Note:
The information provided is based
on information gathered from various sources and experience gained while
owning, breeding and exhibiting Siberian Huskies. Please do not email me
seeking treatment advice or product endorsements. I strongly recommend you
express your concerns to your veterinarian or product manufacturer.
Genetic Problems
recognised in Siberian Huskies
General Care of your
Siberian Husky
EYE DISORDERS
Listed below are eye disorders known to have
affected Siberian Huskies in Australia. If you are planning to breed or
purchase a Siberian Husky, ensure both Sire and Dam have been assessed by a
Veterinary Ophthalmologist (Canine Eye Specialist) within 12 months of breeding. ONLY a Veterinary
Ophthalmologist, NOT a local vet, can perform appropriate testing and issue Ophthalmic
Examination Certificates in Australia. You can ask
your vet for contact details for Ophthalmologists in your state.
Reputable breeders can provide current eye examination reports for all their breeding stock
to potential purchasers of puppies or stud services. An Ophthalmic
evaluation only costs AU$35, consider this before you part with hundreds of
dollars to purchase a puppy from a breeder, or pay service fees to a stud dog
owner who does not screen their Siberians for inherited eye disorders.
There's really no excuses for not eye
testing when eye problems exist within the breed in Australia.
Juvenile Cataracts:
A cataract is an opacity in the lens, which if extensive
enough, can cause visual problems or complete blindness. In Siberian Huskies the
cataract occupies a particular part in the lens so that it can be recognised as
being of an inherited type. Vision loss to the point
of blindness can occur in either one or both eyes. The onset can occur as
early as 4 months of age with higher incidence reported in Siberians between 6
and 18 months old.
Glaucoma:
All artic circle breeds are predisposed to glaucoma.
It is thought to be inherited but the mode is unknown. Glaucoma is caused
by impairment of the flow of aqueous humor which causes the pressure in the eye
to increase. Although present at any age, the disorder is mostly seen in
middle aged dogs. A cloudy or red eye may be noticed which may be
painful. Treatment is surgical and or medical.
Corneal Dystrophy:
The term Corneal Dystrophy is used to describe a variety
of disorders affecting the layers of the cornea (the clear surface of the
eye). Cloudiness is the primary characteristic of corneal dystrophy that
you are likely to notice. Once Corneal dystrophy occurs, the cloudy areas
will not go away. Vision is usually not affected by small areas of corneal
dystrophy but larger cloudy areas can sometimes interfere with normal vision.
Siberian Huskies have a form of corneal dystrophy which is properly called
"crystalloid corneal dystrophy". It is inherited as a recessive trait.
This form of dystrophy usually begins between 5 and 27 months of age.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA):
This disorder affects the retina,
the light sensitive inner lining of the posterior part of the eyeball. The
Siberian Husky has a unique type of PRA that is only found in Siberians and
man. This type of PRA is called "X" Linked PRA, since it is
transmitted through the "XX" chromosome of the female. It will cause a
loss of night vision followed by a loss of day vision, eventually
blindness. The disease in males can be devastating with loss of vision as
early as 5 months of age.
Entropion: An
entropion eyelid occurs when the eyelid rolls over against the eyeball and the
eyelashes rub against the surface of the eye. The rubbing action irritates the
cornea and may result in corneal ulcers. This condition is treated surgically.
Informative Links on
Eye Disorders
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HIP DYSPLASIA
Although not prominent in Siberian Huskies in
Australia, it is still out there. Once again it is a very painful disorder
and very expensive to treat. Hip scoring is a method of rating
the quality of a dogs hips. I wouldn't think it important to hip score your
dog unless you had intentions of breeding or you think there may be a
problem with the hips.
Canine Hip Dysplasia Evaluation
Reports are issued by the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA). Your
veterinarian can submit x-rays of your anaesthetised dog to the AVA for
evaluation. Your local vet cannot grade the x-rays and only an x-ray
can prove if a dog has hip dysplasia or not. The evaluation results
will be available in a matter of weeks. The lower the hip score, the
better the hips as this means there were less problems counted.
The scoring system ranges from 0 (being perfect) to 106. The average hip score for
tested Siberian Huskies in Australia is
5.77 out of 106. Ideally the best age to hip score a Siberian is between 2-3
years of age. Hips need only be evaluated once in a dogs life.
Informative
Link on Hip Dysplasia
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ZINC
RESPONSIVE DERMATOSIS
A skin disease affecting the face, pads, elbows
and hocks that causes hair loss, scales, and crusts. This is due to a
decrease in zinc production which is described as an inherited mal-absorption
defect in the Siberian Husky. Usually this disorder is first noticed in
a dog under three years of age. Treatment is zinc supplementation.
