HIP DYSPLASIA

      Canine hip dysplasia is a common disorder that can affect dogs of all sizes, although usually dogs that are medium to large in size. Hip dysplasia is a developmental defect in which the hip joint is improperly formed and, thus, the head of the femur does not fit correctly into the hip socket. It’s absolutely essential that any Portuguese Water Dog that is being considered for breeding purposes have its hips x-rayed at two years of age. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals assigns certification numbers to those dogs with non-dysplastic hips. Dogs that have not been granted OFA numbers should not be used for breeding. Even if the dog is not to be used in a breeding program, it might be best to have the hips checked anyway. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

       DELTA SOCIETY

      The human-animal bond propels the work of the Delta Society, striving to improve the lives of people and animals. The Pet Partners Program proves that the lives of people and dogs are inextricably linked. The Pet Partners Program, a national registry, trains and screens volunteers for pet therapy in hospices, nursing homes, schools and rehabilitation centers. Dog-and-handler teams of Pet Partners volunteer in all 50 states, with nearly 7,000 teams making visits annually. About 900,000 patients, residents and students receive assistance each year. If you and your dog are interested in becoming Pet Partners, contact the Delta Society online at www.deltasociety.org.

      Research has found that genetically pre-dysplastic dogs can be protected by restricting some environmental stress. There is even some indication that some puppy foods may speed up growth and therefore create a greater risk of the condition’s developing. Allowing for stable and uniform growth is healthiest for the dog’s development.

       PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY (PRA)

      PRA is a condition in which the retinal cells degenerate, eventually causing the dog to go blind. It is a genetic disease that affects many breeds of dog. Statistics thus far indicate that the PWD is most commonly affected by late-onset PRA, with the majority of cases diagnosed in dogs 3 to 5 years of age or older. At first, affected dogs have difficulties seeing at night or in dim light. Eventually the disease can lead to total blindness.

      Affected dogs can be detected by an electroretinogram at two years of age; methods of earlier detection have not yet been established. All dogs should have an annual examination. There is presently no clinical test to identify carriers of PRA, so carriers can only be accurately identified after they have produced offspring with PRA. Likewise, the offspring of an affected dog can be identified as carriers as well. It is recommended that all Portuguese Water Dog owners take their dogs for an annual ophthalmoscopic examination by a veterinary eye specialist.

      DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA?

       X-ray of a dog with “Good” hips.

       X-ray of a dog with “Moderate” dysplastic hips.

      Hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition found in pure-bred dogs. When a dog has hip dysplasia, his 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 he walks in a peculiar manner, hops instead of smoothly runs, uses his hind legs in unison (to keep the pressure off the weak joint), has trouble getting up from a prone position or always sits with both legs together on one side of his body.

      As the dog matures, he 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 only can be diagnosed definitively by x-ray when the dog is two years old, although symptoms often appear earlier. Some experts claim that a special diet might help your 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 veterinarian.

       STORAGE DISEASE

      Storage disease (GM1 gangliosidosis) is a genetic condition in which the lack of an enzyme allows a build-up of toxic substances in the nerve cells. The gene for storage disease is recessive, so only Portuguese Water Dogs who obtain a defective gene from both parents are affected. A dog that has the disease will show signs of neurological deterioration and will die by six to eight months of age. A carrier of the disease will appear normal, but should not be bred. Puppies are usually tested at seven to eight weeks of age. There is no treatment or cure for the disease, but all indications are that breeders will eventually be able to eliminate the defective gene for storage disease from the Portuguese Water Dog gene pool.

       OTHER HEALTH ISSUES

      The health issues discussed here represent some of the most commonly seen in the PWD. Visit the PWDCA’s website for an in-depth look at these and other problems, including heart disease (juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy being the most critical), renal dysplasia (causing kidney failure), cancer, seizure disorders, microphthalmia (an eye disorder) and allergies.

       ADDISON’S DISEASE

      Signs of Addison’s disease have been seen in young to middle-aged PWDs. It is caused by an adrenocortical hormone deficiency. Symptoms are rather generic, including lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite and other signs that are not necessarily indicative of a serious condition. Thus Addison’s may be misdiagnosed, but it will be fatal if not detected and treated. If symptoms persist, it is essential to have the veterinarian test the dog for Addison’s disease, since it does occur in the Portuguese Water Dog. Treatment is through hormone-replacement therapy, usually for the rest of the dog’s life. With treatment, an affected dog can live a normal life.

       DISTICHIASIS

      A dog affected by distichiasis may suffer from eye irritation caused by improperly located eyelashes. Although not yet established, it is probable that this is a hereditary condition; thus, incidences should be noted by breeders and discretion exercised in breeding affected dogs. The Portuguese Water Dog is one of a number of breeds in which distichiasis is present, and the condition can appear in a dog of any age.

       CATARACTS

      A cataract is a lens opacity that may affect one or both eyes and may involve the partial or complete portion of the lens. It usually develops as a small white area and is hardly noticeable to the naked eye. A cataract can be a result of many different things, including heredity, trauma, inflammation and nutritional deficiencies. Although the exact occurrence of cataracts in the breed is not known, many older Portuguese Water Dogs develop cataracts. Fortunately, cataracts are readily amenable to surgical intervention with excellent results of restoring vision.

       The Portuguese Water Dog is, in general, a healthy and hardy breed with an average

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