Content
- Main diseases that affect Lhaso Apso
- Lhasa Apso Skin Diseases
- Eye Diseases in Lhasa Apso
- Lhasa Apso Genetic Diseases
The Lhasa Apso is believed to have originated in Tibet, in the capital Lhasa, where they were considered a sacred race for guarding and protecting the Potala palace, where the Dalai Lama resided, due to his keen hearing. Also, they were the favorite dogs of the monks for their calm temperament, as it is a dog that does not usually bark at anything. This is precisely why it has now become a popular breed among apartment dwellers, as excessive barking can annoy neighbors.
Despite being a very resistant breed, some specific diseases are more predisposing in the Lhasa Apso such as skin diseases, eye diseases and genetic diseases. Continue here on PeritoAnimal to stay on top of most common diseases in Lhasa Apso.
Main diseases that affect Lhaso Apso
In general, it is a breed quite resistant to disease and, like all dogs, to stay healthy and with high immunity, it requires daily physical activities, a good diet and good nutrition and coat hygiene, since the coat is between the biggest troublemakers in the Lhasa Apso.
At main diseases affecting the Lhasa Apso breed specifically are:
- Allergic dermatitis.
- Conjunctivitis.
- Progressive retinal atrophy (APR or PRA).
- Renal dysplasia.
If you have more curiosities about the Lhasa Apso breed, the PeritoAnimal has prepared this technical sheet for you.
Lhasa Apso Skin Diseases
As it is a breed with a long coat, it is the one that demands the most care with daily brushing and periodic baths. In this way, the accumulation of dirt and other particles in the dog's coat is avoided, likewise, preventing ectoparasites such as fleas and ticks from being installed on the dog.
Dermatitis is the skin disease that most affects the Lhasa Apso, and dog breeds with long and wide coats in general. Dermatitis, as the name suggests, is an inflammation of the dermis, which is the animal's skin, and is characterized by reddened spots, skin peeling and itching, and secondary infections by bacteria and fungi can also occur, which increases inflammation and the itch.
The causes for allergic dermatitis can be flea bites, toxic products, or psychological factors such as stress. Wearing clothes can also be associated with allergic dermatitis, as the Lhasa Apso is a dog with a long coat, wearing clothes in very hot climates for a long time can cause the coat to become warm and moist, which it is a favorable environment for the proliferation of bacteria and fungi.
Treatment will be according to what is causing the dermatitis, and only the veterinarian will be able to determine the cause through diagnostic tests. If it turns out to be an excess of clothes on very hot days, just cut the habit, and let the animal's skin ventilate properly. Fleas and other ectoparasites must be fought with specific antiparasitic drugs and if the veterinarian finds that there is a secondary infection by bacteria or fungi, a proper shampoo may be prescribed, so follow the veterinary recommendations so that it does not happen again.
At stress dermatitis, can be difficult to be diagnosed because it involves the emotional factor of the dogs, and often, the tutor, for spending the day outside all week, ends up not realizing until the symptoms are well aggravated. If you notice that your dog compulsively licks itself to the point that the area of the body is reddened, inform your veterinarian, some dogs may also develop the habit of pulling their own hair due to stress.
Eye Diseases in Lhasa Apso
The most common eye diseases in Lhasa Apso are the conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the lining of the eyes and unlike the cause in humans, which is caused by bacteria, this disease is quite common in the eyes of the Lhasa Apso due to their long coat. As the breed has very sensitive eyes, conjunctivitis is commonly caused by rubbing the hairs that fall over the eyes.
So that the dog does not develop future complications in the eyes, it is recommended pin the bangs. If the animal does not participate in breed dog shows, cutting the hair in the area above the eyes is also recommended. Other care to be taken is regular cleaning and eye care for this particular dog.
Lhasa Apso Genetic Diseases
There are two genetic diseases that can affect the Lhasa Apso specifically: Renal Dysplasia and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
THE renal dysplasia it is a very serious problem, despite being a rare condition. The disease progresses silently and may even lead to death. Clinical signs such as translucent urine like water, weight loss, prostration and excessive water intake take it immediately to the vet for a quick diagnosis, as the animal may die from severe kidney failure. Some animals may not show any symptoms yet, which makes diagnosis and treatment difficult, so be aware of any changes in your dog's behavior. It usually manifests in dogs 2 to 3 years old.
THE Progressive Retinal Atrophy it is also a genetic problem and is associated with retinal cell degeneration, which leads to the progressive development of complete blindness in the Lhasa Apso. It could also be due to abnormal retinal cell development.
To prevent genetic problems from continuing to spread, professional dog breeders must carry out a series of genetic tests on their canine breeders in order to find out if they are carrying the defective genes that cause these diseases. In this way, dogs that are carriers of these recessive genes are neutered so that the incidence of the problem decreases. Therefore, if you want to acquire a Lhasa Apso dog, only look for professional and responsible dog breeders, and ask for the genetic certification of the breeders, to make sure you are acquiring a puppy from healthy dogs.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.