Saturday, October 29, 2011

Be Aware Of These Common Collie Health Problems

By Sandy Rutherforde


Collies, as with every other dog breed, have their fair share of health issues. Collies are in general healthy and hardy dogs, and most common collie health problems are not life threatening. Most health problems, when identified and treated early, can be managed very easily.

Signs of Collie Health Problems

Collies affected by health conditions often display common indications of disease like weakness, low energy, increased sleeping, salivating and panting or difficulty breathing. Owners also report constant pacing, low appetite, hair loss, limping, and changes in eating habits. A few dogs additionally display subtle changes in disposition as yet another sign of illness.

Common Health Problems

Collies are affected by both congenital and acquired health problems. Typical health issues that affect this type of dog can include collie nose, gray collie syndrome, collie eye abnormalities, and collie hip dysplasia. Collies also fall prey to some other conditions such as collie cough and epilepsy.

Collie nose is described as a lack of coloring on the nose, lip area, and eyelids, making these places more sensitive to sunlight. Pet owners can put on sun block around the affected areas and limit the pet's exposure to sunlight. Another alternative is permanent tattooing of the impacted areas to help make these places darker.

Collies can also be vulnerable to the congenital disease called gray collie syndrome. Gray collie syndrome is a stem cell disease characterized by really small and extremely weak puppies having lighter pigmentation in comparison to normal puppies. Collies having this issue develop additional difficulties like joint discomfort, fever, as they are easily vulnerable to infections because of the intermittent lowering of white blood cells, the cells that are responsible for protecting the body from infections.

Collies can also be prone to hip dysplasia, a problem characterized by an abnormal shape of the hip joints which evolves at about 8 months about the time when the dog attains skeletal maturity. The condition is the result of a combination of issues, which includes genetics, poor diet, and not enough physical exercise. Collies are big dogs, and this could be one of the reasons why the issue develops often in this particular breed. The condition can be very painful for the dog and frequently results in a sudden alteration in his activity levels.

Even though there are actually a few collie health problems that these particular dogs encounter, dog owners can help improve their pets' lives by having their dogs screened for these diseases in order that early treatment may be done. The right nutrition and exercise will in addition help prevent the onset of age-related collie ailments. Collies are hardy and resilient dogs, so they are very likely to respond to treatment favorably, especially if the problem is dealt with early on.




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