DACHSHUND ILLNESSES AND DISEASES

This section is to inform potential buyers of predisposed diseases that may affect the dachshund breed. This is not to scare you but it is to inform you of possible issues with dachshunds. This information is not to replace any veterinary care or advice.

NOTE: IF YOU SUSPECT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR DACHSHUND, CALL OR GO TO YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY!

As a breed, the dachshund typically has a long lifespan, averaging from twelve to fifteen years or more.  The breed is, unfortunately, predisposed to several diseases.  As a dachshund owner, you should be aware of these diseases and their symptoms and informed about when they are likely to develop.  Always be sure to have your veterinarian examine any suspicious physical or behavioral symptoms your dachshund might be having.  The best edge against disease is vigilance and immediate veterinary care.

BONE AND JOINT DISEASES…

    There are several skeletal disorders that can affect dachshunds.  The most common is disc disease.  In addition, the dachshund puppy can suffer from Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP) disease, and the senior dachshund, like seniors of all other breeds, will eventually develop arthritis to some degree.

BACK AND SPINAL PROBLEMS

     Up to half of all reported canine cases of intervertebral disc disease (IVD), or herniated discs, involve dachshunds.  A disc, in very basic terms, is like a cushion that is positioned between each bony vertebra that makes of the spine.  Discs have a tough, fibrous outer ring with a gelatinous interior.  When the gelatinous interior of the disk penetrates and protrudes through the disk’s tough exterior (as in a hernia), it puts pressure on the spinal cord.  The result can be excruciating pain, reduced mobility, and even paralysis.  The dachshund’s discs are metabolically different than those of other breeds, with 75 to 100 percent of them already being degenerated by the time a dachshund in one year old. 

<FACT> Your dachshund has a one in four chance of suffering from a slipped disk at some point in his/her life.  Of the herniated disks that occur, 85 percent are in the back and 15 percent are in the neck area.

    When it occurs in the neck (cervical disk disease), symptoms of IVD include crying out in pain when the dachshunds neck is touched, difficulty or inability to move neck or head, tight neck muscles, and difficulties moving the limbs.  Symptoms of IVD when it occurs in the lower back (thoracolumbar disk disease) include a hunched back, difficulty walking, dragging back toes, crying out in pain when touched or picked up, and, in severe cases, paralysis of the dogs’ hind end.

     At first sign of suspected disc disease, keep your dachshund quiet in his crate and carefully transport him/her to your veterinarian for a complete diagnosis.  Additional damage to the herniated disk may cause the dog to become paralyzed.  Paralysis caused by IVD is often irreversible.  In some cases, through aggressive physical therapy, a paralyzed dachshund is able to regain enough mobility to be functional.  Other times, a dachshund can adapt readily to a wheeled cart that supports his/her rear end and allows him/her to be mobile on flat surfaces.  As research into the field of spinal cord nerve regeneration continues, perhaps in the future there will be means by which this severe damage can be reversed.

     In more serious cases of IVD, in which the dog is not paralyzed but is exhibiting difficulties walking, an arched and painful back, or dragging its back toes, surgery to the affected areas can have lasting and outstanding results.  Surgery is expensive, however, and can cost upward of $2,000.

<FACT> The best treatment for IVD is prevention.  Do not allow your dachshund to jump up or down from furniture of other high places, and keep your dachshund fit and trim to reduce the chances that he/she will suffer trauma to his/her spine because he/she is obese.

LEGG-CALVE-PERTHES DISEASE

    LCP is an inherited disease that affects the blood supply to the femoral head (the ball that fits in the socket of the hip), which in turn causes the surface of the ball itself to become irregular.  With a poor fit in the hip socket, the femoral head becomes even more damaged, causing pain.

    The disease causes hip stiffness and pain, soreness, lameness, or complete disuse of the affected leg, resulting in atrophied muscles.  Symptoms of LCP begin to show in affected puppies between four and twelve months of age.  Treatment of LCP ranges from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to surgery.

     The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is an organization that reads x-rays to determine if a joint shows the presence of an inherited disease.  If disease is present in a joint, OFA assigns a level of severity to the joint, which assists breeders in deciding whether they should breed a dog.

OSTEOARTHRITIS

     This is a disease of the older dachshund.  All dachshunds are born with cartilage between their joints.  In very simple terms, this cartilage is the cushion that absorbs jolts and pressures between moving joints.  The process of the joints constantly rubbing against the cartilage wears the natural cushion down.  Eventually, a joint may have very little cartilage left, which means there’s hardly any cushioning, or the bones are actually rubbing against each other.  The result is pain, heat, inflammation, stiffness, and discomfort.

    Conventional as well as holistic veterinary treatments can help ease the pain and perhaps slow the progression of this disease.  However, to date there is no cure for arthritis.  If you choose alternative therapies for your dachshund, make sure they are part of a treatment plan that is being supervised by your veterinarian.  Pet owners frequently try something on their dogs that they’ve read about on the Internet or picked up from a health food store.  This is not only ineffective; it also can be extremely dangerous for your dachshund.

HEART PROBLEMS

     The dachshund is prone to several forms of heart disease, most of which develop later in life.  Prompt diagnosis is very important with heart disease.  Early treatment can greatly improve symptoms to improve your dachshund’s quality of life and comfort, and in some cases surgery may be able to correct the problem.

ENDOCARDIOSIS OR MYXOMATEOUS VAVLE DEGENERATION (MVD)

     Nearly all canine heart disease cases-70 to 80 percent- are due to leaky heart valves. 

 With MVD, over a period of many years, the edges of the mitral valves gradually thicken and deform, causing them to close improperly with the potential to cause congestive heart failure over time.

    Symptoms of this disease include weakness, syncope (passing out), exercise intolerance, a cough, lethargy, or listlessness, and shortness of breath.  In an exam, the veterinarian will hear a murmur or arrhythmia (irregular heart beat).

     There are no preventative measures that can halt the onset of MVD.  Mild cases of the disease do not require anything other than careful monitoring to make sure it is not progressing.  If the dachshund’s MVD worsens, your veterinarian may recommend specific dietary changes as well as prescribe medications that can make him/her more comfortable.

CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

     The most common form of congenital heart defects found in all breeds of dogs is patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA.  PDA is an inherited defect in which a partition between the lungs and the aorta (the major artery that carries blood to the body) does not close properly in the developing fetus, leaving a hole.  The lungs are flooded with blood while the rest of the body doesn’t get enough.  According to research, dachshunds are 2.5 times more likely to develop PDA than many other breeds. <FACT> A congenital defect is one that is formed during the growth of the fetus in the womb and is present in the newborn puppy.  A congenital defect is not necessarily hereditary, though it can be.

     The disease is often discovered at the pup’s eight week veterinary examination.  The puppy may have pale pink gums and lips, a sign of poor blood flow, and a heart murmur.  Fortunately, surgery can correct the problem.

CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS

     Older dachshunds have been noted as being at increased risk (over the general dog population) of developing sick sinus syndrome (SSS) or an atrioventricular (AV) block.  These heart diseases affect the rhythm of the dog’s heart, which either beats too fast or abnormally slow.

SKIN DISORDERS

     Dachshunds tend to have skin problems.  Causes for these problems range from mites and a dysfunctional immune system to allegories and inherited diseases.  What these conditions all have in common is that they will make your dachshund very uncomfortable, so seeking veterinary treatment is a must.   

FOLLICULAR MANGE

     Demodex canis is a mite that is present is small numbers in the skin of healthy dogs.  In some dachshunds, however, something goes awry, and the number of mites explodes as they begin multiplying in the hair follicles on the dog’s face, legs and body.  The mites cause patches of hair loss.  In serious cases, the infected areas become scaly, red and inflamed.  Veterinary treatment may include bathing with a medicated shampoo and/or oral prescription medications.

 <ALERT> Generalized mange is a serious condition that is thought to be inherited.  Affected dachshunds should not be bred, nor should their parents continue to breed.

ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS

     This is an inherited condition for dachshunds that involves a darkening and thickening of the skin.  This condition is most commonly seen in puppies. The affected areas develop seborrhea (crusting or scaling) and can become infected.  The disease cannot be cured; however, it is manageable with an antiseborrheic shampoo, as well as steroids and melatonin injections in severe cases.