Informative Link
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EPILEPSY
Reported to be genetic but the mode of
inheritance is unknown. Epilepsy causes a dog to have recurrent seizures
through a primary brain disorder. It is more common in males and
commonly occurs between 6 months and 5 years of age. Treatment is
medication.
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CRYPTORCHIDISM
Cryptorchidism or
"retained testicles", is a hereditary disorder. The genes
for abnormal descent of the testicles may be passed on from either the
Sire or Dam. Castration is the treatment of choice. (Note:
Medical treatment for Cryptorchidism, in which hormone injections are
given to try to induce testicular descent, is not very successful, and is
unethical).
It is believed that dogs with Cryptorchidism may have a higher incidence
of testicular diseases such as cancer and torsion. The surgery to
remove a retained testicle is more involved than a routine neuter. The
veterinarian must literally hunt for the testicle which may be located
anywhere from the area around the kidney in the abdomen to the muscle near
the groin. Affected dogs should NOT be used for breeding.
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VACCINATION
As a responsible dog owner it is your
responsibility to safeguard your dogs health and well being. To do this
effectively and minimise the risk of disease vaccination is essential.
Distemper: Canine
Distemper is a viral disease. The signs include fever, discharge from
eyes and nose, vomiting and diarrhoea. Pneumonia may develop and the disease
may progress to include the nervous system with signs of muscle spasms,
convulsions, paralysis and in some cases brain damage.
It is most common in unvaccinated puppies aged 3-8 months, but older dogs are
susceptible as well. Distemper is preventable in
dogs by keeping vaccinations current.
Hepatitis:
Infectious Hepatitis is a highly
contagious viral disease with signs varying from lethargy and appetite loss to
depression, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and even death. Highly contagious,
it is transmitted through urine, faeces and saliva. Hepatitis is
preventable in dogs by keeping vaccinations current.
Parvovirus:
This is a highly contagious
devastating illness. It is a very hardy virus found in the environment,
usually transmitted through faeces, but can be transmitted through feet and
skin. Signs of infection include bloody diarrhoea, uncontrollable
vomiting and severe abdominal pain and is often fatal. Parvovirus
is preventable in dogs by keeping vaccinations current.
Canine Cough: Canine Cough is caused
by a mixture of viruses and is characterised by a persistent harsh, hacking
cough that often finishes with the dog "gagging".
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HEARTWORM
Of all the worms a dog can contract, heartworm
poses the biggest threat to its health and well being as it can cause a
slow and distressing death. Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes which pick
up baby heartworm (called microfilariae) from an infected dog. When the
mosquito then bites a healthy dog, it passes on tiny larvae which develop
under the skin and in the muscle tissue of the dog and then migrate to the
lungs. It takes about 6 to 8 months for these larvae to grow into 30cm
adults that live in the main arteries leading from the heart to the
lungs. These worms cause damage to the arteries which then restricts the
flow of blood from the heart to the lungs. As the worm burden increases, the
heart may not be able to cope with this restriction and the dog can eventually
die of heart failure.
Prevention is the only true means of heartworm control. The prevention program
should start when the dog is a puppy at 4-6 weeks of age. If heartworm
is to be successfully avoided, your dog needs to be on the preventative
heartworm treatment for its entire life.
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INTESTINAL
WORMS
Intestinal worms are a common problem in
dogs. Some have nasty effects on a dog's health if left untreated.
In puppies in particular these effects can be fatal. Intestinal worms can be
prevented by undertaking a regular worming program. Your vet can make
the best recommendations.
Round Worm:
Roundworm is present in most puppies even before they are born because it is
transferred from their mother through the placenta. Signs such as
diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, poor growth and "pot belly"
appearance indicate that your puppy has roundworm. Puppies should be treated
from 2 weeks of age. Roundworm can also be acquired from ingesting roundworm
eggs from the environment or eating other hosts such as mice or birds.
Intestinal worming should be continued for the life of your dog.
Hookworm:
The Hookworm is a nasty parasite common in dogs. It can affect dogs of
all ages but especially puppies. Bloody diarrhoea is a common
sign. Puppies can also develop anaemia because of the amount of blood
lost and in severe cases they can die.
Whipworm:
Whipworm is on of the most common causes of diarrhoea in adult dogs.
Whipworm eggs can live in the environment for up to five years. So it is a
difficult worm to eradicate.
Tapeworm:
There are different types of tapeworm, the flea tapeworm is carried by
fleas and can be easily seen in the dogs faeces. They are relatively
harmless but can cause irritation causing your dog to "scoot" along
the ground on his rear. Hydatid tapeworm is a risk in dogs that
eat uncooked offal of sheep or kangaroo or other native or feral
mammals. The dogs most as risk are those allowed to roam bushland and
allowed to scavenge.
