Dog Health Insurance

Cathy and Tim Farr from Dinas Powys, Wales, have sacrificed more than most for their dog, a 9 foot-long Irish wolfhound called Finn! Working from home and with no children, Cathy invested in Finn 2 years ago for some company, only to watch him grow and grow until he was almost too big for her house! “We met Finn’s dad, who was a big dog, so we expected him to be quite big, but not as huge as he is!” she explained, “My husband nearly had a heart attack!”

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Arthritis in dogs is fairly similar to arthritis in humans and can be caused by an injury or disease. Unlike humans, however, dogs can develop arthritis as soon as a few weeks after sustaining an injury! To this extent, arthritis is exceptionally common in dogs, yet frequently goes untreated. In fact, although an estimated 20% of dogs suffer from arthritis, only 10% receive any form of treatment! Given how painful the condition is, it is important that pet owners make sure they do everything they can do if they suspect their dog is suffering.

Although care is readily available for dogs with arthritis, there is no cure for the disease. When it comes to treatments, the majority are designed to help deal with the painful inflammations, slow the progress of the disease and help the dog stay as comfortable as possible. Drugs are also often prescribed to help the dog’s stomach from the side effects of strong anti-inflammatory medicines. Aspirin, however, is not usually prescribed as it can further break down the already fragile cartilage in the joints.

Steroids are also sometimes prescribed, also as a way to reduce inflammation. However, high doses can cause further damage to the cartilage in the dog’s joints so, like aspirin, doses are carefully monitored. As we mentioned last month, there are specialised beds available for dogs with arthritis. It is well worth investing in one of these beds to help your dog stay as comfortable as possible when living with this painful condition.

A new study has indicated that dogs could provide a near-perfect model to help us understand human complex diseases.

Many animal lovers know how predisposed dogs are towards genetic problems, especially immune-mediated diseases. Nova Scotia duck tolling Retrievers, for example, are at great risk from diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); a combination of a rheumatic disease and steroid-responsive meningitis. Although this sounds like a lot of long words without a lot of meaning (to most people), the findings of a recent study into this disease in this breed of dog have had some profound implications.

Nova Scotias were developed in Yarmouth as a hunter-retreiver and descend from a tiny number of dogs that managed to survive outbreaks of the canine distemper virus, which killed thousands. The theory is that, due to their exceptionally strong inherited immune system, Nova Scotia’s are now much more prone to immune-related ailments. An investigaion into this theory, however, has discovered something even more interesting; that the SLE disease involves multi-genetic inheritance – like most autoimmune diseases in humans! As various types of genetic risk factors are easier to trace in dogs than in humans, this could mark a huge leap forwards in understanding and curing complex diseases.

For the record, this study shouldn’t be confused with animal testing or anything of the kind. That is something the Dog Health Blog is firmly against.

Country of Origin: England
Weight: 25 – 30 kg
Height: 58 – 61 cm
Colour: Red, fawn, sable or tricololur, sometimes with white markings
Colour: Black and tan, or dark grizzle.
Life Span: 10 – 12 years

King of Terriers, the Airedale was bred to hunt otters around the River Aire in Yorkshire. Until the Black Russian Terrier was created as a guard and police dog by the NKVD, the Airedale was the largest of the terriers, hence the majestic nickname! Although not aggressive, Airedales are known to be fearless, especially the hunting dogs (Oorang Airedales).

The coat of the Airedale is of particular interest, having actually been specifically designed to protect the dog from animals that it was hunting. The hard, dense and wiry hair was designed to actually come out in the claws of the attacking animal, leaving the dog unharmed where other breeds would sustain injuries at having hair ripped out. For this reason, clipping the coat of an Airedale leaves dead roots within the hair follicles, which can cause irritation.  Although all terriers are somewhat prone to dermatitis, this unique trait of the Airedale coat puts the breed at especially high risk from the disease and also makes it harder to detect. Hand stripping the dead roots from the skin is one way to help stimulate new hair growth and remove irritating dead hairs.

Due to their fairly large size, bloat can affect Airedale Terriers so they should not be exercised too soon after eating. Cancer is by far and away the most common cause of death in the breed (at nearly 40%), meaning pet insurance is highly advised to help owners pay for any emergency surgery. Old age and cardiac illness combined are responsible for a further 25% of Airedale deaths.

