Do American Eskimo Dogs have a lot of health problems?

• 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 properly meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Unlike in hip dysplasia, where the main problem is joint instability, elbow dysplasia often results 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 fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis. If you are rescuing an American Eskimo dog, have them checked out by a vet to see if they have or are prone to getting dysplasia.

• Legg-Calve-Perthes: This condition causes the head of the femur (located in a dog’s hind leg) to spontaneously degenerate. Over time, this will lead to erosion of the hip joint and arthritis. An American Eskimo Dog suffering from Legg-Calve-Perthes will become lame, limp while walking, and experience pain when moving the hip joint. Surgery is the most effective treatment for the disorder.

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): PRA is a group of genetic diseases that affect the retina. They are progressive degenerative diseases and will eventually cause blindness in both eyes. There is no effective treatment to stop PRA.

• Juvenile cataracts: Cataracts are a common eye condition that causes cloudiness in the eye and obstructs vision. With juvenile cataracts, symptoms appear before the age of six. Juvenile onset cataracts are likely hereditary.

• Others: Some other conditions seen in American Eskimo dogs include patellar luxation, a common problem in many dog breeds that causes the knee joint to slide in and out of place, and diabetes.