ALLERGIC DERMATITIS

     When a dog is suffering from an allergy, the reaction often appears in the condition of the dog’s skin, which becomes itchy and red.  The dachshund with allergic dermatitis tends to scratch, lick or chew on certain areas of his/her body, creating sores that in turn can become infected.  Treatment is prescribed after the cause of the allergy is determined and may include a strict diet, antihistamines, antibiotics, antifungals, cortisone, allergy shots, nutritional supplements or bathing with special shampoos.

HAIR LOSS

     The dachshund has the dubious honor of being the breed in which the hair loss condition known as alopecia or pattern baldness is most common.  The hair begins to thin in puppies as young as six months and continues until the adult dog has a bald spot.  There is no cure or treatment for pattern baldness, but the condition doesn’t seem to cause the dachshund any pain.

     There is another type of baldness know as color dilution alopecia or blue dog disease.  Unless your dachshund has a blue (dark or light gray) coat, you won’t have to worry about this inherited disease that seems to be linked to coat color.  The puppy suffering from blue dog disease starts out with a normal coat, but by the time he/she’s two or three years old, you will notice pimple-like bumps in the hair follicles (folliculitis) and patches of hair loss.  Treatments include periodic courses of antibiotics, which help to control the disease but do not cure it.

HISTISOCYTOMAS

     This benign tumor is most often found in young dachshunds, one of four breeds predisposed to histisocytomas.  A histisocytomas is a small domed or flat tumor, sometimes pink in color, that usually appears on a puppy’s or adolescent’s (less than two years old) head, ears or legs.  The lumps usually disappear over time.  Although histisocytomas are harmless, don’t assume all tumors are histisocytomas.  If your dachshund has a tumor, have your veterinarian examine it immediately.

HOT SPOTS

     Dogs will often lick, scratch and bite at painful areas on their bodies, creating large open sores in a matter of hours.  Causes for the original pain can include flea bites, allergic dermatitis, shampoo that wasn’t thoroughly rinsed from the dog’s  coat and is an irritant, a dirty, matted coat, or an aching joint-to name just a few.

     If hot spots develop, take your dog to your veterinarian.  He/she will first try to determine the cause of your dog’s lesions and will then treat the sores according to the underlying cause.

EYE PROBLEMS

     The most common eye diseases that dachshunds can suffer from are inherited.  Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, and corneal dystrophy can cause discomfort, and even blindness.  Prompt veterinary care is necessary for the best outcome in all eye diseases.

<FACT> Dachshunds with double dapple coats are most susceptible to missing eyes or recessed, abnormally small eyes, an inherited condition called microphthalmia.  It seems that double dapple dachshunds with excessive white are especially prone to this condition.

PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY (PRA)

     The dachshund can inherit generalized PRA, which is the progressive degeneration of the retina.  The degeneration of the retina usually begins in dachshunds over twelve months old.  Symptoms of this irreversible and untreatable vision loss are often difficult to detect because the dachshund adapts so well with its other senses, particularly hearing and smell.

CATARACTS

     Cataracts appear as areas of cloudiness on the lens of the eye.  If the cataract covers the entire lens, the dog becomes blind.  The form of cataracts that dachshunds suffer from is inherited, and it usually appears before the dog reaches the age of two.  However, cataracts may also develop in the dachshund as a result of trauma to the eye or in conjunction with PRA.  Vision loss tends to be significant, but the dog may not go totally blind.  In some cases, surgical removal of the cataracts is necessary.

CORNEAL DYSTROPHY

     Dachshunds are one of five breeds demonstrated to have a significant predisposition to a specific form of the eye disease known as corneal dystrophy, which causes the formation of water blisters on the eye.  These blisters can burst and cause painful corneal ulcers.  The dog also suffers from poor vision when the cornea is inflamed.

