health issues
The average life span for a Bernese Mountain Dog is 7 years but they can live up to 10-14 years old. Bernese Mountain Dogs have many common health concerns to be considered. The first and biggest concern is hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. These are common issues in this breed and they are due to prolonged arthritis and a lose hip or elbow joint. It generally affects older dogs and both can be found with the help of an X-ray. Bloat is another well-known disease that affects Bernese Mountain Dogs. Bloat is a serious and potentially fatal disease. It is due to a full stomach that rotates and fills with gas. If the stomach flips over it will not allow digested food or gas to escape causing a lot of pressure, especially on other organs. This is life threatening for the dog and requires medical help immediately. A disease called panosteitis is a condition that affects the long bones in dog’s legs and can cause pain and uncomforting movement for the dog. Another disease called hypothyroidism is also common in this breed.
|
The thyroid is not active and causes changes to their coat and temperament as well as weight gain. There are also some eye diseases that can affect Bernese Mountain Dogs. Cataracts may affect the dog’s vision. Conditions such as Entropion or Ectropion affect the eyelids. These are serious conditions as they can damage the dog’s eye; the eyelids roll either inside or roll outside depending on which condition they have. Food related allergies are a big concern as certain foods can cause serious inflammatory bowel disease. This will require special diets that suit your dog’s needs. Cancer is a major disease associated with the Bernese Mountain Dogs. In this breed, two types of cancer are inherited genetically, mast cell and malignant histiocytosis. Most Bernese will have some of these issues mentioned above, but others may have none at all. It is important to recognize the potential threats and diseases associated with this breed and attend regular check-ups with your dog’s veterinarian.
|