Ailea's Place - Sheltie Health

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Though shelties are a generally healthy breed they must be bred conscientiously, and breeding animals MUST be tested to ensure health, wherever, whenever, however, it is possible to test. It is by far best and desirable that breeding stock comes from a long line of tested breeding stock, to enhance the guarantee of genetic health. Genetic testing which is currently available for shelties includes that for Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD), many eye anomalies, thyroid, and vonWillebrande's Disease (vWD), a devastating bleeding disorder very much like human hemophilia.

There are many other conditions for which tests are not currently available, conditions which can be fatal - autoimmune disorders, renal dysfunction, liver diseases, canine epilepsy, genetic heart defects. Though the female of the canine species is most often carrier of the genetic problems, a breeder cannot test breeding animals to know if they are carriers, but she can certainly be aware if these diseases exist in the backgrounds of her pedigrees, if she but simply does the extensive homework required to breed ethically and with the best for the dogs uppermost in her mind.

Breeders may be interested in reading Tara's Page. This page involves the death of a puppy due to a congenital, in utero bacterial infection passed on to whelps but not manifested until whelps were weaned from mother's milk. Tara is not the only one who has been affected by this terrible infection and did not have to die! Please read for your own benefit!

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD): Hips should be x-rayed and certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) after age two years. There was a time, not long ago, when I believed that a 2-year certification was all that was necessary, but that thought has now changed. Given some recent developments that have come to light involving early detection in conjunction with alternative therapies as early treatment for potential hip problems, there is no question in my mind that preliminary x-rays at one year of age should be done on every sheltie, breeding, showing, performing, or not. For more information on these very exciting developments, please visit Merlin's Magic Page, and explore the information that is available there, as well as the information available at the links on Merlin's Magic Page. For a different look at the topic of CHD, I encourage you to read the editorial: Canine Hip Dysplasia: Are Breeders Winning The Battle?

Eye Diseases & Anomalies: Eyes on all young puppies should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist registered with the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) between the ages of six and eight weeks. It is believed that at this young age the potential for developing SES (Sheltie Eye Syndrome, also known as Collie Eye Anomaly CEA), PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) and other eye diseases can be detected, so early examination is essential. Since many of the common eye diseases do not then manifest themselves until the animal is older (four to six years for many), examination of breeding animals - dogs and bitches alike - should be performed subsequent to this early examination, at least every two years, for life. In this way, and this way alone, can breeders be certain their bloodlines are clear of these terrible and potentially blinding disorders.

Bleeding Disorders: vonWillebrand's Disease (vWD) is a devastating, many times fatal, blood clotting disorder not unlike human hemophilia. For an explanation of exactly what vWD is, please visit the vonWillebrand's Disease web site. Too often, knowledge of the presence of this disease in your dog's system is unknown until the animal is injured, or undergoes surgery, and dies from sudden and uncontrollable loss of blood. Earlier, detection of vWD in your Sheltie was very difficult to achieve; the testing method used was unreliable, as it was affected by many variables including age, health, growth, stress, as well as the method used to draw, handle, store and ship the blood samples. Recently, a genetic labeling technique was developed for Shelties by VetGen, which makes detection of the presence (or absence, as the case may be) of the clotting factors involved with vWD much easier and more reliable. The VetGen test is a swab test for the mouth, and can be administered at basically any age, under any conditions. The results are guaranteed.

Canine Cancer: There is a growing number of dogs succumbing to various and sundry cancers. It behooves us to become familiar with these terrible diseases, whose affects mimic in our dogs the same as we see in humans, and treatments for which are also often quite similar, including medicines, radiation- and chemotherapy. More information on Canine Cancer can be found by visiting the National Canine Cancer Foundation and the Canine Cancer Awareness Organization. An interesting article on canine testicular cancer, including pictures, is located at the College of Veterinary Medicines, Mississippi State University and University of Georgia, Athens, Veterinary Pathology Anatomic Clerkship Program. Testicular cancers occur far-too often in dogs who have not been neutered but were left intact. Same as in humans, cancers in our dogs that are left unattended, will eventually spread throughout the body, with some cancers spreading faster than others.

