Diseases of Siberian Huskies. Siberian Husky - health care and hereditary diseases Specific diseases of Siberian Huskies

The lifespan of a Siberian Husky is 12–15 years.

Health, illness

Husky is a hardy dog with good health and strong immunity. These dogs are not afraid of physical activity and severe frosts.

However, there are still hereditary diseases in dogs of this breed. They have hip dysplasia. There may also be thyroid dysfunction.

Huskies often suffer from eye diseases, such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. In such cases, surgery is required.

Huskies also have skin conditions.

Sometimes these northern sled dogs are deficient in zinc; This can cause bald spots to form, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

Before purchasing a puppy of this wonderful breed, carefully study the pedigree of your future dog.

Most often, Siberian Huskies suffer from the following diseases:

Corneal dystrophy
Entropion (inversion of the eyelid)
Progressive retinal atrophy
Cataract
Glaucoma
Atopic dermatitis
Depigmentation of the nose
Laryngeal paralysis
Degenerative myelopathy
Hypertension
Perianal gland adenoma
Testicular tumor in male dogs

Of course, you need to consider the origin of the dogs and their intended purpose before purchasing them. Huskies can be kept in an apartment if the dog runs for several hours every day. These dogs vitally need movement and intense physical activity. By the way, a husky will be happy to ride you and your children in the snow for long distances in winter, so you can safely purchase a sled for your pet and hit the road.

Huskies cannot be taken for walks on a leash within city limits. These dogs need a large area outside the city; it is better if it is a forest or huge fields. If you can't afford this, then this dog is not for you.

This dog breed really needs a lot of exercise as they are sled dogs. Siberian Huskies are great hiking companions. If you make a backpack for a husky, it can carry food and water.

Using Huskies in dog sledding is a very effective way to burn off the excess energy of these dogs, provide them with the physical and mental stimulation they need, and satisfy the working needs of this breed. Naturally, the use of dog sleds is only possible in a certain climate, where there is a large amount of snow.

Siberian Huskies feel most comfortable in cool climates. In hot weather, the Siberian Husky should not be left outside, and walks should be reduced to the necessary minimum.

These dogs are prone to exploration and travel. Keep this in mind, otherwise you can easily lose a pet that is overly enthusiastic about such activities.

It requires regular brushing only during periods of intense shedding, which happen twice a year. The rest of the time, the husky’s fur does not shed and does not create inconvenience for the owner. Coat like that of northern sled dogs practically does not get dirty, it cleans itself, and does not have the characteristic dog smell. Therefore, dogs of this breed are bathed very rarely; most owners do it once a year or less. Otherwise, the structure of the coat will be disrupted.

Twice a year, huskies shed all of their undercoat. At this time, an intense period of molting occurs, which can last three weeks or more. Luckily this only happens twice a year. The rest of the time, Siberian Huskies practically do not shed. However, it is worth noting that molting periods depend on climate. Some owners who live in climates that do not have significant seasonal changes say that their Huskies shed throughout the year.

During non-shedding periods, huskies require minimal grooming. These dogs do not need to be trimmed or cut; all that is recommended is to periodically brush the dog and free it from dead hair.

It is also necessary to regularly trim the dog’s nails and check the condition of its paws, especially active and working Siberian Huskies.

Nutrition

Huskies should be fed only after exercise and walks.

After eating, the dog should rest to avoid gastric volvulus, which can lead to the death of the animal.

Huskies are dogs that have a protein-fat metabolism. Therefore, they need to be given meat, even fatty varieties. Of course, you should also not overdo it with fatty foods, otherwise liver diseases may occur.

Thanks to high-calorie protein foods, huskies burn their energy slowly, so they can travel very long distances for long periods of time.

It is also useful to give huskies offal, sea fish, cottage cheese, and eggs.

The husky's body gets used to a certain diet, so if you decide to change it, you need to do it gradually, otherwise severe digestive upset is possible.

Ekaterina Andreeva

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The Iberian dog is one of those representatives of the lesser brothers who delight their owners with excellent health. Typically, but not always. Of course, like any living creature, a husky can also go through hard times. What diseases are more or less likely to occur in Siberian Huskies?

Genetically transmitted diseases of Siberian Huskies

Most often in this breed you can find some kind of hereditary disease. Therefore, I never tire of repeating the need to carefully study the pedigree of the puppy you like. at random is not the best solution, since there is a high probability that your pet will develop unpleasant symptoms in the future. Moreover, the veterinary clinic informs that it is male dogs that are most susceptible to such diseases. And you can notice them quite late - when the Siberian Husky is 3-5 years old.

