What diseases are Polish Lowland Sheepdogs prone to?

• 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 fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis. If you are rescuing a Polish Lowland Sheepdog, have them checked out by a vet to see if they are prone to dysplasia.

• Progressive retinal atrophy (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.

• Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL): NCL is a family of inherited degenerative nervous system disorders that affect how the body breaks down certain types of fat or proteins within the body’s cells. The body’s inability to break down these proteins eventually causes the cells to stop working properly and leads to a decline in mental and motor functions.

• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA): AIHA occurs when a dog’s immune system attacks and destroys his own red blood cells. Dogs with AIHA will have pale gums and jaundice, tire easily, and may faint. A swollen abdomen is also a sign and could mean your dog has an enlarged liver. Most affected dogs do well with treatment.

• Hypothyroidism: This thyroid malfunction results in low hormone production and could cause obesity, low energy, and a brittle coat.