Health

Here is a list of genetically related health problems for Siberian Huskies

Hypothyroidism

Huskies are prone to a common condition called hypothyroidism in which the body doesn't make enough thyroid hormone. Signs can include dry skin and coat, hair loss, susceptibility to other skin diseases, weight gain, fearfulness, aggression, or other behavioral changes.

Juvenile Cataracts

Juvenile cataracts usually appear when a Husky puppy is between 6 months and a year old, but they can begin as early as 3 months. The signature cloudy appearance of a cataract is caused by a build-up of protein within the eyeball that then blocks and deforms the lens.

glaucoma

An eye condition that affects Siberian Huskies and people too, is an extremely painful disease that rapidly leads to blindness if left untreated. Symptoms include squinting, watery eyes, bluing of the cornea (the clear front part of the eye), and redness in the whites of the eyes. Pain is rarely noticed by pet owners though it is frequently there and can be severe. People who have certain types of glaucoma often report it feels like being stabbed in the eye with an ice pick! Yikes! In advanced cases, the eye may look enlarged or swollen like it’s bulging. We’ll perform an annual glaucoma screening to diagnose and start treatment as early as possible.

pannus

This is like a suntan on your dog's eyeball. In affected breeds, inflammatory cells infiltrate the cornea (the clear part of the eye), which then darkens with exposure to ultraviolet light, and may lead to complete blindness. It's considered to have a genetic component, since the condition is predominant in certain breeds, like your Siberian Husky. We'll watch his eyes closely for early signs and start preventive eye medications if needed. Doggie sunglasses are also an option to help reduce sun exposure.

Retained Testicles or Cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism is the medical term that refers to the failure of one or both testicles (testes) to descend into the scrotum. The testes develop near the kidneys within the abdomen and normally descend into the scrotum by two months of age. In certain dogs it may occur later, but rarely after six months of age. Cryptorchidism may be presumed to be present if the testicles cannot be felt in the scrotum after two to four months of age.

Canine Epilepsy

There are three types of seizures in dogs: reactive, secondary, and primary. Reactive seizures are caused by the brain's reaction to a metabolic problem like low blood sugar, organ failure, or a toxin. Secondary seizures are the result of a brain tumor, stroke, or trauma. If no other cause can be found, the disease is called primary or idiopathic epilepsy. This problem is often an inherited condition, and Siberian Huskies are commonly afflicted. If your friend is prone to seizures, episodes will usually begin between six months and three years of age. An initial diagnostic workup may help find the cause. Lifelong medication is usually necessary to help keep seizures under control with periodic blood testing required to monitor side effects and efficacy. If your dog has a seizure, carefully prevent him from injuring himself, but don't try to control his mouth or tongue. It won't help him, and he may bite you accidentally! Note the length of the seizure, and call us or an emergency hospital.

Laryngeal Paralysis

Huskies may develop a disease called laryngeal paralysis in which the vocal cords become paralyzed and hang down into the airway. The primary symptom is noisy breathing, especially when outside in hot, humid weather or after exercising, but in severe cases, a pet can collapse and have difficulty breathing as well. Treatment may include environment control and medication. Bring your pet in right away if you notice signs of respiratory distress before the problem becomes a surgical emergency!

High Blood Pressure

Huskies are more likely than other breeds to have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, which may occur independently or be caused by another disease. High blood pressure can cause blindness and strokes in dogs, just as it can in people. The Traditions Veterinary Services medical team will test his blood pressure on a regular basis and prescribe blood pressure medication if needed.

Heart Disease

Some breeds, like your Husky, can be born with a variety of heart defects. Most affect the structure of the heart’s dividing wall or the vessels of the heart. Defects can also cause problems with heart valve function or the electrical signals that control the heartbeat. Because of the significant risk of heart disease in this breed, we’ll pay special attention to his heart during each examination. Special testing will be recommended if we hear a heart murmur or if you notice any unusual symptoms such as tiring easily, coughing, a swollen belly, or fainting.

Cancer

Cancer is a leading cause of death in older dogs. Your Husky will likely live longer than many other breeds and therefore is more prone to get cancer in his golden years. Many cancers are curable by surgical removal, and some types are treatable with chemotherapy. Early detection is critical! We’ll perform periodic diagnostic tests and look for lumps and bumps when we examine your pet.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is an immune system disorder common in Huskies in which the intestinal lining becomes overrun with immune system cells called lymphocytes and plasmacytes. The stomach and/or intestinal lining becomes thickened, affecting his ability to absorb nutrients properly.

Degenerative Myelopathy

Degenerative myelopathy is a neurologic condition, similar to ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease in people, that causes weakness and poor nerve function in the hind legs. It affects Huskies more frequently than other breeds. If your dog has this disease, he will become increasingly weak and disabled in the hind legs, eventually suffering from paralysis in his hindquarters, which also leads to incontinence. Rehabilitation, exercise, acupuncture, and dietary supplements can be helpful, but there is no cure for degenerative myelopathy. A genetic test is available to determine whether your dog is at risk for this heritable disease.

hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is common in Siberian Huskies. You may notice that he has lameness in his hind legs or has difficulty getting up from lying down. We'll take X-rays of your dog's joints to identify the disease as early as possible, and we can treat the arthritis—the sooner the better—to avoid discomfort and pain.

Autoimmune Skin Disease

Pemphigus foliaceus is a superficial skin disease that is more common in Siberian Huskies. It often starts around four years of age and causes crusts and hair loss, usually on top of the nose and inside the ear flaps. Some dogs get it on their footpads and toenails as well. Bacteria easily invade the damaged areas, so secondary skin infections are common. Skin crusts typically wax and wane; there is no cure, but there are a variety of effective treatments. Sunlight makes it worse, so applying zinc-free sunscreen to sensitive parts before heading outdoors can help.

Uveodermatologic syndrome is a complex disease found more frequently in Siberian Huskies than other breeds. “Uveo” refers to the inside of the eye and “derm” refers to the skin. This condition is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the cells that make pigment in the skin and inside the eyes. It can cause pain or blindness in the eyes and can cause the pigmented areas of his nose, lips, and skin to change from dark to light. Sunlight can also worsen the effects this condition.

Skin Infections

Huskies are prone to a form of skin infection called zinc-responsive dermatosis in which a pet either doesn’t get enough zinc in his diet or his body doesn’t absorb it properly. Signs include red, hairless, crusting, scaling, or oozing skin around the mouth, chin, eyes, or ears, and lesions on the foot pads or nose. If your dog develops this disease, we’ll prescribe a carefully regulated amount of added zinc to his diet.

Bladder Disease

The ureters are small tubes that allow urine from the kidneys to flow into the bladder where urine is safely stored until the dog decides to urinate. Occasionally in Siberian Huskies, however, one of these tubes forms incorrectly, taking urine past the bladder instead of into the bladder itself. Urine that doesn’t enter the bladder will drip out on its own instead of on command. This condition is called ectopic ureter. The problem can be diagnosed either by x-rays or by an ultrasound of the bladder, and the ureter can be reattached through surgery.

Liver Enzyme

Hyperphosphatemia is a condition in which elevated levels of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase, or ALP, are present in the bloodstream. Affected Siberian Huskies usually show no signs of illness, although microscopic examination of their livers may reveal abnormalities within the liver cells. Usually, hyperphosphatemia is not serious and does not require treatment, however, other serious diseases may also cause the ALP enzyme to be elevated, so we’ll want to rule out other problems before diagnosing your pet with this condition.