5 Common Australian Cattle Dogs Health
Australian cattle dogs make amazing watch dogs.
These herding hounds need plenty of physical activity to keep their tails wagging. They like to keep busy, and do best in homes where someone is usually around to keep them entertained. Australian cattle dogs are surprisingly muscular for their compact size and are known for their distinct speckling patterns.
Before bringing home one of these canine cuties, it’s important to have a firm understanding of the breed’s health history. Below, we’ll share 5 of the most common health concerns of Australian cattle dogs.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia unfortunately affects many dogs including the active Australian cattle dog. This condition is characterised by the improper alignment of the joint and hip socket. The condition can be incredibly painful for your pooch, causing inflammation and irritation. Some signs your dog may have hip dysplasia include difficulty putting weight on hind legs, lameness, or immobility in some cases.
While this condition isn’t always avoidable, it can be treated. Depending on the severity of your dog’s condition, your veterinarian may recommend surgery, stem cell treatments, or physical therapy. In other cases, your dog might utilize regular pain medication and supplements to help deal with the associated symptoms.
Cataracts
Cataracts are classified as a cloudy eye lens that obstructs a dog’s vision over time. They can appear rapidly or gradually grow larger, which speaks to the importance of staying up to date with your dog’s visits to the veterinarian. Most of the time, cataracts are hereditary so they aren’t necessarily avoidable. That being said, cataracts can be removed pretty effectively with the help of surgical intervention.
Deafness
Deafness in dogs is characterized as a full or partial loss of hearing. This condition can be hereditary or caused through injury or trauma. You may notice your dog becoming less responsive over time, as the likelihood of deafness increases with age. Depending on the cause of hearing loss, there may be effective treatment for your dog’s condition. However, if the damage is beyond repair, many dogs still carry out amazing lives despite being deaf.
Von Willebrand Disease
Von Willebrand disease in dogs is a common bleeding disorder that is hereditary. This disease is caused by a deficiency in a dog’s platelets levels, making it difficult for blood to clot properly. Luckily, dogs with this disease do not present any symptoms affecting their day to day lives. However, Von Willebrand disease can make a small cut turn into an emergency, since affected dogs bleed out far quicker than an unaffected dog.
If your pooch has this condition, you’ll want to pay special care to reduce your pup’s risk of injuring him or herself. In the event that your dog is bleeding, you’ll want to seek out veterinary care as soon as possible.
Allergies
Some breeds may be more prone to developing allergies, like the Australian cattle dog. Generally, allergies are characterized by an overreaction of a dog’s immune system to certain stimuli. This could be environmental allergies, such as reacting to pollen or airborne particles, or present itself as food allergies. Unfortunately, allergies are notoriously difficult to diagnose so your pup will have to undergo several rounds of testing to determine the root allergen.
Your dog may experience itchiness, irritation, inflammation, or general discomfort. In most cases, lifestyle adjustments should be enough to keep allergies at bay. Your veterinarian may also recommend allergy relief medication in order to cope with any associated symptoms.
Australian cattle dogs may be one of the strongest breeds around, though they do come with their own health concerns like any other dog. That being said, these sporty pups are so worth our care and concern. Enjoy these active, adventurous canine companions!
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