to breed and the breeder does not respond, walk away, you will save yourself alot of heartache in the future. Any breeder worth their salt will try to produce happy healthy puppies, those that aren't interested in eradicating hereditary defects from the breed are in it for the money and therefore you are advised to steer well clear. This may sound harsh but what happens if you have a dog diagnosed with major health problems at 1 year old, it is harder to say good-bye to a 1 year old dog than it is to say good-bye to a bad breeder.
Hip Dysplasia
This is a condition whereby the hip socket, into which the femoral head rests, degenerates. It can only be diagnosed by scrutiny of an x-ray. Hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition found in pure bred dogs. When a dog has hip dysplasia, its hind leg has an incorrectly formed hip joint. By constant use of the hip joint, it becomes more and more loose, wears abnormally and may become arthritic. Hip dysplasia can only be confirmed with an x-ray, but certain symptoms may indicate a problem. Your dog may have a hip dysplasia problem if it walks in a peculiar manner, hops instead of runs smoothly, uses its hind legs in unison (to keep pressure off the weak joint), has trouble getting up from a prone position or always sits with both legs on one side of its body.
As the dog matures, it may adapt well to life with a bad hip, but in a few years the arthritis develops and many dogs with hip dysplasia become crippled.
Hip dysplasia is considered an inherited disease and can usually be diagnosed when the dog is 3-9 months old. Some experts claim that a special diet might help you puppy outgrow the bad hip, but the usual treatments are surgical. The removal of the pectineus muscle, the removal of the round part of the femur, reconstructing the pelvis and replacing the hip with an artificial one are all surgical interventions that are expensive, but they are usually very successful. Follow the advice of your veterinary surgeon.
Hip dysplasia is an excellent example of why you should have your puppy insured, most good insurance policies will cover hip operations, x-rays etc, and some very good ones will cover the condition for life meaning that arthritis drugs which the dog can be on for the rest of its life, are covered by the policy. Make sure you shop around for a policy that offers good value, but lifetime cover, not just a limited amount per condition.
Jerry's story - how he was diagnosed with really bad hip dysplasia
Eye Diseases Known to Exist (that can be tested for)
- Generalised Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA) - This disease normally shows between 12 - 30 months of age, and will always lead to total blindness. Night blindness is the most common first symptom, though it can be picked up early by opthalmoscopic examination. It is vital that botches are tested for this condition before breeding as it may not show until well after she has bred her first litter, and by then it is too late.
- Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA)- This disease can occur from 18 months onwards, but most affected dogs show signs of the disease by the time they are 6 years old. The dog will not become completely blind as the peripheral vision is not lost, but dogs can become severely affected.
- Entropion - This is where the edge of the eyelid rolls in so that the lashes rub against the surface of the eye causing irritation of the eyeball. This condition is usually identifiable around 6 weeks of age. Your Veterinary surgeon can advise you what action is required to correct this, but it usually a simple operation
- Retinal Dysplasia - This disease has several forms, but the worst manifestations are extensive retinal degeneration or detachment.
- Cataracts - This is a condition whereby the lens of the eyes become covered with a milky film and the dogs eyesight is seriously affected. It is often found in older dogs, however cataract can also be inherited and affect young Springer's. Dogs that are being tested for PRA will normally also be tested for cataract. Cataracts can also occur in just one eye, unlike PRA.
See the Case Notes to meet a few Springer's and see how they coped with eye problems
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Cataracts don't just affect older dogs like Gizmo, young dogs can be affected too. As you can see in this picture Cataracts make the eyes seem cloudy and reflect the light slightly more than normal |
Canine Fucosidosis
Canine Fucosidosis is a severe, progressive and ultimately fatal disease that affects the English Springer Spaniel. It is an inherited condition in the breed and has been reported in the UK, Europe and Australia. It is inherited through an autosomal recessive trait.
The disease affects young adults, usually between 18 months and 4 years of age, and is characterised by nervous signs that progress over a period of several months. These signs include inco-ordination and ataxia (loss of control of movement), change in temperament, loss of learned behaviour, loss of balance, apparent deafness, visual impairment and varying degrees of depression. The inco-ordination and ataxia affects all four legs and is mostly evident when affected animals are walking on slippery surfaces or attempt more complicated movements such as turning. In addition, affected dogs lose weight and may suffer from swallowing difficulties and sometimes regurgitation of food.
The disease is caused by the absence of an enzyme called alpha-L-fucosidase. This enzyme is one of many required to break down complex compounds into simple molecules that the body can use. When the enzyme is absent, the pathway is blocked and the more complex compounds build up in the cells of the affected animal. These substances accumulate in lymph nodes, liver, pancreas, kidney, lungs and bone marrow, but it is the accumulation in the brain and peripheral nerves that is most important since it interferes with normal function, giving rise to the clinical signs described above, eventually resulting in death. Anybody considering breeding from their Springer must please speak to their vet about having their dog screened as this disease can be tested for.