|
|
 Can You Hear Me Now?
  
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | What are some dog breeds known for being relatively healthy. By that I mean a decreased chance (I know they all have their problems) of things such as hip dysphasia, degenerative joints, etc.... Even bloat (I know it tends to be narrow back broad chested dogs).
I have my old GSD and I love him to death but I have spent a lot of money on him. He got bloat as an 8 year old and it cost $5500 to fix, at the time I got X-rays to check his hips, back and elbows to make sure he looked good before I spent the $$. Fast forward 8 months and he starts having hip problems (no signs on X-rays so maybe an injury although he never shows signs of being hurt.... He just started falling and losing ability with the back legs and it doesn't hurt anywhere on him) which is costing me more to keep him comfortable. He's 10 now and I think I have spent close to $7500 in the past 2 years (which I don't regret).
I watched a friend spend several thousand dollars on a Portuguese Water Dog only to find out she had hip problems as a 4 year old and an overbite as a pup. Another friend has a 2 year old rottie with bad hips :( that started as a 10 month old pup.
I'm slowly looking for another pup so it can learn some from my big guy and need ideas. Love border collies but I am hesitant, and prefer big dogs. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1718
 
Location: Southeast Louisiana | The first thing that came to mind was a smaller breed... Then I read you want a larger breed. I think you would be ok with another shepherd or rottie, just be careful about the breeder you go to. Any breed can be plagued with problems from irresponsible breeding. The parents should at least have OFA certifications and the breeder should offer guarantees.
As a side note, it sounds like your GSD might be having more of a degenerative myelopathy problem than a hip problem. I'm sure you've gone over a lot of possibilities with your vet, don't know if it came up, tho. It's a very hard thing to diagnose. |
|
| |
|
Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | Nita - 2014-02-14 1:05 AM
The first thing that came to mind was a smaller breed... Then I read you want a larger breed. I think you would be ok with another shepherd or rottie, just be careful about the breeder you go to. Any breed can be plagued with problems from irresponsible breeding. The parents should at least have OFA certifications and the breeder should offer guarantees.
As a side note, it sounds like your GSD might be having more of a degenerative myelopathy problem than a hip problem. I'm sure you've gone over a lot of possibilities with your vet, don't know if it came up, tho. It's a very hard thing to diagnose.
I have certificates for both his parents and my guy from a very well known vet school. I don't know about my friends rottie but the water dogs parents were clean with certificates too. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I know the european lines are known for healthier dogs. The Czech GSDs are bred more square so they don't have many of the hip problems the American bred ones have. I've seen some Malinois that have lived long lives. Of course, they are high drive and can be a handful!
Your post got me thinking, and it's a slow night, so I have been looking at a few articles on the internet. They all say pretty much the same thing. The breeds over 30 lbs. are going to live shorter lives. Breaks my heart to think about it. I have two German Shepherds and an older Jack Russell. I hate it that they don't all live longer.
I think I have heard that Border Collies generally live longer. They are notoriously independent, though. From what I've read, I don't think they're the breed for me. |
|
| |
|
 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I love my German shepherds too much to not have one. I've learned to look for working bred European bloodlines with the more square conformation--less hind leg angulation and a straighter back. My last one was an American bred that had TPLO surgery twice for torn CCLs when she was young (conformation issue, too much angulation) and then died of cancer of the spleen when she was 11, but I wouldn't have traded those years with her for anything. I did better picking a breeder and litter with my current dog. She's 6 and has been very healthy and sound. My mom lost one at the age of 15 that came from unremarkable bloodlines in someone's backyard, but she was put together well. |
|
| |
|
Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | We had a Czech bred GSD. He did have hip arthritis (starting from age 11ish) but it was controlled by an NSAID. He lived until 13, when his gastro system failed (we think cancer, but not sure).
He was active until the end, and very good health overall for most of his life.
I'd personally avoid the american and west german lines. Too much slant to the back/hip. I don't like the "crouchy" GSDs myself. I never understood breeding for something that was a conformation defect. JMO
Otherwise, I'd say get a mutt. lol |
|
| |
|
 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I never had any issues with my blue heelers, maybe that is why I love them so much. My grandma use to have a golden retreiver who was with us for 14 years before her hip was to the point to where she couldn't move. Grandma never had any issues with her health wise, just as she grew old she had the same issues we face ourselves. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2457
| I will tell you this ... Border Collies can be independent but more importantly they tend to be one person dogs.
For example, my male will acknowledge my SO , will sit, fetch, kennel, load, etc for him BUT when it comes to work and I'm around, the SO can't get my dog to do squat. They are fiercely loyal to that one person. Mind you my dog has outlasted college, a fiance that got canned, and saved my life from a rank momma cow, sooooo he and I have a history that explains the behavior.
Be mindful that they can also have hip issues and are prone to arthritis. Also, in our line of dogs if they come out with completely white ears, they will be deaf.
Good Luck and happy hunting for a new addition!  |
|
| |
|
Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | Look for a reputeable breeder first and foremost. In labs most reputable breeders have a health deal for 2 years. For hips you can do a PennHip test on a pup that will tell you the likelihood of hip problems as well. You will have to find a vet that is certified to do the PennHip but it's fairly non-invasive and easy on the dog. But first and foremost is finding a reputable breeder in case you missed it the first two times. LOL |
|
| |
|
 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | I'm going to agree to find a reputable breeder, no matter what breed you pick, sure the cost will be much higher for a pup but, it's that for a reason because quality of the breed has been a focus!
