Dog Breeds & Genetic Health Problems
Although owning a purebred dog may be prestigious, prospective owners need to be aware that purebreds have far more genetic disorders than mixed breeds. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 25 percent of dogs in shelters are purebreds, and they are often there because their owners did not want to pay veterinary bills.
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Misconceptions
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Mixed-breed dogs still need regular vet care and can get sick with obscure ailments or allergies. They still need regular vaccinations and preventative medication for parasites. They also need regular exercise and a high-quality diet to prevent some ailments and diseases. Mixed-breed dogs---especially hybrids (a cross of only two breeds)---are often susceptible to the same genetic problems as their purebred parents.
Significance
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Purebred dogs often have genetic health problems because they come from a limited gene pool of their own breed. If some of the breed stock has a genetic problem, it will be passed on to the offspring. Any genetic health problems due to a recessive gene become more prominent in a purebred dog because the chances of the parents both having that recessive gene are a good bit higher than for a mongrel.
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Types
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Genetic health problems for purebred dogs include skin problems, neurological problems like epilepsy, eye problems, breathing problems, heart problems and blood clotting problems. One of the most common genetic health problems is hip dysplagia, where one or both of the hip joints grow abnormally and often can only be treated with surgery. Hip dysplagia is common in medium-size breeds like Labradors as well as giant-size breeds like Great Danes.
Considerations
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Dogs with a genetic condition should not be bred. They should be spayed or neutered as soon as possible, which will also protect them from cancer or infections of the genitalia and reduce a female dog's chances of getting breast cancer. Spaying or neutering also makes your dog less likely to get into fights with other dogs, which can lead to injuries and expensive vet bills.
Theories/Speculation
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The only way to completely eliminate genetic problems in dog breeds is to stop breeding purebred dogs in order to widen the gene pool. However, since that's not acceptable to many dog owners and to dog showers, then at least genetic problems in a breed can be reduced through removing problem animals from breeding programs and eliminating inbreeding. Some breeders already practice this.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons
