Bavarian Mountain Hound Health: Common Issues

The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a very striking and proud looking dog that's generally thought to be a robust and healthy breed. However, as with many pedigree dogs, they do tend to suffer from certain congenital, hereditary and acquired health conditions which are worth knowing about so they can be diagnosed earlier rather than later.

The sooner a condition it treated, the more comfortable dogs would be and it's generally accepted that the outcome would be that much better too. Below are the health issues most associated with the Bavarian Mountain Hound.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a condition that affects a dog's hips and which is caused by an abnormal development in their joints. The disorder typically affects larger dog breeds including the Bavarian Mountain Hound, although all dogs are susceptible to developing the condition. It's a very painful disorder that causes dogs to be constantly lame which needs to be treated as soon as a sign there may a problem is detected. KC Registered puppies older than 12 months can be screened for hip dysplasia.

Elbow Dysplasia

This is a common disorder that affects the breed and is where abnormal development occurs in their elbow joints. Dogs are typically lame on their front legs and it can affect dogs at any time in their lives, but is more typically seen in older dogs. Although the cause of the condition is unknown, it can be managed and treated.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive Retinal Atrophy – PRA, is an eye disease where gradual loss of vision occurs and as such any dog diagnosed with the condition would need to undergo an annual eye test. This allows vets to monitor how the condition is progressing which in turn means they can recommend future care for affected dogs. Currently there is no cure for this progressive disorder.

Retinal Dysplasia

Retinal Dysplasia affects a dog's eyes which causes "rosettes" to form in the retinal tissue (these are sometimes called folds). The condition may be triggered by several factors but is typically a genetic disorder which is why dogs with the condition should not be used for breeding purposes. Although the condition does affect a dog's vision, it does not cause any pain or discomfort neither is it a progressive disorder.

Entropion

This is a condition that affects a dog's eye where the eyelid curls inwards with the lower lid being typically affected. It is a painful condition that requires veterinary intervention sooner rather than later because if left untreated, ulcers may form on the cornea causing scarring. Condition caught early enough can be treated with corrective surgery.

Ectropion

Another condition that affects the eye, Ectropion is where a dog has loose and sagging eyelids. A vet would recommend a treatment according to the severity of the condition and how it affects a dog's eyesight.

Epilepsy

Sadly, the breed is also prone to suffering from epilepsy which can be quite frightening when a dog first has a fit. However, the condition can be very successfully controlled by giving dogs with the condition the right type of medication. Because it is incurable, dogs diagnosed with the condition would need to be kept on medication for the rest of their lives.

Ear Infections

The Bavarian Mountain Hound is also prone to suffering from ear infections which is why regularly checking their ears is very important. Any strong, unpleasant odours coming from their ears could be an indication there is an infection going on and the sooner this is treated the better the outcome.

Conclusion

Although it may seem the Bavarian Mountain Hound might suffer from a lot of hereditary and acquired disorders, not all dogs would ever develop any of the conditions mentioned above during the course of their lives. However, it's important to bear in mind that no matter how well bred a dog might be, there is never a guarantee they would not develop some sort of congenital health disorder because "bad" genes are able to skip several generations. Knowing a dog is prone to certain conditions means owners can recognise the early signs that something may be wrong with their pets and the earlier a condition is treated, the better the prognosis tends to be.