Do St. Bernards 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 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 Saint Bernard, 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 issues: St. Bernards may experience entropion, a genetic defect where one or both eyelids are inverted or roll inward and rub on the surface of the eye; ectropion, where the eyelid folds outward; distichiasis, an abnormal growth of eyelashes on the margin of the eye, the extra eyelashes and abnormal location result in irritation to the eye; and cataracts, a common eye condition that causes cloudiness in the eye and obstructs vision.

• Cranial cruciate disease: The cranial cruciate ligament is an important stabilizer in the knee joint. Cranial cruciate ruptures cause joint instability and are the most common cause of hind leg lameness in dogs. Surgery is recommended to prevent the tear from progressing to more severe joint disease.

• Wobbler’s syndrome: More formally known as “cervical vertebral instability,” this condition is suspected to be genetically passed down in Saint Bernards. Dogs affected by wobbler’s syndrome suffer from a malformed spinal canal or instability of the cervical vertebrae. Extreme symptoms are neck pain and paralysis of the legs, but not all dogs are seriously affected. Surgery is available as a treatment option, though the condition recurs in some dogs.

• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM): Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart condition that is characterized by the heart muscles’ inability to contract properly, which ultimately leads to a decrease in blood pumping to the heart. When a dog has cardiomyopathy both the heart chambers become enlarged from having to work harder to get blood through. The extra stress on the heart from the restricted blood flow often leads to congestive heart failure (CHF). The major symptoms of DCM include lethargy, anorexia, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, a swollen abdomen, and temporary loss of consciousness.

• Others: Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that occurs at a higher rate in Saint Bernard than other breeds; gastric dilatation-volvulus, a sudden, painful, and life-threatening swelling and twisting of the abdomen; diabetes; epilepsy; deafness; hot spots; and osteochondritis dissecans, a joint disease that results from brittle bones and causes pain/lameness, are also of concern.