Painful Conditions That Are Common in Small Dogs

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes and that is one thing that many people love about owning a dog. Many people choose to own small dogs not only because they are easier to manage but because they also tend to live longer lives meaning that they will be a part of the family for longer. There are also some health issues that are more common and more specific with smaller dog breeds that an owner needs to know about and be on the lookout for.

Bone and Joint Problems

Many of the issues that are more common with smaller breeds of dogs can be extremely painful. One such condition is patellar luxation, or when the kneecap is outside of its natural position in the thigh bone. This can occur with any breed of dog but is more common in smaller breeds, particularly the Boston Terrier. The amount of pain will be determined by the severity of the injury but the dog will have abnormal hindlimb movements and could also appear to be lame and surgery is the only option to fix this.

Another joint issue is a rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament which is when the ligament ruptures after a lifetime of wear. The dog will limp and surgery will be required to fix this. Some breeds can also develop an elbow incongruity where one leg bone stops growing after the other one so the elbow will not fit. It will be painful for your dog to walk and they will limp. Surgery is the most common remedy to fix this but more mild cases can be treated without it.

Smaller breeds puppies also suffer more from joint-related issues. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head stops the flow of blood to the hipbone and occurs at about 4-6 months of age. No one is quite sure why it happens but it can be easily diagnosed since the dog will have trouble walking or getting up. It is corrected by a femoral head and neck ostectomy which will remove the femoral head and neck. In larger breeds of dogs this condition requires a full hip replacement..

Another condition is Intervertebral Disk Disease or IVDD. This happens when the natural cushions that are in between the vertebrae come into contact with the spinal cord. The result can be simple pain to spinal cord compression to weakness and paralysis. Owing to their smaller skeletal structure, smaller breeds of dogs like dachshunds and basset hounds are more susceptible to this than larger breeds of dogs. As with any spinal cord injury the quicker it is treated the better the chances of recovery are and surgery is usually the only remedy.

Pancreatitis

Smaller breeds of dogs are often more susceptible to pancreatitis. This happens when the pancreas becomes inflamed due to trauma, obesity, infection or a whole host of other reasons. The dog will develop a fever with vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration to follow along with abdominal pain. A blood test is used to determine if a dog has this disease and most pets respond well to treatment but it can be fatal if left untreated.

Eye and Nose problems

Short-nosed flat-faced breeds of dogs like the pug, chihuahua or shih tzu are more susceptible to Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome. The shorter bones of the face and nose alter the soft tissue causing abnormalities in the airway like a soft palate that blocks the trachea. These dogs also have smaller nostrils which also restricts the amount of air coming into the body and.can block the back of the throat and their tracheas can also be smaller which can restrict airflow. Dogs with this are also suffer more in hot and humid weather. Toy breeds like chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers can also suffer from a collapsed trachea which can be identified by a “goose-honk” like cough. In some dogs it may only occur when excited or exercising or when their leash is too tight and can be managed using a cough suppressant but more extreme cases may require surgery to re-open the trachea.

Another condition that affects short-nosed flat-faced breeds is Ectropion. The margins of the eyelid rolls out which causes exposure of the tissue that lines the inner eyelids. It causes eye dryness, excessive tearing and irritation of the eyes and is caused by muscle relaxation due to aging. Dogs will become sensitive to light with pain in their eyes and a quick increase of red coloration in their eyes. If untreated serious vision issues can occur including blindness and surgery is usually required.

Heart Murmurs

Older small breed dogs also are commonly affected by heart murmurs. A valve in their heart is not closing correctly and blood is allowed to backflow into the heart. It can be diagnosed by a veterinarian and in some cases will not cause an issue but it can lead to heart failure. Your dog will have a shortness of breath, increased coughing, discomfort when sleeping and may not want to exercise. It can progress quickly so quick veterinary care and surgery can be the difference between life and death.

Cushing’s Disease

Another common disease with small breeds of dogs is Cushing’s Disease. Overactive adrenal glands secrete too much Cortisol, a hormone used to deal with stress. Dogs will drink more water than usual, urinate more often and eat more which will lead to a pot belly appearance and the color of the skin can also change. A blood test is given to determine if a dog has this disease and medication can be used to fight it which can reverse the symptoms returning your dog to its normal weight and activity level.

Who knew that being a small dog was so difficult? While they may be bundles of energy and just as loving as any other dog the owner of a small breed dog needs to be on the lookout for a whole host of issues. As always proper veterinary care can help to detect and treat many of these issues before they become life threatening so your loving small canine will be a part of your family for years to come.

Reference links:

https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/general-health/5-common-health-issues-small-dogs

https://www.petsbest.com/blog/5-common-diseases-small-medium-dogs/

http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/dog-joint-health/

In article links:

Patellar laxation – https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_multi_patellar_luxation

CCL tear – https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair

Elbow incongruity – https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/canine-elbow-dysplasia

Avascular necrosis – https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/necrosis-of-the-femoral-head-in-dogs

IVDD – https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_dg_intervertebral_disc_disease

Pancreatitis – https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endocrine/c_multi_pancreatitis

BAS – https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/brachycephalic-airway-syndrome-in-dogs

Collapsed trachea – https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/05/21/tracheal-collapse-dog-treatment.aspx

Ectropion – https://www.healthline.com/health/ectropion

Heart murmur – https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_dg_heart_murmur

Cushing’s Disease – https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/cushings-syndrome-dogs

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. — Mark Twain