All breeds have potential for health problems, whether genetic or environmental related! |
|
| |
|
 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | Get a nice mutt. The shelters are FULL of them. And the larger dogs are harder for them to place. I will NEVER ever have another dog that is not from a shelter. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1117
Location: MI | I have also heard that mutts tend to be healthier than pure bred dogs (no idea how valid this is). Personally, I know our mutt (Bassett/beagle) who is almost 10 has been super healthy her whole life (knock on wood).. The reasoning I believe is that they have a lower risk of inherting genetic diseases, but again, this may be a myth.
What about Australian Shepherds? What kind of health issues are they prone to? I know quite a few people who love this breed..
Good luck and have fun in your search! |
|
| |
|
 Dr. Ebay
Posts: 8507
Location: Land Of Oz | Make sure dog is from OFA certified parents hips/elbows and have eyes certified. |
|
| |
|
  Queen Boobie 2
Posts: 7521
| Fun2Run - 2014-02-14 1:25 PM
Get a nice mutt. The shelters are FULL of them.  And the larger dogs are harder for them to place. I will NEVER ever have another dog that is not from a shelter.
 I agree with this. We have had a lot of "mutts" and they were all pretty healthy. Some developed old age maladies but they were in their teens then. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1857
| bennie1 - 2014-02-14 2:02 PM
Fun2Run - 2014-02-14 1:25 PM
Get a nice mutt. The shelters are FULL of them.  And the larger dogs are harder for them to place. I will NEVER ever have another dog that is not from a shelter.
 I agree with this. We have had a lot of "mutts" and they were all pretty healthy. Some developed old age maladies but they were in their teens then.
I think mutts are more healthy because their usually not inbred. A lot of dogs that have health issues like labs, Golden Retrievers, bull dogs German Shepherds, etc is because they have been over bred. Line breeding has bred a lot of problems into dogs. Find you a good breeder that knows what they are doing and a lot of times their dogs don't have the issues. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | FlyingJT - 2014-02-14 2:09 PM
bennie1 - 2014-02-14 2:02 PM
Fun2Run - 2014-02-14 1:25 PM
Get a nice mutt. The shelters are FULL of them.  And the larger dogs are harder for them to place. I will NEVER ever have another dog that is not from a shelter.
 I agree with this. We have had a lot of "mutts" and they were all pretty healthy. Some developed old age maladies but they were in their teens then.
I think mutts are more healthy because their usually not inbred. A lot of dogs that have health issues like labs, Golden Retrievers, bull dogs German Shepherds, etc is because they have been over bred. Line breeding has bred a lot of problems into dogs. Find you a good breeder that knows what they are doing and a lot of times their dogs don't have the issues.
Totally agree with the mutts living longer... |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | KDS - 2014-02-14 1:50 PM
I have also heard that mutts tend to be healthier than pure bred dogs (no idea how valid this is). Â Personally, I know our mutt (Bassett/beagle) who is almost 10Â Â has been super healthy her whole life (knock on wood).. The reasoning I believe is that they have a lower risk of inherting genetic diseases, but again, this may be a myth.Â
What about Australian Shepherds? What kind of health issues are they prone to?  I know quite a few people who love this breed..
Good luck and have fun in your search!Â
I agree! Mutts are the healthiest breed! They have Hybrid Vigor like you'd get from cross breeding cattle. My mixed breed dogs (mutts and rescue pups) have always been healthier and hardier than my purebred dogs. Don't get me wrong I love purebred dogs too but if health is your concern I think mutts are generally going to be less likely to have health problems. |
|
| |
|
Blessed 
Location: Here | I love my rotties!!! Just know your breeder |
|
| |
|
Blessed
Location: Here | KatieMac88 - 2014-02-15 8:05 PM KDS - 2014-02-14 1:50 PM I have also heard that mutts tend to be healthier than pure bred dogs (no idea how valid this is). Personally, I know our mutt (Bassett/beagle) who is almost 10 has been super healthy her whole life (knock on wood).. The reasoning I believe is that they have a lower risk of inherting genetic diseases, but again, this may be a myth.
What about Australian Shepherds? What kind of health issues are they prone to? I know quite a few people who love this breed..
Good luck and have fun in your search! I agree! Mutts are the healthiest breed! They have Hybrid Vigor like you'd get from cross breeding cattle. My mixed breed dogs (mutts and rescue pups ) have always been healthier and hardier than my purebred dogs. Don't get me wrong I love purebred dogs too but if health is your concern I think mutts are generally going to be less likely to have health problems.
I know my bull/cat is tough as nails! 1/2 bulldog 1/2 catahoula |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | I agree get a Mutt. We have purebred dogs (Danes, Mastiff, pug and rat terrier) but they don't love any different the the mutts we've had. You can have all the certificates in the world but sometimes you just get sickly dogs. At least with a mutt you didn't pay the price tag of a purebred and unless you're breeding or showing or really want a specific breed a mutt may be the way to go for you. |
|
| |
Folks on-line