The Rottweiler breed is a
beautiful dog that if socialized and trained, sweet
and loving. Because the Rottweiler is a large breed
with some weighing as much as 120 pounds, certain
health issues can arise. In this article, we wanted
to address some of the more common challenges a
Rottweiler owner might face but keep in mind, with
proper diet, daily exercise, and proper care you
should have a healthy, happy dog as a part of the
family.
One illness affects the heart known as Sub-Aortic
Stenosis, which is also called SAS. This congenital
defect is found in only certain breeds such as the
German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and Rottweiler.
SAS is passed from generation to generation and the
challenge is that it often shows no symptoms.
However, new technology provides testing so breeders
can now test Rottweiler puppies for SAS to ensure
you purchase a healthy dog.
Another potential problem for
Rottweiler dogs among others has to do with gastric
problems. For instance, vomiting and diarrhea could
be signs of several things going on internally. Most
often, the small or large intestine is inflamed,
which leads to spasms in the digestive tract,
followed by diarrhea, vomiting, and pain. Another
problem is that when this occurs, your dog is not
getting adequate nutrition from food eaten since
everything is quickly passing through the body.
If you find your Rottweiler showing these signs, you
want to have him checked by your veterinarian. At
this point, blood work may be done to determine if
enzymes are elevated but usually, a procedure using
an endoscope will be done whereby the stomach is
looked at from the inside. If a biopsy is taken, a
firm diagnosis could be made and then formal
treatment offered.
Finally, Addison’s Disease is another possibility
when it comes to the Rottweiler. In this case,
adrenal glands do not secrete enough of the adrenal
hormones. Unfortunately, this type of disease is
very serious in that for your dog to live, he needs
these hormones. You will find two types associated
with Addison’s Disease. The first is Primary
Adrenocorticism and Secondary Adrenocorticism.
In the first type, salt and potassium balance is
affected while in the second type, the
glucocorticoids are affected. In either case,
symptoms start with poor appetite, lethargy, and
vomiting. However, if symptoms are ignored, the
heart can become involved whereby the disease can be
fatal. The bottom line is that paying attention to
the way in which your Rottweiler acts, helping him
stay healthy. The key is to start with a healthy
puppy and then to understand the various health
challenges he might face so you can intervene if
necessary.
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