So, here is what the owner can discover from hereditary diseases:

Endocrine disorders are, for example, diabetes mellitus, problems with the thyroid gland. In such a case, the husky suffers due to the fact that hormones are produced in insufficient quantities. The problem can be recognized by the following symptoms - constant lethargy, frequent suffering due to illness due to decreased immunity. Due to hormonal imbalances, bitches may experience false pregnancy. The sooner a doctor diagnoses such disorders, the better for the Siberian Husky.
Nasal depigmentation is not as problematic as previous cases. I must say that it occurs quite often among Siberian Huskies. The symptom is difficult to miss - pink spots appear on the nose. As a rule, the owner notices such spots in the summer, but by winter they disappear on their own without harm to the health of the husky.
Cryptorchidism - this disease is the undescended testicles in the scrotum of Siberian Huskies. This can be recognized as early as 4 or 5 months. Therefore, if a dog is needed specifically for breeding work, I recommend waiting until the specified age - then an unpleasant symptom may appear. In this case, I recommend having an ultrasound scan. If the disease is confirmed by the detection of a testicle in the peritoneum, you will have to agree to surgery. Even if the Siberian Husky was not purchased for breeding. Leaving a testicle in the abdominal cavity over time can develop into a more terrible disease - a malignant tumor.

About the eyes

Despite the fact that eye diseases in huskies can be considered hereditary, I will talk about them separately. The fact is that the eyes of this breed are, perhaps, not only the most beautiful, but also the most problematic place. Here's what you might encounter:

Cataract – this disease occurs in approximately 10% of people. For the first time, a symptom of such a disease makes itself felt in the age period from 6 to 12 months. It can be recognized by the dullness of the animal’s eyes. The visual acuity of huskies is also noticeably reduced - rays of light simply do not pass through or do not pass through this formation well. A Siberian dog most often acquires cataracts due to a recessive gene - I advise you to take this factor into account when. I hasten to reassure those who have already encountered a similar problem: it is quite possible to carry out an operation during which an artificially made lens is implanted into the animal’s eye. In general, I recommend taking your pet to the veterinarian every year to check for the possibility of cataracts.
Clouding of the cornea - the breed is largely susceptible to this disease. Especially bitches. Cloudiness occurs in approximately 3% of Huskies. An eyesore forms on the eye, causing vision to become cloudy. Visual acuity depends on where exactly the disease manifests itself - at the edge of the eye or in its center. In the latter case, everything is quite bad.
Progressive retinal atrophy - the most sensitive part of the eye is at risk. Moreover, in Huskies, this disease often leads to complete blindness. However, females suffer from atrophy much less often than males, and if they do get ill, they can ultimately retain their vision. It is possible to determine that a Siberian friend is sick if he is unable to recognize the location of a stationary object in a well-lit room.
An inversion of the eyelid is easily distinguishable by the redness of the eye and the nervous behavior of the animal. The fact is that the eyelid turns inward and, accordingly, the skin and fur begin to rub the cornea. If you don’t get to the vet on time, unfortunately, there is every chance that your Siberian friend will lose his sight.
Macular degeneration can unfortunately lead to blindness. It occurs due to the fact that the animal’s body receives few polyunsaturated fatty acids. I don’t advise you to hope that your pet’s body will somehow produce an element with such a complex name. It will not happen. Such acids come exclusively from the outside in food additives. Such supplements will perfectly contribute to the blood supply to the retina.

If the eye disease has not been inherited by the animal, I still do not advise you to relax. There is a risk that your Husky will acquire any of the above ailments as an adult. To prevent this from happening, it is advisable to wash your husky’s beautiful eyes once a week with drops specially designed for them and treat them with solutions. I am sure that such actions will serve as excellent prevention.

Skin problems

The breed is often susceptible to them. The owner should be prepared for the following possible troubles:

Atopic dermatitis is a type of allergic disease. Manifests itself in the form of itching, cracks, suppuration, ulcers, boils, and excessive pigmentation of the skin. To ensure that your pet does not experience all of the above-mentioned troubles, it is worth feeding it with the most healthy food possible. No salty, sweet, fatty treats, spices or additives!
Zinc deficiency – the breed often suffers from it. The owner can recognize the problem by the bald spots. And most often they are located in a place that is impossible not to notice - namely, on the muzzle. Bald spots on the sides are also possible, and itching is possible. I don’t advise you to be scared in this case - it’s better to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. He will prescribe medications that will quickly restore the level of zinc in the body necessary for the pet. And, of course, you can’t do without mineral and vitamin supplements.

