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What We Know.......So Far!
Medical Conditions Reported in
SWDs and/or Related Breeds
Knowledge of health conditions which exist in SWDs is
extremely limited. All breeds have health issues, but until recently, the breed was touted as disease-free! I
honestly do not believe the people that promoted this fantasy were lying,
but simply had not actually looked or documented issues
that were occurring in the population at large. In our own country, the
population is primarily made up of young companion
animals owned by people outside of any organized club, so often problems
they encounter slip under the radar. In addition, many of the problems we
have encountered to date are late-onset and show up long after a dog has
been bred and passed the trait on.
At this time, most of the health issues that I
know of in SWDs are conditions a dog can live with (not lethal), although we
will be working to breed them out:
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Narrow lower mandibles, causing canine malocclusion in puppies (where the lower baby canines
grow up into the soft palette instead of angling outwards)
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Follicular Dysplasia (hair loss)
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Hip Dysplasia
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Hypothyroidism
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Addison's Disease
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Missing teeth
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Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd-PRA) (late-onset night blindness
leading to full blindness)
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Short-Toe Anomaly
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Umbilical Hernia
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Ocular disorders such as PPMs, cataracts, retinal folds,
and cherry eye.
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Other issues that other SWD owners have reported, of
which I have little or no data:
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Glaucoma
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Myesthenia gravis (lethal)
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Endocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
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In many parts of the world, tail docking is banned,
and a brachury (short tail or "naturally docked tail") trait is being
introduced into many major SWD breeding kennels. Testing in Finland has
shown that our brachury gene is the same as many other breeds, and is a
simple dominant gene. In a double-dose (inherited from both parents), the
trait is embryonic lethal; on rare occassions, a puppy with an incomplete or
damaged lower spine may survive birth. Healthy natural bob-tail dogs are
heterozygous for the trait. It is not known if bob-tail to bob-tail
breedings produce smaller litters than natural-tail to bob-tail, or
natural-tail to natural-tail breedings.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
REPORTED IN SWDS
AND/OR RELATED BREEDS
By Lisa Harper,
originally
compiled 2001. See also the Spanish Water Dog Club Health & Wellness
pages at:
www.swdclub.org/SpanishWaterDogHealth.htm
In attempting to assess which diseases and conditions might occur in the
SWD, I surveyed those reported in breeds that possibly share common SWD
ancestors: Barbet, Poodle (Barbone), PWD, Puli, and Pumi. There are other
breeds that are very likely related such as the French Spaniels, but no
health information is available for those breeds. A variety of sources were
used to collect this information. The most helpful in starting the
compilation is Control of Canine Genetic Diseases (George A. Padgett,
DVM; ISBN 0-87605-004-6).
Genetic disease is a complicated issue. Most of the diseases and
conditions I reviewed have undetermined modes of inheritance. This
means that 1) the disease or condition is not proven to be of genetic
origins; or 2) the breeds in which the disease or condition is reported
have not concluded what causes the condition. In addition, some diseases and
conditions are reported to be recessive in one breed and polygenic
or sex-linked in others (as in the case of PRA). Clinically, both
conditions appear identical, but they are caused by different genes.
In order to make this list, the following conditions must be reported in
at least two of the following breeds: Barbet, Poodle (Barbone), PWD, Puli,
Pumi, or SWD.
Gastrointestinal
Diseases
Acute Hemorrhagic
Enteropathy (Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis, HE)
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Clinical signs are
acute onset of bloody diarrhea, dehydration and hemoconcentration.
Detectable after four years of age. Reported in six breeds, including Poodle
and PWD. Mode of inheritance: undetermined.
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Ideopathic Canine
Colitis
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Clinically, there is
a semi-formed-to-liquid stool which may contain mucus and/or blood. There
may be weight loss and vomiting. Usually occurs before eight years of age.
Reported in 13 breeds, including Poodle and PWD. Mode of inheritance:
undetermined.
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Endocrine Diseases
Hypothyroidism
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Destruction of the
thyroid gland due to an attack from the animal's own immune system. Causes
rough, scaly skin; hair loss; weight gain; dullness and lethargy;
hypersensitivity to cold and a myriad of other symptoms. Detectable in
animals after two years of age by blood panel. Dog is often subclinical
until the thyroid is almost completely destroyed. Reported in most breeds,
including Poodle, PWD, and SWD. Mode of inheritance: undetermined.
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Primary
Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's Disease)
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Clinically, dogs
show poor appetite, vomiting and lethargy. There may be shaking, change in
character, weight loss and diarrhea. Hypothermia, weakness and collapse may
occur. Usually detectable by five years of age. Reported in 31 breeds,
including Poodle, PWD, and SWD. Mode of inheritance: unknown.
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Integumentary
Diseases (Skin and Hair)
Alopecic Syndromes
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Clinically, hair
tends to thin and be lost with little or no scaling or any inflammatory
changes. Distribution of loss varies. Hyperpigmentation may occur. There are
seven major alopecic syndromes, but only five have been found in SWDs or
their related breeds.
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Color Dilution Alopecia
Loss of hair and
excessive thickening of the skin seen in dilute colors of blacks and
fawns. Reported in 22 breeds, including Poodle. Occurs under 6
months of age. Mode of inheritance: recessive.
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Follicular Dysplasia
Hair follicles become
atrophied, causing hair to fall out in a symmetrical pattern
beginning over the back. Reported in 27 breeds, including Poodle and
PWD. May occur at any time. Mode of inheritance: undetermined.
