What diseases are Tibetan Spaniels prone to?
Tibetan Spaniels are generally healthy but may be susceptible to the following:
- Portosystemic liver shunt: Portosystemic shunt (PSS) is a hereditary issue that obstructs proper blood flow to the liver. Since the liver is responsible for detoxifying the body, PSS sends the toxins in unfiltered blood to the heart, brain, and other body parts. Signs can include, but are not limited to, behavioral changes, loss of appetite, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), jaundice, urinary tract problems, vision problems, and stunted growth. PSS can be life-threatening if not treated early. Antibiotics and diet changes can help in the short term, but surgery is the only permanent treatment for the problem.
- Patellar luxation: This condition causes the kneecaps to become dislodged or dislocated.
- Eye issues: Tibetan Spaniels are prone to progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a progressive degenerative disease affecting the retina that eventually leads to blindness, and entropion, a genetic defect in which one or both eyelids are inverted or roll inward and rub on the surface of the eye.
To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend knee, eye, and DNA tests.