Common Diseases in Dachshunds
That is a little misleading since no disease is truly common in Dachshunds The overwhelming majority are born healthy and live long, mostly disease-free lives.Some minor health issues arise for nearly every dog at some point, even those who receive early vaccinations and excellent life-long care.
Nevertheless, some conditions do occur more often in Dachshund than in other breeds.
Problems with the Adrenal Gland
One common disease of the adrenal gland is hyperadrenocorticism, or Cushing's Disease. In Cushing's Disease, too much of the hormone cortisol is produced, either by the adrenal gland or by a primary tumor, or a malfunction of the pituitary gland, which is the master gland that tells the adrenal gland how much cortisol to produce. The elevated cortisol level results in excessive drinking and urination, a pot-bellied appearance, skin conditions, hair loss and occasionally diabetes. Special lab tests are conducted to measure cortisol and the adrenal glands capability to produce cortisol. Cortisol levels can be decreased by several different drugs. If adrenal cancer is present, surgical excision of the gland may be needed. Cushing's disease can occur in all breeds of dogs, also.
The opposite condition is called hypoadrenocorticism (low cortisol) or Addison's disease. Cushing's takes some time to present itself, but Addison's disease is a sudden episode of collapse due to an imbalance of the electrolytes and too low of blood sugar (glucose). The sudden illness results in an emergency visit to the veterinarian for cortisone injections and fluid therapy to correct the imbalances. With the sudden collapse resembling many disorders, Addison's is the most difficult disease to diagnose. Specialized blood tests are necessary to identify both Addison's and Cushing's Disease. Treatment of Addison's disease is life-long treatment with prednisone (cortisone) and electrolytes.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Several eye diseases can affect Dachshunds, such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. PRA is a gradual deterioration of the retina, the back wall of the eye. The deterioration leads to gradual vision loss and eventual blindness. PRA is a genetic trait, and since it is a slow, progressive disease, these dogs are sometimes bred before the disease is diagnosed, thus perpetuating the disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure or treatment for PRA. Other eye diseases that can affect Doxies are glaucoma, cataracts, optic nerve hypoplasia, abnormal eyelashes (distichiasis) as well as other conditions. Regular eye exams can help early detection of these eye-disorders.
Intervertebral Disc Disease
By far the most common disease of Dachshunds is related to the discs between the vertebrae (the bones of the spine). The disc is normally gelatinous and provides a cushion between the bones of the back (spine). In Doxies, this material sometimes hardens, or calcifies, and sometimes ruptures. The herniated disc causes swelling and pain around the spinal cord and the nerves coming out from the spinal canal. Early signs of a herniated disc are pain, a reluctance to jump up, partial paralysis and sometimes total paralysis or the rear legs,. Most of the Doxies with disc disease can be managed medically with anti-inflammatory medications and pain medication. Holistic medicine, such as chiropractic manipulation and acupuncture, is sometimes used to relieve the pain. With a complete rupture resulting in total paralysis, immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord may help restore full function in the legs. The sooner the surgery is performed, the better the chances of full recovery.
Experimental treatments are being tested using laser needles to fuse the disc material to try and prevent the herniation. Because this is such a common problem in the Dachshund, I do recommend purchasing health insurance for your pet. Because surgery to repair the herniated disc is expensive, euthanasia is sometimes the option for the paralyzed pet. A few of my patients, which were partially paralyzed, did recover some function of their legs over time. There is no way to predict which dogs will recover without the surgery.
Vaccination Reactions
Allergic reactions to vaccinations does seem to occur in the Dachshund more often than any other breed. Usually, the reaction is minor, resuling in swelling of the muzzle and face and sometimes hives. Vaccine reactions can occur in any dog, so it always best to watch your pet for a few hours after a health check. With the advances in vaccines, fewer side effects do occur and the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Dachshunds can lead a very long and healthy life, sometimes upward to 15 years. Preventive health checks, proper diets, vaccinations, heartworm and parasite prevention, and good dental care can help them live longer. You can find more information concerning your dogs health at LuvUrDog.com as well Dachshund breed gifts.