Intersting Fact: Airedale Terriers are very intelligent and sometimes get bored of repeating a trick they have picked up quickly. This can lead owners to think their dog is has forgotten the trick because they are slow learners, when in fact they so smart that they have already learnt it and are now bored of doing it over and over again!

Country of Origin: Wales
Weight: Around 12 kg
Height: 25 – 30 cm
Colour: Red, fawn, sable or tricololur, sometimes with white markings
Colour: Short, coarse overcoat with soft, fine undercoat.
Life Span: 12 – 14 years

The preferred breed of Queen Elizabeth II, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is the smallest of all Herding dogs and has been favoured by the Royal Family for over seventy years. Supposedly the eleventh most intelligent breed of dog, Corgis make excellent workers, though their small size also makes them popular house pets.

Obesity is a big problem for Pembrokes, especially in house dogs that are overfed and not exercised enough. Despite being small in size, the proportional length of Pembrokes’ spines can cause back problems and early arthritis, especially in overweight individuals. For this reason it is highly advisable to pay great attention to their diet – especially in house dogs.

Degenerative myelopathy, an inherited disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, is also a problem for Corgis. Luckily there is a test available through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals that can determine whether an individual is at risk, carrying the gene but not at risk, or totally clear. The majority of Corgis are either at risk or carrying the gene; hence only selective breeding techniques will help remove the problem from the breed, as both carriers and dogs at risk can pass on the gene to their offspring.

Pembroke Corgis are also prone to eye disorders, hip dysplasia and Von Willebrand’s disease; a clotting disorder that causes excessive bleeding and hence makes surgery problematic. The price of for Corgis may depend on whether they suffer from Von Willebrand’s disease; always read the small print.

Interesting Fact: a large proportion of Queen Elizabeth II’s Corgis are directly descended from the dog she was given on her eighteenth birthday, Susan.

Country of Origin: Scotland
Weight: 18-27 kg
Height: 50-56 cm
Coat: Long, shaggy and dense outer coat with soft, thick undercoat
Colour: Black, blue, grey, chocolate or fawn
Life Span: 11-13 years

Commonly known as Beardies, these ancestors of the Old English Sheepdog were used to herd sheep or cattle in Scotland. For this reason, Beardies are strong, active and hardy dogs that are rarely aggressive but reliable and clever. They love having things to do and are wonderful family pets due to their affectionate nature and kindness with children. Their long hair means that Beardies can take a lot of looking after, however, as it must be brushed daily and clipped at least every couple of months.

The “median lifespan” of a breed of dog is the age at which half the population has died; Bearded Collies have slightly longer median life spans than other medium sized purebred dogs, though Beardies in the UK have a longer life span than those in the USA and Canada. The leading cause of death amongst the breed is old age, which accounts for around a quarter of all deaths. Other common causes of death include cancer, cerebral vascular diseases and chronic kidney failure.

The most commonly reported health problems with Bearded Collies are gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and urologic diseases, though in the USA and Canada Addison’s Disease is a common problem that actually accounts for 4% of all Bearded Collie deaths. In this disease, there are deficiencies of gluticocorticoid and mineralocortoid in the adrenal cortex of the kidney, making the dogs lethargic, stress intolerant and particularly susceptible to gastric disturbances. There are various forms of treatment and, if diagnosed early, most dogs can live a fairly normal and long life. Unfortunately, most treatment is quite expensive and will be required for the rest of the dog’s life; for this reason pet insurance is highly advised.

Intersting Fact: Bearded Collies can look very similar to Old English Sheepdogs and shouldn’t be confused!

Country of Origin: England
Weight: 20 – 38 kg kg
Height: 51 – 61 cm
Coat: Short and dense
Colour: White, brindle, black, fawn, red and tri-color
Life Span: 10 – 14 years

The queer-looking head of the Bull Terrier is almost flat at the top, but has an evenly sloping muzzle that makes it look egg-shaped from the front. Their triangular eyes are another unique feature amongst dog breeds and make Bull Terriers immediately recognisable.