EAR INFECTIONS

     The dachshund’s ears can become infected from either a foreign body entering the ear canal or as a reaction to allergies.  Symptoms of an ear infection include shaking the head and ear flaps, scratching the ears, and walking the head at a slight angle.  Under the ear flap, the dog’s ear will appear red.  You may be able to detect inflammation near the ear canal and in the ear flap, as well as a waxy, oily secretion from the ear or a distinct unpleasant odor.  Your dog may cry out or snap at you when the infected ear is touched.  Ear infections need to be treated quickly before the infection has an opportunity to move into the middle ear or deeper.  Treatments include an array of topical medications and oral antibiotics.

<ALERT> Ear infections that are left untreated thicken the walls of the ear canal until surgery on the canal is the only option.  Depending on the shape of the ear canal, this entire structure may need to be removed, leaving your dachshund permanently deaf.

INTERNAL DISEASES

     The dachshund is prone to several internal diseases owners should be aware of.  Though these diseases do not appear in large numbers within the breed, they are more prevalent in the dachshund than in the general dog population, making the dachshund at greater risk.

BLADDER STONES

     Some dachshunds are prone to form stones.  The stones can be found anywhere in the urinary tract system, but they occur most commonly in the bladder or urethra.  Symptoms of bladder stones include blood in the urine, frequent and painful urination, or, if a stone is blocking the urethra, no urine flow at all.  Treatments include special diets and surgery.

BLOAT

     If your dog is suffering from bloat or if you even suspect it, this is an all-out emergency.  Bloat, or gastric dilation-volvulus (GVD), is aptly named because the stomach fills suddenly with gas, causing the stomach to expand (and possibly twist), squashing surrounding organs and causing them to fail.  The dog goes into shock and will die if not treated immediately.

     Researchers have not come up with any definitive cause for bloat, but stress seems to be an underlying factor.  Dogs that are fed one large meal instead of two or three smaller meals may be at increased risk.  Dogs that haven’t cooled or settled down after a period of exercise or intense excitement before eating may be at greater risk, too.  It is the general recommendation that you wait one hour after strenuous exercise or other heavy stress situations before you feed your dog.  Also, give him/her at least two hours after meals before allowing him/her to get involved in these types of activities.  Symptoms of bloat include the following:

            Distention or swelling of the belly

            Whining

            Restlessness

            Looking at or licking the belly

            Trying unsuccessfully to vomit

DIABETES

     Canine diabetes mellitus is the result of a breakdown in the normal function of the pancreas, which in turn does not make sufficient insulin.  With no insulin in the blood, blood sugar increases, causing a chain reaction of events that can wind up with the dog slipping into a coma and dying.

     Early signs of diabetes include an incredible thirst and copious urination.  The dog will also be constantly hungry, yet will appear to be wasting away.  There is no cure for diabetes; however, treatments are available that involve a restricted diet and medication to lower glucose levels.

CUSHING’S DISEASE

     This disease attacks dachshunds usually after the age of six.  The disease is caused by a malfunctioning adrenal gland that is producing too much cortisol.  This hormone affects many different functions, such as the dog’s immune and inflammatory responses, and the metabolism of fat, carbohydrates, and protein.  Symptoms run the gamut from panting, an extended belly, and an increase in appetite, to thinning skin, hair loss, and muscle wasting.  Most dogs also show a huge increase in drinking and a subsequent increase in urination. The mode of treatment will vary with the underlying cause of Cushing’s disease and may include medications and/or surgery.

EPILEPSY

     Seizures come in two forms: those that have a cause (secondary epilepsy) and those that don’t (idiopathic epilepsy).  If a dog begins to have seizures after the age of seven, it is usually secondary epilepsy that is caused by something such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or a brain tumor.  If a dog has a seizure before age seven, it is most likely an inherited form of idiopathic epilepsy.

     Prior to a seizure, many dogs try to stay close to their special person.  They may also whine, cry, or drool.  The seizure itself can range from very mild (a momentary blank, glazed-over stare into space) to moderate (loss of consciousness, falling to the ground, paddling of legs, screaming).

<ALERT> The dog is thought to be in a life-threatening situation if the seizures come in a chain of multiple seizures with no break, or if the dog is having cluster seizures, in which multiple seizures occur during a twenty-four-hour period.

