Health Issues Seen In Chongqing Dog

Health Issues Seen In Chongqing Dog

The Chongqing dog is a lovely, active little dog and they certainly know how to keep themselves and their owners busy. Like so many

other short-faced breeds, they do tend to suffer from breathing issues but not extrem like  other known brachycephalic dog. The breed is

also known to be prone to other hereditary and acquired health disorders which are worth knowing about if you're thinking about getting

either a Chongqing dog puppy or adult dog.

If you know a breed is more predisposed to a condition, it means you are more likely to recognise early symptoms and the earlier a

condition is diagnosed, the better the outcome usually is for the dog. Below is a list of disorders more commonly associated with

Chongqing dog, although it is worth bearing in mind that not all dogs will develop any of the health conditions listed below during

the course of their lifetimes.Generally accepted to be a healthy breed that has reproduced for centuries without human intervention,

the Chongqing dog is not prone to many health issues and enjoys a lifespan of up to 14 years. Despite this, there are a number of

conditions worth mentioning:

Brachycephalic Syndrome

As previously mentioned, the Chongqing dog is a brachycephalic dog and as such is more predisposed to suffering from

Brachyphalic Syndrome. In fact, this is one of the most common health issues to affect the breed. Dogs with the condition

have trouble breathing due to an excess of soft tissue having formed in their airways. The three most common disorders include

stenoic nares, everted laryngeal saccules and elongated soft palate.

Patellar Luxation

This is one of the more common orthopaedic health issues that affect many breeds including the Chongqing dog. If left untreated,

it can lead to all sorts of problems involving the anterior cruciate ligament. The symptoms to watch out for include lameness,

stretching a hind leg which dogs do in an attempt to "pop" the patella back into the correct position. If the condition is severe,

a vet would recommend surgery.

Hemivertebrae

This is a genetic disorder which affects many brachycephalic breeds that also have screw-tails which is typically an example

of the way bones form in hermivertebrae manner. Although, aesthetically a lot of people find a screw-tail to be a pleasing trait,

it can however, have quite a serious impact on the well-being of a dog due to the impact the deformity could have on their spine.

Sensorineural Deafness

The Chongqing dog is also prone to suffer ear infections which can lead to Sensorineural Deafness. If you notice your dog

scratching at their ears, constantly shaking their heads or a bad smell coming from their ears, these are all signs there may be an

infection and the sooner a dog is examined by the vet, the easier an ear infection is to treat.

Eye Issues

Due to the fact Chongqing dog have such prominent eyes, they are more predisposed to suffering from certain eye problems and

injuries which include the following:

Cataracts

Cataracts are frequently seen in older, senior dogs where the eyes become cloudy sometimes affecting a dog's vision quite dramatically

although if not too severe, it may not affect their eyesight too much at all. It is considered an hereditary condition the Chongqing dog is

prone to suffer from affecting dogs of any age. However, it's worth bearing in mind that cataracts can also develop if a dog suffers from

diabetes.

Corneal Ulcers

This is a painful condition that affects the eyes and which needs to be treated as soon as possible to avoid dogs having to go through

unnecessary pain and discomfort. A vet would need to establish the root cause of the problem and then treat affected eyes accordingly.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a painful condition where excessive pressure builds up in a dog's eye. It's an hereditary disorder that typically shows its

ugly head when dogs are around 2 years old and once it takes hold it can very rapidly damage the eye causing total blindness.

However, the condition usually only affects one eye at a time and not both. Veterinary attention is essential so a preventative measure

can be put in place to protect a dog's other eye or to at least control the progress of the condition if it has already taken hold.

Cherry eye

This is a painful condition that affects a dog's third eyelid. The cause is not known but vets usually recommend surgery

as soon as possible to prevent any infection taking hold and again, the earlier the condition is diagnosed,

the better the outcome. If dogs develop the condition in one eye, it's really important to make sure the other eye does not

get affected too.

Distichiasis

This is a painful eye disorder where too many eyelashes grow around a dog's eyelid. Often two hairs growing out of the same follicle is

responsible. If left untreated, corneas become ulcerated which could end up causing permanent damage to a dog's eye and ultimately

lead to blindness.

Keratitis Sicca – Dry Eye

This is another painful eye condition where the cornea gets damaged by ulcers. The condition is very often associated with an

autoimmune disease.

Entropion

Another extremely painful eye condition where the eyelashes grow inwards and where the cornea can become ulcerated if left

untreated, causing permanent damage to a dog's vision.

Puppies Born by Caesarian Section

Another consideration is that Chongqing dog puppies are typically delivered by caesarian section due to the fact they have

such large heads.