Note: Worms common to dogs can cause a number
of conditions in humans. From annoying itchy dermatitis to more serious
problems like diarrhoea, abdominal pain and in rare cases internal cysts and permanent
eye damage.
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EXTERNAL
PARASITES
Ticks: Ticks are a common problem in Australia and
should not be treated lightly. They are disease carriers and can be
painful and or life threatening for the afflicted dog. There are several
species of ticks that live on a dog, the Paralysis Tick, Bush Tick, Cattle Tick
and Brown Dog Tick.
Prevention can come in the form of Pyrethrum spray or shampoo used often in the
summer, tablets given every two days or as prescribed, spot on ampoules applied every two weeks or
tick collars changed every two months. NOTE: None of these preventative
measures have a 100% guarantee
Informative Link
Fleas: Fleas can harm your Siberian in
three ways, blood loss, Flea Allergy Dermatitis and through transmission of
other parasites or diseases. Irritation resulting from flea bites can be
very severe. Some dogs may become hypersensitive and Flea Allergy Dermatitis
syndrome is the result. The flea is also a host for the common
tapeworm.
In addition to daily searching, application of
products specifically intended for tick and flea control can greatly reduce the
health risks to your Siberian. It is VERY important to use a product that is
safe for your dog AND that will prevent not only fleas but also ticks. Not all
products will protect your dog from both. Seek veterinary advice on flea
and tick prevention products currently available.
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GROOMING
Bathing: Do Not use human shampoo, as the pH is
different for dogs, perfumes and some ingredients in human shampoo can
irritate a dogs skin. Prior to bathing your Siberian you should make sure you have completely
brushed his coat thoroughly. You want to make sure he is free of mats, debris
and loose hair if shedding coat.
Start by thoroughly wetting the coat well down
to the skin. This is the most important part of the bath. If you do not wet well both prior and after shampooing you will not have a clean dog.
Leaving shampoo in can also result in skin irritations.
Once completely wet you can apply shampoo to
one area at a time.
After you have completely shampooed your dog,
RINSE. Rinsing will take the most time. Your dog is not rinsed well until the
water runs clear.
Your Siberian should be clean now. Run your hands
over the entire dog to release as much water as possible. Towel dry
making sure you also towel dry the inside of the ears. From here you may
choose to either let your Siberian dry naturally or you can blow dry
him. You may want to cut the toenails at this time as they are still
soft from the bath and less likely to split.
Note: There are a lot of dog
shampoos on the market. Make sure you choose one that is suitable for a Siberian
coat or that suits any particular coat/skin problems your dog has. Seek advice
from manufacturer or their representatives.
Brushing: Weekly brushing with a pin brush is required.
This removes loose
hair, debris and promotes healthy skin. More brushing is required during
shedding. This will occur once a year in males, more often in females. A Rake,
comb, slicker brush and VERY BIG garbage bag are necessary tools for grooming a
Siberian who is
shedding coat.
| Tools
for brushing your Siberian
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| Comb |
Slicker
Brush |
Rake |
Pin
brush |
Feet: Try to cut your Siberian's nails at least once a week and no longer than once
every two weeks. Letting the toenails grow too long can cause many problems
including difficultly with your dogs gait. The nails should be trimmed as close as
possible. If you don't feel comfortable clipping the nails it may be
a good idea to have your veterinarian show you how to do them. Apply a
septic powder to the nail to prevent bleeding if you have cut
into the quick. Always check between
the pads/toes, and on top and bottom for grass seeds, thorns etc. Check for cuts
or injury to pads. These things can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for
your dog. You can also trim excess fur on the feet level with the pads.
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Nail Trimming Tools
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| Nail
Trimmers |
Kwik-Stop
powder |
Scissors |
Ears: Your Siberian's ears should be
checked on a regular basis for mites, infections, ticks, fleas, grass seeds etc.
If you notice your dog shaking his head there could be a problem in the
ears. For normal regular care of the ears, use a soft cloth to clean the
outer inside base of the ear (that's the part you can see). It is not
recommended that you stick your fingers down into the dog's ear canal or put
anything else down inside the ear canal. Special ear cleansing products, can be used to break down wax and debris making them easy to
wipe away. Your vet can recommend ear cleaners and drops for ear mite infestations and minor bacterial and fungal infections.
Informative
Link
Teeth: Check your Siberian's teeth often
for tartar build up, redness of the gums, chipped or broken teeth. Gum disease,
bad breath or excessive build up of tartar could signify other problems which
should be addressed and treated. Allowing your Siberian to chew on bones will
help reduce tartar build up. If you don't like bones littering your yard you
might opt for nylon chew bones which can be purchased from vets or pet stores.
Excessive tartar build up can be removed by your vet, the results can be
maintained with specially designed canine toothpaste and tooth brush.
Informative
Link
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