Other Heritable Problems: There are many other problems strongly suspicioned to be inherited, with no known 'markers' or ways to identify carriers until those carriers produce affected offspring. These problems would include early-onset hypothyroidism (occurring before age 6 years), diabetes, renal dysfunctions and diseases, kidney disease, Cushing's Disease, heart problems, auto-immune problems (including Lupus, and a condition known as dermatomyositis and commonly called Sheltie Skin Syndrome. Additional information on DM can be found on the Texas A & M DM site, and please read information on the ongoing current research into this devastating disease). While the thyroid problem need not be life-threatening and is easily and inexpensively treated, the thyroid affects the energy level, coat condition and general health of your Sheltie. You can read more about hypothyroidism at the Michigan State University website. Other diseases mentioned may pose dire (and sometimes fatal) problems from which breeders must carefully breed away. By knowing the ancestry, and knowing these problems have not shown themselves in the lines, by very careful breeding, it is hoped these problems can be avoided.

Good Nutrition: Diet should be of a 'premium' nature and come highly recommended by folks who also use the diet. Do not decide on a diet based upon the wording of a package or the prompt of a salesman. Do the footwork, talk to other dog people using the diet before deciding what is best for your shelties. We at Ailea's Place feed Diamond premium (in the green bag) with some fruits and veggies and the occasional raw, meaty bone, but this does not mean this diet will work best for you, too. Not everyone's dogs will do well on the same diet. If you are replacing your current diet with another, please allow at least three months' time before a decision is made on whether the new diet is good for your Shelties. Coat color and texture, energy levels, overall fitness and attentiveness, are items that most often will tell you if the food or diet you are feeding is working.

For more information on the differences in dog foods, I invite you to scroll down to the bottom of this page and check out my Nutrition Links.

Exercise: Exercise is as important to your sheltie as it is to you, for keeping muscle tone healthy and the body lean, and in warding off other problems to which your sheltie will be more susceptible if he is not fit. Without proper exercise a sheltie can grow fat and lazy, conditions which encourage things like poor circulation, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and can create undue cardiac stress, as well as structural problems by putting too much strain on legs, feet and joints. Lots of running and chasing, games of retrieve, are all excellent ways to exercise your sheltie. Proper conditioning and muscle tone will affect the way a sheltie moves, how quickly the sheltie tires, as well as the general, overall feeling of wellness your sheltie should enjoy.

Grooming: I cannot stress enough how important grooming is to a sheltie. A well-groomed sheltie is a healthier sheltie. Brushing out dirt helps reduce the need for bathing. Hair mats have less chance of developing, and regularly removing the dead hair that accumulates in a sheltie coat makes room for coat re-growth to occur. Trim the feet, clip the nails, trim the wispies about the face so that personality can shine forth unhindered. And never, ever forget to brush those teeth! Please, be ever mindful of your Sheltie's mouth, for decay and tartar buildup in and on the teeth can cause bacterial infections and lead to heart failure and death. THIS lesson I have learned the hardest way of all, and you can read about this by clicking here.

An excellent site to visit regarding heritability of diseases in dogs is the Canine Inherited Disorders Database, which may well prove quite useful to anyone with a dog found to have an inherited condition, those wishing help in avoiding inherited conditions when looking to purchase a dog, as well as vets and breeder/owners who wish to keep up-to-date with the diagnostic and therapeutic information available at this site.

For information regarding spaying and neutering your pet, please visit Ailea's Spay-Neuter page.

None of these things need be a chore. All of it is for the betterment of the sheltie life that adorns your soul. No greater love, never too great a price.

Nutrition Links	General Health Links
Dog Food Comparison Charts	VetInfo
Dog Food Treats and Recipes	NC State College of Veterinary Medicine
B-Natural	Canine Cancer
The Barf Diet	National Canine Cancer Foundation
Is Raw Food Safe For Dogs?	Canine Epilepsy
Canine Nutrition	Lyme Disease
American Veterinary Medical Association	Ehrilichiosis