The Siberian husky is a breed of dog related to the wolf, which due to its appearance and personality has become very popular in the last years. They are cheerful and active animals that require a lot of attention and care to stay he althy and become faithful companions of human beings. In addition, the appearance of the Siberian Husky as we know it today is the product of a well-defined selection, so it is a strong and robust animal with no tendency to contract viral or infectious diseases.
However, it is well known that purebred animals tend to suffer from certain diseases inherent to their genetic content, and the Siberian Husky is no exception. That is why on our site we present this guide on the Most common diseases of the Siberian Husky, so that you can easily detect any ailment in your furry friend.
The Siberian Husky
The Siberian husky is a dog of the Nordic breed descended from the wolf. Formerly, he was trained to herd sleds in snowy environments, for which he developed great resistance that remains in the genetic load of dogs that have survived to this day.
This breed is characterized by having a happy, playful and at the same time dominant personality They tend to be outgoing and get along well with children and with strangers once they have been properly trained, so they are not recommended as guard dogs. On the other hand, they are extremely intelligent animals that learn easily and create a very strong bond with the family they consider their pack, so that instinct leads them to remain faithful to their group. Their nature is extroverted and free, making them considered born escapists.
Like other purebred dog breeds, the Siberian Husky has a tendency to suffer from certain diseases, either of a hereditary nature or that due to their morphology and physical characteristics affect them more easily. For years, breeders have made efforts to definitively eliminate these ailments, and although they have not yet achieved it, they have managed to reduce the level of incidence in dogs. Even so, there are still certain conditions that are very likely to affect your Siberian Husky, which are divided into eye diseases, skin diseases and hip disordersLet's see below what these conditions are.
Most common eye diseases of the Siberian Husky
Eye diseases affect the Siberian Husky without distinction of sex and age, and sometimes can cause total loss of vision. They affect the animal regardless of whether its iris color is brown, blue, or a combination of both.
There are four ailments to which the husky is predisposed: bilateral cataracts, glaucoma, corneal opacity and progressive retinal atrophy. The incidence of these diseases in the husky is five percent, but they are considered serious, so if any discomfort appears, the dog should be taken to the vet immediately.
Bilateral Cataracts
Inherited disease characterized by the appearance of an opacity or cloudiness in the lens of the eyeAlthough the ailment is operable, the dog's eyesight does not fully recover. If it gets worse, it can end in blindness, so it is recommended to carry out annual check-ups to detect the disease in time.
Juvenile cataracts are called when they appear in young dogs. There are also developmental cataracts, a variety of degenerative type produced by toxicity, eye injuries or systemic diseases suffered by the animal.
The disease can appear at any age, although it tends to mature slowly in each husky, even leaving him blind in some cases. How does it spread in the eye? The cataract affects the lens of the eye, a structure responsible for forming the image on the retina by means of light rays. By becoming opaque, the amount of light that enters decreases and therefore also the capacity of vision; as the problem worsens, the size of the opacity increases. For more information about this common disease in the Siberian Husky, don't miss our article in which we tell you everything about cataracts in dogs.
Glaucoma
Occurs when the channel that controls the internal pressure of the eyeball becomes narrower, so this pressure increases as the channel becomes blocked. When the husky is a year old, it is necessary to perform an examination to rule out the presence of the disease, and repeat these tests annually, since glaucoma in dogs can cause blindness.
Corneal crystalline opacities
Also called corneal dystrophy, OCCs originate in the cornea but spread to the rest of the eye, clouding it and preventing vision. They can affect both eyes, although not necessarily at the same time or with the same degree of severity.
How do they develop? The dog's eye begins to produce a series of cone-shaped crystals that cover the cornea until they spread to the surface of the eye. It is an inherited disease, and can appear at any age in the Siberian Husky.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
PRA is an inherited pathology of the retina that causes blindness of the animal and, therefore, is considered another of the Most common diseases of the Siberian Husky. It not only affects the retina but also the inner lining of the retina, which is sensitive to light entering the eyeball.
There are two types of APR, primary and central:
- Primary progressive retinal atrophy: affects night vision, gradually deteriorating it, which is why it is known asnight blindness However, later on it also impairs vision during the day, due to a general degeneration of the eye cells. It can start between six weeks and the first years of the animal, advancing progressively until it is blind. It affects both eyes, although not necessarily with the same severity.
- Central progressive retinal atrophy: in this variant of the disease the dog has a higher level of vision in dark environments than in light. It is difficult for him to perceive objects that remain immobile, although he easily detects those that move. Appears between the first and fifth years.
Most common skin diseases of the Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky has a beautiful thick coat, but you need to be on the lookout for possible skin infections that affect its appearance and the he alth of the dermis. Regarding skin diseases, three are the most common in the Siberian Husky: nasal dermatitis, zinc deficiency and hypothyroidism.
Nasal dermatitis
It is caused by or is often a symptom of zinc deficiency. It is so common in this breed that it is also called "husky nose". Your symptoms are:
- Nose hair loss.
- Redness.
- Nasal injuries.
- Depigmentation.
Zinc deficiency
This deficiency is genetic in the husky, preventing it from absorbing the zinc contained in food in the amounts it needs. To diagnose this condition, the veterinarian performs a biopsy with tissue taken from the skin. Your dog's prescribed zinc treatment may need to be given for life.
Symptoms of zinc deficiency include:
- Itch.
- Hair loss.
- Legs, genitals and face injury.
Hypothyroidism
Appears when the thyroid stops producing thyroid hormone in the quantities that the dog's body needs to stabilize its metabolism. To treat this failure, you may need to receive medication for this for the rest of your life.
The symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs are:
- Hair loss, especially on the tail.
- Abnormal skin thickening.
Considerations to take into account
Finally, if at any time you thought about cutting your dog's hair, considering that it is a northern breed, it is best not to do it, as it exposes it to skin infections from which its fur protects it, such as allergies, parasites, and sunburn.
If you think the heat is overwhelming your husky, it's best to allow him access to an air-conditioned area or to areas of the house that are cooler in the summer.
Most common hip disorders in the Siberian Husky
Hip dysplasia (HD) is an inherited abnormality that affects many dog breeds, including the Siberian Husky, which suffers from it in a proportion of five percent. It consists of the displacement of the femur out of the acetabulum, a bone belonging to the pelvic joint where it should be attached. It appears before the age of two in 95% of cases, being easy to detect as it causes difficulty in using the stairs or changing positions. When it appears in the husky, it is unable to perform tasks that require resistance, since intense exercise only aggravates the condition with pain, arthritis and inflammation in the area.
The anomaly is transmitted from father to son in the following way: if the male suffers from it, he provides the dysplasia genes; if the female suffers from it, she provides the complementary genes to give the condition to her puppies. It can be improved during the dog's growth stage with certain exercises for dogs with hip dysplasia, proper nutrition and controlling the animal's weight, but in any case it can transmit the disease to its offspring, since it is a carrier dog.
When the husky is born, his hips look perfectly normal, and the disease only manifests itself during growth. When performing the relevant studies, four levels of dysplasia are detected:
- Free (does not present the anomaly)
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
The Siberian Husky is usually free to mild. On the other hand, in dogs affected by this disease, low-fat diets free of vitamin supplements are recommended to avoid indiscriminate weight gain. Likewise, it is advisable to avoid jumping and violent movements during games and training, which will only worsen the state of the bones.
Always remember to go to the vet at the sign of any of the most common diseases in the Siberian Husky, or strange behavior, to rule them out or, on the contrary, diagnose them and initiate the best treatment.
