Recensione di JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM il 18 ottobre 2022
Le razze di cani di grossa taglia sono i giganti gentili del regno canino. Esempi di razze di cani grandi o cosiddette "giganti" includono Great Danes, Pyrenees e Irish Wolfhound. Questi cuccioli hanno molto amore da dare, ma con questi cani di grossa taglia si verificano problemi di salute più gravi, che in genere coinvolgono le articolazioni o il cuore.
Se possiedi uno di questi cani di taglia grande, presta molta attenzione alla salute e alla felicità del tuo animale domestico, specialmente per gli animali anziani. Eventuali cambiamenti nel livello di attività, nell'andatura o nella respirazione possono indicare la presenza di una condizione medica che richiede cure veterinarie.
Frequentemente nelle razze di cani di grossa taglia, la displasia dell'anca è una condizione congenita che causa il disallineamento dell'articolazione dell'anca e della presa. Secondo il Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, la displasia dell'anca si verifica fino al 50% delle razze di cani di grossa taglia; Bovaro del Bernese, Golden Retriever, Pastore Tedesco e Barboncino Standard hanno tutti una maggiore prevalenza di displasia dell'anca.
Il primo segno di displasia dell'anca nei cani è la diminuzione del livello di attività. Con il progredire della malattia, il dolore articolare aumenta; i sintomi insorgono in genere tra i quattro mesi e un anno. I cani con displasia dell'anca possono fare il "bunny hop" ed evitare anche di correre o salire le scale, aggravando il dolore articolare.
Se la displasia dell'anca viene rilevata prima dei 10 mesi, la Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals raccomanda un'osteotomia pelvica tripla, che può invertire la sublussazione precoce dell'articolazione dell'anca. Questa sublussazione si verifica quando la testa del femore (osso della coscia) viene parzialmente lussata dalla sua solita posizione aderente nell'incavo dell'articolazione dell'anca.
Gli animali più anziani possono avere successo con una sostituzione totale dell'anca, una procedura costosa non coperta da tutte le polizze assicurative per animali domestici. (Siamo orgogliosi di affermare che il piano Healthy Paws copre la displasia dell'anca non preesistente in tutti gli animali domestici iscritti prima dei sei anni!)
Oltre alle terapie chirurgiche, vengono spesso prescritti antidolorifici per ridurre il dolore e il disagio della displasia dell'anca. Nutritional supplements, such as chondroitin and glucosamine, promote joint health. Physical therapy is also beneficial.
Because hip dysplasia is hereditary, it cannot be prevented in breeds that are genetically predisposed to developing the condition. However, keeping pups slim and trim, providing daily exercise, and feeding a nutritionally balanced diet promote good joint health in large dog breeds. Regular vet checkups allow your veterinarian to monitor your dog’s joints and start hip dysplasia treatment early if necessary.
This painful medication condition is hereditary, causing the eyelid to roll inwards, irritating the eye. Entropion in dogs is not unique to large breed dogs, but is more common in larger dogs. Ectropion may also occur, where the eyelid rolls outwards.
If your dog has entropion, their eyes may excessively tear or blink and will appear red or inflamed. Pain leads dogs to paw at the affected eye, causing more damage.
Visit your vet for a diagnosis. Your vet will use a dye on your dog’s eyes to make any damage to the cornea visible. Entropion surgery is commonly used to correct the eyelid positioning and repair lacerations to the cornea. A “cone of shame” (Elizabethan collar) protects eyes post-surgery, which has a success rate of 90 to 95 percent, according to Michigan Ave Animal Hospital. Multiple surgeries may be required, but the prognosis for a full recovery is good in most pets.
Big dog breeds require big hearts to keep their blood pumping. Congenital heart conditions like aortic stenosis are common in large dogs, particularly Golden Retrievers. Large breed dogs like the Boxer, Newfoundland, and German Shepherd are also susceptible to the condition.
Aortic stenosis in dogs is the narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve, through which blood flows from the left ventricle to the aorta, and then to the rest of the body. This narrowing obstructs the flow of blood, forcing large dogs’ hearts to pump even harder. Symptoms include a cough, difficulty breathing, fainting, or exercise intolerance. Often there are no symptoms.
After determining the severity of the dog’s heart murmur (abnormal heart rhythm), further testing will be done to detail the condition of the heart. In severe aortic stenosis, surgery and/or beta-blocker drugs, which slow the heart rate, may be required. Pets with mild cases of the disease should avoid intense exercise, especially in hot weather, and stay slim.
Also common in elderly pets, osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease – dogs’ joint cartilage decreases over time, causing intense pain due to bone-on-bone rubbing. There are several types of arthritis in dogs, some caused by cancer or infections; osteoarthritis arises in large dog breeds because of the high stress placed on joints.
Dogs suffering from osteoarthritis will limp as their joint pain increases. Bony growths often occur on joints, leading to swelling; in severe cases of osteoarthritis, joints will audibly grate when the animal moves.
Treatment of arthritis in dogs typically begins with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroids. The side effects of these medications can be rough on pets’ digestive systems, so they are not a long-term treatment method. Several types of surgery are effective for repairing or replacing the joint; amputation is considered in severe cases. Lifestyle changes are also recommended to further provide pain relief for dogs with osteoarthritis. Weight loss relieves pressure on pained joints, while glucosamine for dogs is a joint supplement often recommended by vets.
Also known as gastric torsion, this condition is most often seen in extra-large and deep-chested dog breeds due to the shape of their chests. Gas builds up in the stomach, which expands dangerously in large dogs’ deep chest cavities. Overeating or eating too quickly is thought to be a main culprit of excessive stomach gas; speedy eaters often gulp down a side of air with their meal. Danger happens when the stomach twists, obstructing blood flow by compressing blood flow – a life-threatening condition.
Retching, abnormal heart and breathing rates, excessive salivation, and a distended abdomen are the primary signs of GDV. As the vena cava, a large vein in the body, continues to be compressed, symptoms of shock, such as pale mucous membranes and unconsciousness, occur.
Emergency treatment focuses primarily on stabilizing the pet, decompressing the stomach, and reversing any torsion or twisting that occurred. Gastropexy, a surgical procedure during which the stomach is attached to the body wall to prevent twisting, is often performed in dogs with GDV.
With speedy treatment, large dogs have a good prognosis. Prevent GDV by monitoring your pet during meal times, making sure they don’t eat too quickly or too much at one time. Elevated food bowls help slow down eating.
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical diagnosis, condition, or treatment options.
(Featured image via Flickr.com/tracyleephoto)
