Collie Health Problems And How To Recognize Them
Collies, as with every other breed of dog, have their fair share of health issues. Collies are overall healthy and sturdy dogs, and most typical collie health problems aren't life threatening. Many health issues, when diagnosed and dealt with early, will be managed easily.
Indications of Collie Health Problems
Collies suffering from health conditions typically show common symptoms of disease such as weakness, low energy, abnormal sleeping, salivating and panting or shortness of breath. Owners also report continuous pacing, loss of appetite, loss of hair, limping, and changes in eating patterns. Some dogs also display slight changes in temperament as an additional symptom of health problems.
Common Health Issues
Collies fall prey to both hereditary and acquired health issues. Typical health issues that have an effect on this variety of dog include things like gray collie syndrome, collie nose, collie eye abnormalities, and collie hip dysplasia. Collies in addition fall prey to other conditions such as collie cough and epilepsy.
Collie nose is characterized by the lack of coloring on the nose, lips, and eyelids, making these areas more sensitive to sunlight. Pet owners can use sun block around the affected areas and restrict the dog's exposure to sunlight. Yet another solution is permanent tattooing of the affected areas to make these areas darker.
Collies are also susceptible to the genetic disease known as gray collie syndrome. Gray collie syndrome is a stem cell disease characterized by really small and really weak puppies having lighter pigmentation in comparison with normal puppies. Collies having this issue develop other difficulties including joint pain, fever, as they are very easily susceptible to infections due to the periodic lowering of white blood cells, the cells which are responsible for safeguarding the body from infections.
Collies are additionally vulnerable to hip dysplasia, a condition indicated by an abnormal shape of the hip joints that evolves at around 8 months around the time when the dog reaches skeletal maturity. The condition is a result of a mix of factors, including genetics, inadequate diet, and lack of physical exercise. Collies are large dogs, and this could be one of the reasons why this condition occurs often in this breed of dog. The condition can be very painful for the dog and often causes a sudden change in his activity levels.
While there are actually a few collie health problems that these particular dogs face, dog owners can certainly help make improvements to their pets' lives by having their dogs tested for these ailments in order that early treatment may be done. The proper nutrition and exercise will in addition help to prevent the onset of age-related collie illnesses. Collies are hardy and resilient dogs, so they are likely to respond to treatment favorably, especially if the problem is taken care of early on.
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