Health related issues in Chow Chows
Hotspots:
This is what you would refer to as wet eczema. It can occur anywhere on your dogs body.
The most common cause of hot spots is due to your pet itching, scratching or licking themselves to the point of breaking the skin. Bacteria and moisture then builds up on or around the affected area. The moisture can either be from the sore itself or from an external source, like swimming, dunking themselves in the water bowl or going out for a walk in the rain. Long hair will tend to make a hot spot worse, especially in hot weather as the hair traps the moisture.
How to treat it-
This is what you would refer to as wet eczema. It can occur anywhere on your dogs body.
The most common cause of hot spots is due to your pet itching, scratching or licking themselves to the point of breaking the skin. Bacteria and moisture then builds up on or around the affected area. The moisture can either be from the sore itself or from an external source, like swimming, dunking themselves in the water bowl or going out for a walk in the rain. Long hair will tend to make a hot spot worse, especially in hot weather as the hair traps the moisture.
How to treat it-
- Clip/ shave the area of and around the hot spot to allow the air to get to it and for it to dry out.
- bathe the area with a medicated cleaner/ shampoo. We use Hibbi scub which is available on Amazon
- your vet may be able to prescribe a cream if necessary. We use Metanium which is a baby nappy ointment that helps protect and dry the skin.
- occasionally a course of antibiotics may be needed.
- if the hotspot is in an easily accessible area for your Chow a buster collar may be needed to stop excessive itching/ scratching/ chewing of the area.
Bloat:
Boat ( Also known as 'Gastric Torsion' ) is where the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas causing the abdomen to swell and give a "bloated" look to your dogs belly. The twisting cuts off the blood supply to the stomach and sometimes spleen. This usually occurs in dogs with deep, narrow chests. It is extremely serious and fatal in a very short space of time and you should seek a vet immediately.
Symptoms include a swollen and distended stomach, retching without bringing anything up, restlessness and laying in a prayer like position (front feet down back legs and rear end up).
This seems to be more common when exercise occurs shortly after eating but there's still no conclusive reasoning for it.
Get your pet to the vets immediately if you suspect they have bloat.
Eye Problems:
Due to the conformation of a chows face with the excess skin and wrinkles, eye related problems can be a common complaint. Sometimes they will grow out of it as during the first few years their face shape undergoes lots of changes.
We make sure the vet checks our chows eyes during each appointment.
Chows are a breed that is susceptible to suffering from Entropion, which is where the top or bottom eye lids can turn inwards allowing the eye lashes to rub against the eye ball. This can be extremely uncomfortable and painful for your chow. This can cause permanent damage if left untreated. We recommend that if you find your Chow to be suffering from any eye related issues that you ask your vet to refer you to an eye specialist as they deal with this every day and will be much more knowledgeable than a general vet. This is also because as stated before, Chows face conformation changes a lot as they grow and they will be the best person to tell you whether a surgery is necessary or if it is something they will likely grow out of. In some cases a stitch can be uses to "pin" an eye lid (usually this is used for the top eyelid) where the excess of skin is causing the issue.
We have had experience in the past with this where a second operation was needed after this first was undertaken when the Chow Chow was young and still growing.
Due to the conformation of a chows face with the excess skin and wrinkles, eye related problems can be a common complaint. Sometimes they will grow out of it as during the first few years their face shape undergoes lots of changes.
We make sure the vet checks our chows eyes during each appointment.
Chows are a breed that is susceptible to suffering from Entropion, which is where the top or bottom eye lids can turn inwards allowing the eye lashes to rub against the eye ball. This can be extremely uncomfortable and painful for your chow. This can cause permanent damage if left untreated. We recommend that if you find your Chow to be suffering from any eye related issues that you ask your vet to refer you to an eye specialist as they deal with this every day and will be much more knowledgeable than a general vet. This is also because as stated before, Chows face conformation changes a lot as they grow and they will be the best person to tell you whether a surgery is necessary or if it is something they will likely grow out of. In some cases a stitch can be uses to "pin" an eye lid (usually this is used for the top eyelid) where the excess of skin is causing the issue.
We have had experience in the past with this where a second operation was needed after this first was undertaken when the Chow Chow was young and still growing.
Allergies:
This can mostly be divided into three sections; seasonal allergies, environmental allergies and food related. In Chows the main response to an allergic reaction is itchy skin, however they can present with runny eyes and nose, itchy eyes and sneezing. There are treatment options available for this and they can take antihistamines but you need to make sure you are giving them ones that are safe for dogs to take.
Seasonal- Chows can suffer from hay fever like people do. Pollen or grass seeds and plants can cause they same reaction like itchy and/ or watery eyes, sneezing and itchy skin.
Environmental- This is where something is causing an allergic response where you either live or frequent with your chow chow. i.e./ dust, mould, a certain type of cleaning product or air freshener. If the allergy is a new symptom and you have not changed their diet and it is not a high pollen time of year, try to rule out any new places you have been or new products you have used around the house.
Food related- Some chow chows are allergic to grains and /or chicken products. We try to feed our chows a chicken free diet which can be more difficult than you would imagine as lots of dog foods include chicken and poultry products in the fine print of the ingredients list even if chicken is not part of the main flavour you have chosen. If you have recently changed your Chows food and noticed an increase in itching then they may very well be allergic to something in the new feed.
There are many varieties of dry/ wet food to choose from including hypoallergenic options.
We would not recommend a raw diet until your chow chow has finished growing as the protein content of a raw diet is very hard to measure accurately.
Recognising early signs of Ligament issues:
Sadly, chows are a high risk of developing these issues. You can mitigate the likelihood by preventing your puppy/ dog from jumping in and out of the car, going up and down stairs and being over exercised.
Although we do have an extensive fit for breeding veterinary exam on every dog we breed from at least once a year as required for our breeding license this is not something we can screen for this in advance. No dog is breed from that does not pass our vets inspections. This is why we are very grateful to our puppies’ new owners keeping us up to date with their pup’s health as we can alter our breeding programme and make sure not to repeat any mating pairings between our dogs that may be more likely to have issues in adulthood.
If you can catch a dog’s cruciate ligament injury early enough, it’s more likely that you can have a more effective treatment plan and a reduced possibility of surgical intervention. Success rates are also greater when your vet can start treatment shortly after joint injuries occur.
Early signs of ligament strain/ injury can include;
Sadly, chows are a high risk of developing these issues. You can mitigate the likelihood by preventing your puppy/ dog from jumping in and out of the car, going up and down stairs and being over exercised.
Although we do have an extensive fit for breeding veterinary exam on every dog we breed from at least once a year as required for our breeding license this is not something we can screen for this in advance. No dog is breed from that does not pass our vets inspections. This is why we are very grateful to our puppies’ new owners keeping us up to date with their pup’s health as we can alter our breeding programme and make sure not to repeat any mating pairings between our dogs that may be more likely to have issues in adulthood.
If you can catch a dog’s cruciate ligament injury early enough, it’s more likely that you can have a more effective treatment plan and a reduced possibility of surgical intervention. Success rates are also greater when your vet can start treatment shortly after joint injuries occur.
Early signs of ligament strain/ injury can include;
- Swelling of the affected joint
- An unwillingness to put weight on the affected joint
- Limping
- Holding up the affected rear limb
- Difficulty standing from a sitting or lying position
- Walking stiffly or unsteadily
- An apparent dislike of the joint being touched or handled
- Stiffness on rising