The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent active and very high energy breed that was originally bred to herd sheep and Cattle to round up all of those sheep and cows. This dog had to be an energetic bundle with not a lazy bone in its body. The Australian Shepherd makes an excellent family pet especially for the busy on the go and energetic family. If you or your family are physically active and big into jogging hiking and throwing balls around then your Australian Shepherd wants to be right there in the mix people who consume healthy foods and who get plenty of exercises are generally healthier overall than sedentary people who snack on junk food constantly the same goes for dogs and the
Australian Shepherd is no exception unfortunately this is no guarantee for people or dogs that we will not have any health problems whether common or rare .Even though the Australian Shepherd is a relatively healthy breed it’s best to be informed and prepared .Australian Shepherd common health problems dear Australian Shepherd may never suffer from any type of health problem or disease but listed below are health problems more common to this breed.
- Hypothyroidism
- Multi-drug resistance mdr1
- Cataracts in Australian shepherds
- Lris coloboma
- Elbow dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
The hypothyroidism is a common disease seen in Australian Shepherds and is often called underactive thyroid at the base of the brain as the pituitary gland this gland controls the thyroid and the thyroid regulates metabolism by producing the hormone thyroxine .If the pituitary gland is under active the thyroid does not produce enough thyroxine.
Symptoms
- Weight gain
- Coldness
- Dry
- Flaky skin
- Lethargy
and loss of fur replacing the hormone with a medication called levothyroxine is the treatment and must be taken for life with dosages fluctuating at times .
Multi-drug resistance mdr1
There are few breeds that suffer from this anomaly of multi-drug resistance and unfortunately the Australian Shepherd is one of them. Dogs who have this will have adverse effects from commonly used drugs such as even heartworm medication the gene mutation causes dogs to have a reaction to certain drugs and dosages that are normally safe care must be used when trying new medications because reactions are sometimes fatal.
Cataracts in Australian shepherds
Cataracts are the most common eye disease cataracts can be found in one or both eyes and cause the eye to become cloudy this leads to impaired vision and can cause eventual blindness cataracts can appear in Australian shepherds as young as one to three years old. But can also develop in Senior Dogs due to the aging process surgery although quite expensive is an option.
Lris coloboma
An eye condition that can affect your Aussie as Iris coloboma these are holes in the iris due to the iris not being fully developed at birth. This can affect one or both eyes and will cause your pup to squint in bright light because the eyes cannot dilate properly this is a birth defect and there is no cure it is found mostly in Aussies that are merls.
Elbow dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia is common in Australian shepherds but often goes undiagnosed this would present with lameness in the front end which sometimes comes and goes adding to the problem of diagnosing this type of dysplasia surgery or pain meds are options .
Cancer and tumors
There are two types of cancer that are more common in Australian shepherds which are
- Lymphoma
- Hemangiosarcoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma can be found in a dog’s liver spleen and lymph nodes and is usually found in older dogs
symptoms
- fever weakness
- dehydration
- lethargy
Hemangiosarcoma
They can affect separate areas of the body with differing symptoms.
symptoms
some symptoms are
- fatigue
- tiredness weakness
pale gums a lump under the skin abdominal swelling difficulty breathing bleeding nosebleeds heart rhythms that are abnormal and seizure.
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Depending on what type of hemangiosarcoma and the location treatments can range from surgery to chemotherapy and palliative or hospice care. It is important to note that not all Australian shepherds will develop these health problems and with proper care and attention from their owners many of these issues can be prevented or treated successfully regular visits to the veterinarian can help to catch potential health problems early and provide the necessary care to keep your Australian Shepherd healthy and happy.
