Health Problems Of The Siberian Husky

There isn't any dog breed that has absolutely no genetic defects. Although the Siberian Husky has fewer health problems than any other dog breed. While you should keep an eye out for several Siberian Husky health problems, in general the Siberian Husky has good health and temperament.

The Siberian Husky Club of American or SHCA has monitored all potential genetic problems and they have taken positive action in order to ensure the general health and well being of the breed. Since the founding of the SHCA in 1965 it has been tasked with being aware of genetic problems and alerting breeders before the defects have a chance to spread. For the Siberian Husky the SHCA has identified the two greatest areas of concern as canine hip dysphasia and inheritable eye disease. To help your dog live a long, healthy life and to avoid these conditions you need to practice proper care and monitoring.

Because of the SHCA the two greatest areas of concern that have been found for the Siberian Husky is canine hip dysphasia and inheritable eye disease. However, with proper care and monitoring you can attempt to avoid these conditions in your dog and help them to live a long, healthy life.

Hip dysphasia is a problem in which the hip joint at the head of the thighbone doesn't fit properly into the joint socket. This condition isn't typically present when a puppy is born, rather it will develop within the dog's first two years of life. The condition is progressive and will cause the affected hip to have inflammation, pain and arthritis. The condition can be made worse by strenuous exercise such as sitting up, lying down or climbing stairs.

About one hundred fourteen dog breeds can be affected by hip dysphasia and the Siberian Husky is ranked one hundred eleventh in risk. By buying from breeders who can provide proof that both parents have passed the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals standards for breeding this is one of the Siberian Husky health problems that you can avoid.

Dogs can be affected by many eye defects, however only three of them are considered a concern among the few Siberian Husky health problems today. If you have a Siberian Husky the three eye conditions that you should be aware of are hereditary or juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy. Each disorder affects a different portion of the eye and can be present in any eye color.

Even though eye problems don't occur often in the Siberian Husky they are serious and should never be overlooked or underestimated. The Siberian Husky can develop hereditary or juvenile cataracts as early as three months of age. If there is a mild case there will be a decrease in eyesight, but severe cases can cause complete blindness. Corneal dystrophy is a condition that affects the outer transparent portion of the eyeball.

This condition is more common in females and is typically found in young adult dogs. This condition has no current treatment, but is seldom affects vision. A more serious condition is progressive retinal atrophy, which can cause a devastating loss of vision in dogs as early as five months of age and is most common in males.

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