Basset Hound Health Problems – Watch Out For These!Just because the list of Basset Hound health problems appears frightening does not mean that your dog will automatically experience any of these concerns. In fact, many Basset Hounds live a perfectly healthy life, free of serious illness and injury. However, it is important that if you are bringing one of these dogs into your home that you become familiar with Basset Hound health problems as well as signs and symptoms to watch for. This will ensure that your four-legged friend will receive medical attention promptly when it is needed. • Patella Luxation – First on the list of Basset Hound health problems is this condition that causes back leg issues due to weak ligaments, tendon misalignment and a shallow area in the femur that allows the patella (kneecap) to float sideways. Severe cases will require surgery. • Thrombopathy – This is one of the more serious Basset Hound health problems. Thrombopathy is a bleeding disorder where the canine doesn't utilize blood platelets properly for clotting. This is an inherited issue often due to poor breeding practices. • Elbow Dysplasia – These painful Basset Hound health problems are genetic. Wear and tear in the elbow joints in the front legs can cause lameness before the dog reaches his first birthday. There is not a cure but anti-inflammatory medication helps as does stem-cell injection to regenerate cartilage. • Microhydrodynamics– Next on the list of Basset Hound health problems is a disease that causes many concerns. This genetic growth deficiency results in an abnormal skull and trachea, bowing of the legs, skin issues, hearing loss, eye problems, patella luxation and heart, liver and kidney abnormalities. • Ventricular Septal Defect – This is another one of the more serious Basset Hound health concerns. This condition is a defect of some type in the heart's muscular wall that separates the left and right ventricles. • Progressive Retinal Atrophy – Basset Hound health problems include a few different eye issues, this one being the most common. This untreatable retina disease causes complete blindness. It is not a painful condition and generally progresses very slowly. • Otitis Externa – This is one of the more common Basset Hound health problems. It is characterized as an inflammation and infection in the outer ear canal caused by soil and moisture buildup. Dogs with long ears are prone to this condition. The moisture offers a desirable environment for yeast and bacteria which leads to infection. • Gastric Torsion – Commonly referred to as twisted stomach or dog bloat, this can be one of the scariest Basset Hound health problems to face. Symptoms include nervous pacing, drooling, weakness, agitation, bulging stomach, gagging, heavy breathing and total collapse. It is typically the result of a dog eating too fast and swallowing too much air however, stress can be to blame at times as well. • Tracheal Collapse – Last on the list of common Basset Hound health problems is one that comes with age. The tracheal (air pipe) eventually collapses from weakness, thereby making it hard to breathe as the lungs receive less air. Dog obesity will often cause this in smaller breeds as well. Keeping your dog active and his weight under control as he ages will help reduce the risk of this concern. While the list of Basset Hound health problems may be longer than what you expected, many can be prevented through careful breeding, proper diet and routine vet visits and most are treatable. This is a very hardy breed but it never hurts to be educated on potential concerns. Related Articles: Basset Hound Temperament – What Should You Expect? How Challenging is Basset Hound Training? Basset Hound Information – Things You Want to Know
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