| Health Concerns With Rottweilers |
| Elbow Dysplasia |
| Like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia is a hereditary disease. It is a malformation of the elbow joints. OFA certifies elbows on a pass/fail basis. As with hip dysplasis, your breeder should be able to show you reports from the OFA defining the conformation of both parent's elbows. |
| Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD) |
| OCD is a disease of the bone formation that leads to lameness and arthritis. Its results from a disturbance of the process by which cartilage is turned into bone during the growth process. Abnormally thickened cartilage forms in areas of the joints that are subject to stress and,hence,prone to damage. Cracks form, and the cartilage can tear, forming a flap. This flap may remain attached to the bone, or it may tear away and float freely in the joint. The cracks, flap or free cartilage piece lead to inflammation of the joint (arthritis), pain and lameness. More than one joint is often affected simultaneously. In dogs, the most commonly affected joint is the shoulder, followed by the elbow, hook and knee. |
| Paneosteitis |
| Sometimes referred to as "growing pains" or "pano"' panosteitis occurs as a rotating lameness, usually in puppies about four months of age. There are tests for pano which should be done to rule out more serious problems. Sometimes crate rest is all a puppy needs for complete recovery. |
| Von Willebrand's Disease (VWD) |
| VWD is a hereditary a bleeding disorder similar to hemophilia. Dogs affected with VWD may have sysptoms ranging from prolonged bleeding to toenails cut short to hemorrhaging during minor surgical procedures. Dogs may be carriers while exhibiting no outward symptoms. VWD is diagnosed through blood screening. |
| Bloat |
| Bloat is a common condition in which the stomach swells from gas, fluid or both. Bloat becomes a medical emergency when the stomach distends and then flips over, causing torsion. Bloat and torsion may be caused by over-eating, drinking large amounts of water after eating, and or vigorous exercise after a meal. Efforts to prevent bloat may include feeding several small meals a day, crating the dog for several hours after eating, and monitoring water intake. |
| Heart Diseases |
| The most common heart problem seen in Rottweilers is Sub-Aortic Stenosis. This disorder can be very mild or so serious that it results in sudden death. Reputable breeders, working with canine cardiologists, hope to identify the mode of inheritance of this and other heart problems. Some Rottweilers are prone to flea and or food allergies. Symptoms and severity of the allergies vary from dog to dog. |
| Eye Diseases |
| Entropian (eyelids rolling inward) and Ectropian (Eyelids rolling outward) are inherited conditions which require surgical correction. Both of these conditions disqualify a dog from being shown in AKC conformation competition. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA) and certain types of Cataracts are inherited conditions. Dogs used for breeding should be examined annually by a Board-certified Veterinary ophthalmologist, until at least eight years of age, as hereditary eye problems may not present themselves until later in life. Dogs examined by a Board-certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist and found to be free of hereditary eye disease may be registered annually with the Canine Eye Registary Foundation (CERF). |
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| Health Continues |