Bull Terriers are very strong and intelligent dogs that require a lot of exercise and attention, as well as strict discipline to keep them in line.  Despite being refered to as “Bullies” and looking intimidating with their broad, powerful shoulders; Bull Terriers are no more aggressive than other breeds of dog and, once trained, are obedient, fun and playful animals with a high pain tolerance that greatly reduces the risk of defensive biting when playing with children. That being said, they are fiercely loyal and make good guard dogs when owners are away.

Although typically very healthy dogs, deafness is common in the breed – especially in pure white individuals, as is usual with animals. Bull Terriers are also prone to skin allergies and intense allergic reactions to insect bites as well as obsessive compulsive disorder, which can manifest itself as tail chasing and obsessive licking. The breed is well known for eating everything passed their way and, as such, care should be taken to provide a Bull Terrier with a balanced diet and plenty of exercise to avoid excessive weight gain and subsequent knee problems.

Interesting Fact: Bill Sykes from Oliver Twist owns a Bull Terrier called Bullseye!

Origin: Central Mediterranean Area
Weight: 4 -7 lbs
Height: 8 – 10 ins
Colour: White
Coat: Long and silky
Life Span: 9 – 11 years

One the biggest concerns for owners of Maltese dogs is eye stain, or tear stain, which is a staining of the hair around the eyes by red tear discharge. There are a variety of supposed causes for this problem, including excessive tearing, blocked tear ducts and a bad diet. In this post I explain some common causes of tear stain.

For starters, Maltese have a genetic predisposition toward tear staining, meaning that selective breeding is required to minimise the risk of individuals being affected. For individual dogs, however, the most common cause of tear staining is excess wetness around the eyes from tearing. This is because the moisture caught in the hair provides a breeding ground for bacteria, especially red yeast – which is what causes the red/brown stain. Although regularly wiping the wetness away from around the eyes of your dog can help remove the opportunity for bacteria to breed, there are a variety of ways to help prevent excess tearing in the first place.

Around twenty percent of Maltese dogs have blocked tear ducts that prevent normal tear production. For this reason it is highly advisable to take your dog to a vet for an eye check and consider pet insurance to help pay for any surgery that might be required. Other forms of eye irritation include unkempt hair around the eyes, fleas and allergic reactions to shampoos and perfumes. Ensure that you use hypoallergenic products on your Maltese dog to help reduce tearing and staining. Also, although you wouldn’t think it, ear infections can also cause tear stain from excessive tearing. As with many dogs that have floppy ears, it is very easy for Maltese dogs to get ear infections from the warm, moist air that gets trapped inside. It is very important to clean your Maltese dog’s ears regularly and with products that leave the ears dry.

Finally, if the staining is also prevalent around the beard-area, consider giving your Maltese only purified water, as the high mineral content of your home water may be causing more staining.

Country of Origin: England
Weight: 3.2 kg
Height: 16-20 cm
Coat: Glossy, fine and silky
Colour: Tan and blue
Life Span: 10 – 15 years

Yorkshire Terriers are small terriers that originate, unsurprisingly, in Yorkshire! Especially small, even for a terrier, Yorkies are well known for their long, silky tan and blue coat that makes them a favourite show dog. However, Yorkshire Terriers can be – and often are – plagued with a number of health issues including cataracts, skin allergies, bronchitis and lymphangiectasia. I shall take a little time to explain the three most common congenital diseases in Yorkshire Terriers.

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Country of Origin: Scotland
Weight: 8.5–10 kg
Height:    25 cm (9.8 in)
Coat: Double coat hard wiry hair with soft under coat
Color: Black, brindle or wheaten
Life Span: 12 – 15 years

Scottie dogs, or Scottish Terriers, are hardy little dogs that are one of the five terriers to originate in Scotland.  Their short legs, erect tail and thick neck give them a very distinct profile and, despite their small size, they are tremendous diggers due to their large paws.  Although most Scotties are black, their coats can be a range of shades – though Wheaten-coloured Scottie dogs should not be confused with Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers or West Highland White Terriers.  Their coats are tough and wiry, but have a soft, dense under coat that helps keep Scottie dogs warm in chillier climes!

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