Are Weimaraners healthy?

• Hip and/or elbow dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. They are similar diseases in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. The abnormal shape prevents the joints and sockets from adequately meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Though the main complication with hip dysplasia is joint instability, the abnormalities present in elbow dysplasia often result in pieces of bone and/or cartilage breaking loose and irritating the joint tissues. Over time, the rubbing from dysplasia can cause a variety of issues, such as pain, lameness, and secondary osteoarthritis. Surgery can be done to fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis. If you are rescuing a Weimaraner, have them checked out by a vet to see if they have or are prone to getting dysplasia, so you know what they will be able to handle regarding activities and exercise.

• Eye problems: Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a progressive degenerative disease affecting the retina that eventually leads to blindness; entropion, a genetic defect where one or both eyelids are inverted or roll inward and rub on the surface of the eye; and distichiasis, an abnormal growth of eyelashes on the margin of the eye, the extra eyelashes and abnormal location result in irritation to the eye, are issues in this breed.

• Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD): HOD is a disease that affects the front limbs of large-breed puppies. It causes inflammation in the legs, pain, stiffness, lethargy, and occasional fever. Though it is a painful condition, most puppies eventually outgrow the symptoms. Avoiding certain combinations of vaccines could prevent HOD. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s risk before scheduling routine vaccinations.

• Bleeding disorders: Weimaraners are susceptible to a variety of disorders that cause excessive bleeding, including von Willebrand’s Disease, an inherited condition that prevents the blood from clotting properly and could cause hemorrhages; factor XI deficiency (hemophilia C), a blood clotting disorder that is generally mild, but can cause delayed and spontaneous bleeding after injuries and surgery; and factor VIII deficiency (hemophilia A), the most common blood clotting disorder in dogs, it causes spontaneous bleeding and affected dogs may bleed into their joints or muscles.

• Others: Gastric dilatation-volvulus, a sudden, painful, and life-threatening swelling and twisting of the abdomen; hypothyroidism, a thyroid malfunction that results in low hormone production and could cause obesity, low energy, and a brittle coat; skin allergies; and dwarfism are quite common issues in this breed. To identify some of these potential problems, a veterinarian may recommend hip, eye, and imaging tests.