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Pattern Baldness
Reported in 13 breeds
including Poodle. Occurs before two years of age. Mode of
inheritance: undetermined.
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Pinnal Alopecia
Reported in seven breeds,
including Poodle. Occurs before two years of age. Mode of
inheritance: undetermined.
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Seasonal Flank Alopecia
Reported in 15 breeds,
including Poodle. Occurs before five years of age. Mode of
inheritance: undetermined.
Growth Hormone
Responsive Dermatosis
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Clinical signs
include alopecia, dry-haired coat, seborrhea sicca, dermal thinning and
hyperkeritosis. Reported in 16 breeds, including Poodle and PWD. Clinical by
2 years of age. Mode of inheritance: unknown.
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Onychodystrophy
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A loss of nails on
multiple paws, resulting in secondary bacterial infection. Reported in 15
breeds, including Poodle and Puli. Occurs before the 5th year. Mode of
inheritance: undetermined.
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Sebaceous Adenitis
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Hair loss vary but
tend to be bilaterally symmetric and can appear anywhere on the body. Hairs
are dull, brittle and tend to be matted. There is severe hyperkeratosis.
Skin tends to be greasy and there can be severe alopecia in affected areas.
Reported in 31 breeds including Poodle and SWD. Generally appears
within the dog's first year. Mode of inheritance: recessive in Poodles;
other breeds, undetermined.
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Umbilical Hernia
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An outpouching of
the skin over the "belly button" due to late or lack of closure of the
umbilical cord. May contain abdominal viscera and sometimes regresses
spontaneously. Reported in 71 breeds, including Poodle and SWD.
Appears before 6 months of age. Mode of inheritance: polygenic recessive.
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Liver/Pancreas
Diseases
Exocrine Pancreatic
Insufficiency (Pancreatic Hypoplasia, Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy)
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Inability of the
pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes. Clinical symptoms include extreme
weight loss and chronic diarrhea, can be brought on by systemic stress.
Generally correctable with pancreatic enzyme supplementation. Detectable at
less than one year. Reported primarily in German Shepherd Dogs and 18 other
breeds including SWD. Mode of inheritance: undetermined but
currently thought to be polygenic recessive.
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Portosystemic Shunt
(Extraheptic)
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Puppies are born
with extra blood vessels which allow blood to bypass the liver before birth
and normally close at birth. Abnormal non-closure can be lethal. Usually
detectable by one year of age. Reported in 49 breeds, including Poodle, PWD
and Puli. Mode of inheritance: shown as polygenic in Cairn Terriers;
undetermined in other breeds.
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Neurological
Diseases
Epilipsy
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Siezures or fits
which recur generally closer together with time. Reported in 82 breeds,
including Poodle, PWD and SWD. Generally, seizures first appear by
the first year. Mode of inheritance: shown as recessive in Keeshond;
undetermined in other breeds.
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Ocular Diseases
Cataracts
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Vary by breed and
age of onset. As a generality, any lens opacity that obscures vision and may
cause blindness is considered a cataract. Reported in 128 breeds, including
Poodle, PWD, Puli, and SWD. Mode of inheritance: in Poodles,
recessive and detectable by 3 years of age; in other breeds,
undetermined.
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Districhiasis
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Abnormal location of
eyelashes on the margin of the eyelid, causing irritation. Reported in 68
breeds, including Poodle and PWD. Generally first occurs by the dog's sixth
month. Mode of inheritance: undetermined.
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Microphthalmia
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An anomaly in
development, causing the eyeball to be abnormally small. Reported in 38
breeds, including Poodle and PWD. Detectable at birth. Mode of inheritance:
recessive in Miniature Schnauzers; undetermined in other
breeds.
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Persistent
Pupillary Membranes
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A failure of blood
vessels in the anterior chamber to regress normally in fetal development,
often resulting in impaired vision or blindness. Reported in 68
breeds, including Poodle, PWD and SWD. Mode of inheritance:
undetermined.
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Progressive Retinal
Atrophy (PRA)
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Degeneration of the
retinal vision cells, causing night blindness progressing to full blindness.
Several varieties of PRA are known. The Poodle, PWD and SWD all
report prcd-PRA, which effects the rods and cones within the eye. Age
of detection through eye exam varies, and clinical symptoms are often
late-onset (after 5 years of age). DNA testing is available through OptiGen.
Mode of inheritance: recessive.
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Prolapse of the
Gland of the Third Eyelid (Cherry Eye)
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Clinically, the
gland protrudes in tot he medial canthus of hte eye. The tissue becomes
swollen and reddened, resulting in the term "cherry eye". Reported in 23
breeds, including Poodle and SWD. Detectable within the first year.
Mode of inheritance: undetermined.
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Skeletal Disorders
and Diseases
Brachury
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A tail that is
shorter than what is considered normal for the breed. Reported in 14 breeds,
including Puli and SWD. Detectable from birth. Mode of inheritance:
dominant, embryonic lethal when inherited from both parents.
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Hip Dysplasia
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Abnormal formation
of the hip socket, causing rear-limb lameness and arthritis. Can be caused
by inherited skeletal problems, soft tissue development, or environmental
factors such as over-exercise or rich diets. Reported in almost all breeds,
including Barbet, Poodle, PWD, Puli and SWD. Detectable by two years
of age. Mode of inheritance: polygenic and environmental.
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Short-Toe Anomaly
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One or more (usually
outside) toes are short or missing at adulthood. Generally thought to be a
form of dwarfism, the toes are normal and complete at birth but do not grow.
Mode of inheritance: undetermined.
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