Do Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers have 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, the abnormalities seen 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.

• Eye issues: This breed may develop cataracts, a common eye condition that causes cloudiness in the eye and obstructs vision; Collie eye anomaly, a congenital defect that causes abnormalities or unusual changes in the eye and may lead to blindness; and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a progressive degenerative disease affecting the retina that eventually leads to blindness.

• Addison's disease: Addison's disease, also known as "hypoadrenocorticism," is caused by a malfunction in the hormone production of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are small glands near the kidneys and are responsible for a variety of body functions, such as controlling salt, sugar, and water balance in the body. In Addison's disease, the body is unable to create create enough cortisol. Without cortisol, a dog cannot manage stress or digest food properly. Dogs with Addison's disease may suffer from weakness, an abnormally fast heart rate, depression, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and excessive thirst and urination. Your vet can test your pup to detect Addison's disease and provide long-term medication.

• Others: This breed may also develop immune disorders such as autoimmune thyroiditis, which causes low thyroid hormone production and deafness.