While your vet may have a bill, your friendship with your dog is priceless. Even the unhealthiest dog breeds need love and care, so make sure to treat them as you would any other pet that has won your heart.
Ten Unhealthiest Dog Breeds
As much as you would rather pick a resilient breed with fewer health conditions and inherent behavioral problems, sometimes the heart just wants what it wants. And it could want any of the following:
Doberman
Dobermans are great dogs, but they come with their own problems. Some of the most common health issues related to them are gastric torsion, cancer, hypothyroidism, hepatitis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and Von Willebrand’s disease.
English Bulldog
English bulldogs are unfortunately prone to infectious diseases due to their massive skin folds. They’re also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as mitral valve defects. Many of their health issues are believed to stem from genetic manipulation, which results in congenital and hereditary problems.
It is a medium-sized dog breed that suffers a lot from both elbow and hip dysplasia. Regular exercise can help these fuzzy guys, just don’t let them get complacent on the couch. This UK breed can also have a variety of eye-related issues, including dry eyes and eyelid deformities. Though, overall, they fall into a medium-level of health concern.
Weimarane
Weimaraner dogs are known to be energetic but are plagued by minor health problems. Among these are Von Willebrand’s disease, which results in decreased blood clotting abilities for your pup. Blood clotting is the sensation most mammals rely on for closing open wounds, so if these dogs suffer a laceration, it can pose significant problems for them.
Rottweilers
The breed originating from China is very popular all over the world now. Unfortunately, these big cuties suffer from a whole range of orthopedic issues. We recommend looking for a breeder with a certification in CHIC. You can read more about this certification on ofa.org. Rottweilers are super active and reliable, but they can suffer from epilepsy and osteochondrosis, which is a degenerative bone disease.
Labradors
Labradors are extremely popular due to their high intelligence and socially affable nature. However, this dog breed is prone to cancer and EIC or exercise-induced collapse. Thankfully, this is a screenable genetic syndrome that you can talk to your vet about regarding treatments and care measures.
French Bulldog
This French-originated dog is purebred and is very gentle and friendly. They mainly suffer from a wide range of genetic diseases such as bloating and Von Willebrand’s disease. Always go for responsible breeding when getting one of these dogs. To keep this breed healthy, take them for a walk regularly.
Saint Bernard
Saint Bernards are known for being a large dog breed with below-average life expectancy. They can suffer from bone cancer and cardiac disorders. Train them well and take them for regular exercise since they can be voracious eaters.
German Shepherd
This dog breed needs no introduction, as it ranks high among the most popular dog breeds around the world. They are mainly known to suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia and a minor health concern for allergies. They need a lot of exercise but are quite resilient to cold weather.
German Shepherds have a great name as police and military dogs and they are very strong and intelligent. Though they have a very high health concern level due to their proneness to hip dysplasia. This can be prevented through careful breeding and screening.
Cocker Spaniel
Though they are very friendly in nature, the Cocker Spaniel is among the unhealthiest dog breeds due to the number of health issues plaguing them. They are prone to heart disease, liver disease, epilepsy, and various orthopedic issues. Keep them in regular activity to help mitigate health challenges down the road.
Pug
This small and cute dog breed has a very high chance of stroke. After a certain age, they can suffer from breathing problems, hemivertebrae, and pug dog encephalitis. Pugs suffer a variety of unique health concerns because of the nature of their breeding.
This miniature dog mainly suffers from hereditary problems. Luxation of the patella, elongated soft palate, and hypoglycaemia are among its three most major medical issues. Most of these diseases surface as they increase in age.
What Dog Has the Worst Health Problems?
Basset hounds are arguably the most health-issue-prone canines out there. And while they’re easy to fall in love with, they can break your heart just as easily with their joint issues and blood-clotting conditions. It really is torture seeing these gentle beasts suffer, especially during the latter stages of their lives.
Though you can rest-assure that there are preventative care measures and effective treatments for these problems. That said, they won’t be cheap; so if you’re considering buying or adopting a purebred, think things through carefully. Sure, the love you have for these creatures would be worth the challenges of owning them, but are you ready to give them the life they deserve?
What Dog Breed Causes the Most Injuries?
Most of you are probably thinking: Pit Bull. But that’s not the case at all. In fact, topping the list of most injury causing breeds is classified as a friendly dog: the labrador retriever. This does come as a surprise, given the breed’s mild nature. That said, not even a canine’s inherent “friendliness” can overcome the harsh consequences of poor, improper training.
It’s these errors in training that lead to these dogs’ aggressive outbursts, which in turn, can lead to injuries. Although even without sudden bursts of violence as a factor, the labrador is considered an extremely active breed that can easily overpower a weak adult human when untrained.
What Should You Do if You Have a Dog That’s Prone to Health Issues?
If the dog of your dreams happens to be prone to health issues, the best thing you can do is learn as much about it as you can. Remember that you aren’t merely adopting a pet; you are welcoming a new member of the family. That means you have to be capable of giving your dog the best life.
Do your research, ask for referrals, and seek out authentic breeders. You also want to look within yourself and ask: are you a genuine dog lover? Because at the end of the day, that’s what your dog’s future is mostly going to come to.
Puppies are cute and you might not be able to resist, but make sure you can give it the home it deserves. If you can’t afford the vet bills, grooming expenses, and health care costs that come with owning a particular breed, you might want to pick a budget-friendlier canine.
How to Pick a Healthy Purebred Pup
The key to picking a healthy purebred is to check out the breeder’s facility. It has to be nice, clean, and properly run. Further evidence of this will be shown in the puppy’s eyes, as you can easily tell if it’s happy or not. It’ll also show in the personalities of those running the facility.
Exercise and Regular Check-Ups Can Do a Lot of Good
I hope this list was helpful to you. Take some basic precautions and you can protect your dog from all these health hazards. While not every dog is going to be unhealthy simply for being on this list, a regular visit to the vet and a daily walk is going to do wonders for any dog.
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