Heart murmurs

 This is a soft or loud, harsh, regurgitant sound in the heart, especially over the mitral valve area where a defect causes a

backflowing of blood into the left atrium. Because of this, the heart is not as efficient as it should be in providing blood to

the body. Treatment often includes a low-sodium diet, restriction of exercise, diuretics, and medications

Hanging tongue syndrome

A dog’s tongue that constantly hangs out is a genetic condition mostly found in smaller pups and flat-faced pups likes pugs

and Pekingese dogs,Many times their tongue may be too large for the mouth or jawbone.Centuries of breeding have produced

petite dogs such as Brachycephalic breeds (those dogs with smooshed faces) who are prone to this endearingly derpy face.

If your dog has experienced this condition for the majority of her life, Ahlgrim notes, it’s generally not something to be

concerned about, as it won’t in itself negatively affect your dog’s health.

 

Cleft lip and cleft palate

 Cleft lip and  palate are birth defects that occur when a puppy’s lip or mouth

do not form properly during pregnancy. Together, these birth defects

commonly are called “orofacial clefts.” These birth defects happen early

during pregnancy. A newborn dog can have a cleft lip, a cleft palate,

or both a cleft lip and cleft palate. The word “cleft” pertains to split

or partially divided in two.Cleft lip occurs if the tissue that makes up the

lip does not join completely before birth. This results in an opening in

the upper lip. The defect that results can be a very small slit or may be

a large opening that extends into the nose. 

 

Puppies with a cleft lip can also have a cleft palate, Bifid  or split nose .

Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a condition where cerebrospinal fluid builds up in a dog’s skull, putting pressure on the brain. It is also sometimes referred to as “water on the brain.”There are different causes of hydrocephalus in dogs depending on whether the condition is congenital or acquired later in life. Congenital means the condition is present at birth and is often the result of genetics.This condition is most common in breeds with dome-shaped heads, like the Chihuahua.These signs are mostly visible symptoms in Hydrocephalus puppy:

Domed skull

Wide set eyes

Difficulty eating

Disorientation

Loss of coordination

Compulsive circling

Head pressing

Blindness

Crossed eyes

Irregular breathing

Kicking out front legs while walking

Slow growth

Hip dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is a dreaded disease and the most common cause of rear leg lameness in dogs.Hip dysplasia  occurs

less commonly in CQd .Most cases of hip dysplasia are so mild, that there are no signs, because CQd is

not a heavy - large breed . Factors such as excessive growth rate, types of exercise, and improper weight and

nutrition can magnify this genetic predisposition.This condition is primarily of genetic cause, although environmental

factors such as obesity during puppyhood may influence whether an animal with the genes coding for hip dysplasia

will develop a clinical problem.Environmental factors, improper nutrition, as well as too much or too little exercise, are

also factors when it comes to the development of hip dysplasia. Also, dogs that struggle with weight issues and obesity

are at a higher risk of preexisting hip dysplasia rapidly worsening and are even responsible for the development of hip

dysplasia in some cases.No dog is fully immune from the disease, it is incredibly important that dog owners are aware

of the clinical signs so that they can act appropriately in making sure it doesn't worsen.As mentioned early, it is more

common in large breed dogs, but it does occur in medium size Chongqing dogs too, but  less likely to show clinical

signs.Hip dysplasia rarely affects small dogs under 20 kg .X-rays are crucial for visualizing the signs of hip dysplasia ,

Xray status must be confirmed in Dog FCI or CKU pedigree, just Xray without relevant confirmation is worthless .

Orthodontics (Malocclusions)

A form of malocclusion where a dog's teeth don't have their usual scissored fit, an underbite is actually a normal feature in

some short-muzzled dogs.A malocclusion occurs when the teeth do not properly fit together when the mouth is closed. A malocclusion

may be due to the teeth being abnormally positioned (dental malocclusion), or the jaws being misaligned (skeletal malocclusion).

 

Pigmentation of the nose

Special attention should be given to a dog with a pink or white nose because it will sunburn easily. Make sure to apply dog safe sunscreen

to his nose when he’s outside and watch for any blistering which is an indication of a severe burn.De-pigmentation of the nose is

sometimes harmless, but sometimes it is an indication that the dog needs medical attention

 

Vaginal Prolapse in Dogs

Vaginal prolapse is the protrusion of swollen vaginal tissue through the vulva, the external female genital organ, during the heat cycle.

In vaginal prolapse, the swollen protruding vaginal tissue may resemble that of a donut shaped mass. Sometimes the mass is mistaken

as a tumor.

 

Conclusion

The Chongqing dog is a lovely looking little dog and although it may seem like they are predisposed to many health disorders,

not all dogs would develop any of the conditions listed above. You should contact a reputable dog breeder who takes great care

at screening all dogs used in a breeding programme to reduce the chances of puppies inheriting any genetic disorders.

However, it's important to bear in mind the bad genes responsible for many genetic health issues are capable of skipping

several generations so there is never any guarantees.