     If the seizures have an underlying cause, the dog is treated for the disease, if possible.  In cases in which a cause cannot be identified, there are several medications that can help to control the frequency and intensity of the seizures.

HYPOTHYROIDISM

     This disorder is caused when the thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones.  It usually doesn’t appear until the dachshund is an adult or even a senior.  Symptoms include lethargy, loss of hair, weight gain, and a greasy or dry coat.  Hypothyroidism is not curable, but it is easily managed in most dachshunds.  Treatment is very simple and quite effective: a daily dose of thyroid replacement hormone.

CANCER

     The dachshund, fortunately, does not appear to be at increased risk for any particular type of cancer, but all dogs are more prone to developing a range of cancers as they age.  For this reason, anyone with an aging dachshund would be wise to regularly check for lumps and bumps.  There are also less obvious signs of the presence of cancer.  The Veterinary Cancer Society has developed the following top ten list of symptoms to assist owners in detecting early warning signs of disease:

            Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow

            Sores that do not heal

            Weight loss

            Loss of appetite

            Bleeding or discharge from any body opening

            Offensive odor

            Difficulty eating or swallowing

            Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina

            Persistent lameness or stiffness

            Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

     Many advances have been made in successfully treating numerous cancers in dogs.  The most important factors in determining a dog’s potential survival is not only the type of cancer but how early the disease is detected and how aggressively it is treated.

BLOOD DISORDERS

     Blood disorders are relatively rare in the general dog population.  Still, there are two disorders for which the dachshund is at higher risk.  These disorders are relatively uncommon, but you should be aware of the symptoms.

IMMUNE-MEDIATED HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA (IMHA)

     IMHA is a blood disorder in which the dachshund’s immune system sees its own red blood cells as foreign bodies (disease), and begins producing antibodies to fight them off.  Middle-aged female dachshunds are at greatest risk, though males can get the disease, too.  Symptoms of IMHA are pale gums, panting, intolerance to exercise, and weakness.  Various drug therapies are used to control the body’s attack on the red blood cells and improve the dog’s quality of life, but there is no cure for this potentially fatal disease.

VON WILLEBRAND’S DISEASE (vWD)

     This inherited disease, which is considered an increased risk in dachshund, affects the dog’s ability to form blood clots.  If a dachshund suffers from vWD, he/she will have increased bleeding with injuries and with any surgical procedure.  The condition may be very mild and may not present a real concern.  In dogs that bleed profusely, a blood transfusion may be necessary to stop the bleeding.  Owners of dogs diagnosed with this disease need to take particular care in keeping their dachshunds out of danger’s way.

OTHER DISORDERS

     The dachshund commonly suffers from a few other disorders that are not life threatening.  They are nonetheless important to know about and may require your attention.

BLOCKED ANAL SACS

     Located in your dachshund’s anal area are two sacs.  If these anal sacs become impacted or blocked, they cannot release regularly when the dachshund defecates.  Blocked anal sacs are painful and can become infected, impacted, or even abscess.  In an attempt to self-express them, your dachshund may be seen scooting across the floor on his/her rear end.  Some owners learn from their veterinarians how to express their dogs’ anal sacs.  If you’re squeamish, you may need to rely on regular “expressing” visits to the veterinarian or groomer.

REVERSE SNEEZING

     It may be a hound thing, but the first time you hear your dog reverse sneeze you will most likely panic.  It sounds absolutely awful.  Your dachshund will stand a bit hunched with his/her neck extended and will stop whatever he/she’s doing. (He/she can’t move when reverse sneezing).  It will sound as though he/she is trying to suck in the last breath through his/her nose.  There are many theories about why this bizarre episode occurs though no one seems to have pinpointed the cause quite yet.

     The breathing episode usually lasts only a few seconds to a minute, which will seem like a lifetime the first time you hear it.  Swallowing stops the episode.  To induce the swallowing reflex, briefly cover your dog’s nostrils or gently massage the pharyngeal area on his neck.  The dog is perfectly fine before and after the episode, so no treatment is needed.

Information from The Everything Dachshund Book by Joan Hustace Walker