English Pointer Health Problems and Raising an English Pointer Puppy to be Healthy
By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2014
The most common health problems in English Pointers:
The most common orthopedic disease in English Pointers is hip dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 1100 English Pointers and found 8% dysplastic. Compare that to the German Shorthair at 5%. Occasionally reported are elbow dysplasia, osteochondritis, and hypertrophic osteodystrophy.
The most serious eye diseases in Pointers are cataracts (appearing in young adulthood and usually progressing to blindness), and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).
Skin diseases in the English Pointer include allergies (which cause itchy skin and can lead to pyoderma), lick granuloma, demodectic mange, and occasionally calcinosis and follicular dysplasia.
According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, English Pointers have the 12th highest rate of hypothyroidism of 140 breeds (up to 26% affected).
Neurological/neuromuscular diseases in English Pointers include epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia, and polyneuropathy.
Other health issues in English Pointers include heart disease (subaortic stenosis), hypothyroidism, and inherited deafness in Pointer puppies with a lot of white on their head.
Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR English Pointer?
Yes, often you can.
- Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in English Pointers today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find an English Pointer puppy who is genetically healthy.
- Other health problems are environmental – caused by the way you raise your dog. My best-selling dog health book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to prevent environmental health problems by raising your English Pointer puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.
Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy English Pointer puppy or adult dog:
How Long Will Your Dog Live? – Take This Quiz!
Based on your dog's breed and how you're raising him, this personalized quiz will help you understand how long your dog might live – and most importantly, how you can increase his life expectancy.
Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Pointer lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet.
The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your English Pointer
The best diet for feeding your Pointer is real food. Real chicken, turkey, beef, bison, venison, fish....This is not "people food" and I'll tell you why.
The Second-Best Dog Food For Your English Pointer
If you can't feed homemade dog food, here are your next-best choices.
Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your English Pointer puppy really need? Does your adult Pointer need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed. Find out what many vets aren't telling you.
The Type of Veterinarian I Recommend
Is your veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Learn about the differences between vets who practice conventional, holistic, and alternative veterinary medicine.
Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of spaying your female English Pointer.
Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of neutering your male dog.
Copyright © 2000-2014 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved.
No part of this website may be copied, displayed on another website,
or distributed in any way without the express permission of the author.