There isn’t any dog breed that has absolutely no genetic defects. Although the Siberian Husky has fewer health problems than any other dog breed. While you should keep an eye out for several Siberian Husky health problems, in general the Siberian Husky has good health and temperament.
The Siberian Husky Club of American or SHCA has monitored all potential genetic problems and they have taken positive action in order to ensure the general health and well being of the breed. Since the founding of the SHCA in 1965 it has been tasked with being aware of genetic problems and alerting breeders before the defects have a chance to spread. For the Siberian Husky the SHCA has identified the two greatest areas of concern as canine hip dysphasia and inheritable eye disease. To help your dog live a long, healthy life and to avoid these conditions you need to practice proper care and monitoring.
Hip dysphasia is a problem in which the hip joint at the head of the thighbone doesn’t fit properly into the joint socket. This condition isn’t typically present when a puppy is born, rather it will develop within the dog’s first two years of life. The condition is progressive and will cause the affected hip to have inflammation, pain and arthritis. The condition can be made worse by strenuous exercise such as sitting up, lying down or climbing stairs. The condition affects males and females equally. Either one or both hips can be affected. Hip dysphasia is a condition that is inherited from the parent dogs. Despite the high occurrence of hip dysphasia the Siberian Husky is one of the least affected dog breeds. Out of one hundred fourteen dog breeds affected by the condition the Siberian Husky is ranked one hundred eleventh. When it comes to Siberian Husky health problems this can be easily avoided by only buying from breeders who can prove that both parents have passed the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals standards for breeding.
Dogs can be affected by many eye defects, however only three of them are considered a concern among the few Siberian Husky health problems today. If you have a Siberian Husky the three eye conditions that you should be aware of are hereditary or juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy. Each disorder affects a different portion of the eye and can be present in any eye color. While Siberian Husky eye problems don’t happen often they are very serious and you should never overlook or underestimate them. As early as three months of age a Siberian Husky can develop hereditary or juvenile cataracts. The condition can cause between a decrease in eyesight in mild cases to complete blindness in severe cases. The outer transparent portion of the eyeball can be affected by corneal dystrophy. It is often found in young adult dogs and is more common in females. There is no current treatment for this condition, however vision is seldom affected. Progressive retinal atrophy is a serious condition that can cause devastating loss of vision by as early as five months of age and is more common in males.
To prevent health problems from developing in your dog you need to practice proper Siberian Husky care. In some cases it may be necessary to seek emergency care for your Siberian Husky in order to keep them healthy.
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