He's cute! But is it also healthy?
Canine Health Prevention Series
Part 1: Precaution starts before the purchase
Praevenire, the Latin origin of the German term prevention, means “to advance” or “to prevent”. In connection with dogs, this usually means the prevention of diseases, mainly through vaccinations. Nothing against vaccinations. Just like regular health checks depending on age and race, they are important and useful. But courteous behavior from dog owners who want a healthy animal begins before the purchase.
A guest post by Dr. Lena Sotje
Hamburg. How do people choose their dog? Very common based on appearance. In a British study, 63 percent of those surveyed said this. Others spontaneously “fell in love” with the animal or chose a breed that supposedly fits their own character. The same study also made it clear where the problem can lie with this type of selection: half of the 1,500 study participants cannot meet their pet's needs (Kenell Club 2020 study).
Getting advice about the breed before purchasing is just as much a part of preventive health care as extensive knowledge about correct husbandry. Incorrect posture, incorrect food, too little exercise – all of this can make a dog sick. This can be seen, for example, in obesity, which affects more than three million dogs in Germany – one in four, according to veterinary estimates. The consequences are diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and joint problems.
If you don't like to exercise or are physically unable to do so, you must choose the right dog particularly carefully. This is also precaution. There are dog breeds, such as Bernese Mountain Dog, Chow Chow or Havanese, that can remain happy and healthy even with comparatively little physical exercise. However, it is crucial for their mental health that they are sufficiently challenged in other ways. The topic of “staying alone” is often not given enough consideration. No breed of dog can be expected to be able to be left alone for more than four to six hours on a regular basis. Although some furry friends manage this well, others can become mentally ill and exhibit undesirable behavior. Depression and anxiety disorders are by no means reserved for bipeds.
Finally, there is the chapter “Pedigree dogs with a genetic predisposition to certain diseases.” Joint diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia occur in larger breeds such as German Shepherds and Labradors, and Boxers and Doberman Pinschers are prone to heart problems. Anyone who chooses one of these breeds should be aware of this predisposition.
From a health perspective, you should avoid purchasing short-snouted dogs. These include French bulldogs, which usually have a very friendly nature and have become very popular. Unfortunately, these dogs almost always suffer from “brachicephalic syndrome” (torture breeding), that Among other things, it is accompanied by narrow nostrils and shortness of breath.
In principle, hereditary diseases can occur in every breed. Therefore, it is particularly important to choose a good breeder. This person should be a member of a club or breeding association. The parent animals are then usually tested for hereditary diseases and examined regularly. A good breeder not only pays attention to the animals' genes, but also lays the foundation for healthy rearing and husbandry. Too often animals, sometimes illegally and cheaply from dubious origins, are bought through advertisements on the Internet. The parent animals do not have any health certificates and in most cases you cannot even look at them. Such puppies are or become ill frequently, sometimes seriously ill. If they are raised in a stable or cellar without much human contact, they also develop behavioral problems.
Anyone who decides to get an animal protection dog and thus do a good deed should also inform themselves well in advance. Although the dogs look healthy on the outside, animal welfare dogs can bring with them trauma and anxiety issues as well as a number of pathogens that require lifelong treatment. The symptoms can also only appear many years later.
No matter which dog you end up choosing: In any case, it's worth thinking about taking out pet health insurance. Animal health is more than just annual vaccinations and can come with high costs. It makes sense for every dog - because even the best and most regular preventive care cannot rule out illnesses or prevent accidents.
In the next part of our series on health prevention:
Prevention for puppies and young dogs: when, what, how
About Dr. Lena Sotje
Dr. Lena Sötje is the senior veterinarian at the Medivet practices in Hamburg-Stellingen and Pinneberg. She completed her veterinary medicine studies at the Hannover Veterinary University Foundation and received her doctorate from the Free University of Berlin. She is an all-rounder in small animal medicine and is also enthusiastic about bird and pet medicine. Privately, Dr. In addition to chickens, Sötje also has a cat. She has a big heart for animals and a passion for science.