Are Welsh Springer Spaniels healthy?
Yes, the Welsh Springer Spaniel is a mostly healthy breed, apart from being more prone than other breeds to hip and elbow dysplasia.
- Hip dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is one of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs where the hip 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.
- Elbow dysplasia: 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. If diagnosed before the onset of arthritis, surgery can fix the joint.
- Cataracts: This is a common eye condition that causes cloudiness in the eye and obstructs vision.
- Entropion: A genetic defect where one or both eyelids are inverted or roll inward and rub on the surface of the eye.
- Glaucoma: A disease that causes excessive pressure on the eye, damages the optic nerve, and eventually leads to vision loss and blindness.
- Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a thyroid malfunction that results in low hormone production and could cause obesity, low energy, and a brittle coat.
- Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a seizure disorder.
- Otitis externa: This is inflammation of the ear canal.
A veterinarian may recommend hip, eye, and ear tests to identify some of these issues.