Husky-specific diseases

I will include the following among them:

Laryngeal paralysis - it mostly affects males. Moreover, more often this is a congenital defect that can appear before the animal is one year old. However, paralysis can also occur as a result of injuries, tumors, or as a consequence of surgery on the neck area. The trouble is that for some time the owners may not even realize that their pets are sick. The signs are as follows: increased breathing through an open mouth, intolerance to previously habitual breathing, a change in the timbre of the voice or its complete loss. In advanced cases, fainting and respiratory arrest may occur. The disease can be definitively diagnosed only in a clinic, and eliminated only by surgical intervention.
Injury to the cervical vertebra - at first glance it may seem strange that such a problem is often encountered. Unfortunately, I must say that this happens, and through the fault of the owner. For example, in the case when the weight of the sled and the person is disproportionate, in the absence of a harness, or in case of a sharp tug on the leash attached to the collar. A huge load leads to a herniated disc. The animal begins to experience pain, often sits and walks with its head down. We can say with certainty how to treat the dog only after a tomogram. I do not rule out that the doctor will prescribe even a more gentle treatment than surgical intervention.
Myositis is, in other words, inflammation of skeletal muscles. Much has been said about the fact that sport is life for Huskies. However, playing sports in severe frost still does not leave its mark on the health of a handsome man. Myositis can be recognized by the animal’s elevated temperature and pain in the affected muscles. The exact diagnosis and treatment method, of course, can only be determined by a veterinarian. For prevention, I recommend that before jogging your animal in the cold, you should rub it thoroughly, and after jogging, quickly bring your pet into a warm place.

Skin diseases in dogs are becoming more common today. The reason lies in many aspects: improper and inadequate nutrition, deterioration of the ecological atmosphere of the air, a sedentary lifestyle, crossing with infected individuals. Often skin diseases in animals manifest themselves as hereditary predispositions to skin diseases.

Types of skin diseases in dogs

If there is the slightest change in the dog’s hair, contact a veterinary clinic to carry out the necessary tests and make an accurate diagnosis of the disease. Here are some common skin diseases in dogs. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.

Symptoms of the disease

If skin diseases appear in dogs , symptoms are divided into 3 groups.

Excruciating itching, in which the dog scratches the body until there are abrasions and scratches.
The appearance of new growths on the skin: plaques of different sizes and colors, warts, blisters. On the damaged body of the dog, peeling and redness of the skin develops, which turns into baldness.
If the damaged areas of the skin get infected or get microbes, the dog’s skin becomes inflamed, swollen and festers.

Skin diseases in dogs are dangerous for animals and humans. It is important to provide timely medical care to your pet.

Treatment of skin diseases

Selected simple diseases of dogs and skin diseases can be cured at home.

The home flower, aloe, has healing properties. Aloe juice applied to the dog's damaged skin will relieve itching, discomfort and burning sensation. It’s easy to squeeze aloe juice yourself or buy a ready-made product at the pharmacy.

Herbal decoctions have similar effects: chamomile, calendula, echinacea. The drugs reduce pain in the dog, relieve inflammation and eliminate microbial suppuration on the skin.

These drugs are used exclusively in the initial stages of the disease. If complex skin diseases are observed in dogs, treatment is carried out in a veterinary clinic. Before prescribing medications, the doctor is obliged to conduct a full diagnosis of the suspected disease, take appropriate skin tests and blood tests, and remove scrapings from the dog’s skin. After determining the exact diagnosis of the disease, effective treatment is prescribed.

An accurate diagnosis of the disease cannot be made solely by visual examination. It will be necessary to conduct laboratory tests on the dog's hair.

If a doctor, after looking at a dog, immediately prescribes medications, the dog cannot be treated under the guidance of such a doctor. Remember, improper treatment can lead to the death of the animal.

Preventive measures

Dog diseases are often associated with improper maintenance and care. It is necessary to fulfill simple conditions so that the pet remains healthy and alert.

Don't let your four-legged friend suffer, remain a responsible owner.

These are fast and athletic dogs with a fairly compact build and easy gait. Siberian Huskies are friendly and affectionate dogs with their family, however, they establish closer and deeper relationships with only one person from the family.

A breed of independent thinkers, the husky's free spirit is similar to that of wolves. However, by their nature they are more reminiscent of cats.

Huskies can be a little stubborn at times. But well-trained Siberian Huskies are wonderful companions and close friends of children.

The Siberian Husky is a quiet dog and you don't hear it bark very often. Despite this, some huskies are quite talkative; they make special soft sounds when they want to say that they are happy. The Siberian Husky is a very grateful breed of dog.

Diseases

Most often, Siberian Huskies suffer from the following diseases:

Corneal dystrophy
Entropion (inversion of the eyelid)
Progressive retinal atrophy
Cataract
Glaucoma
Atopic dermatitis
Depigmentation of the nose
Laryngeal paralysis
Degenerative myelopathy
Hypertension
Perianal gland adenoma
Testicular tumor in male dogs

Care