Giant Schnauzer Health Problems and Raising a Giant Schnauzer Puppy to be Healthy
By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2016
The most common health problems in Giant Schnauzers:
The most common health problems in Giant Schnauzers are orthopedic, especially hip dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 3700 Giant Schnauzers and found 19% dysplastic. That's bad, and the true rate is even higher because most of the obviously bad X-rays were not sent in for official evaluation. The rate of elbow dysplasia is over 10%.
Other orthopedic diseases in Giant Schnauzers include osteochondritis, panosteitis, and hypertrophic osteodystrophy.
According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, Giant Schnauzers have the 14th highest rate of hypothyroidism of 140 breeds (up to 23% affected).
Eye diseases in Giant Schnauzers include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and retinal dysplasia. Cataracts can appear in puppyhood, or later at 6-7 years old.
As with all deep-chested breeds, Giant Schnauzers are at higher-than-normal risk for the emergency gastrointestinal syndrome called bloat.
Blood-clotting diseases are a concern in Giants, especially von Willebrand's disease and thrombocytopenia.
Skin diseases include allergies (which cause itchy skin and often lead to pyoderma), seborrhea, and vitiligo.
Other health issues in Giant Schnauzers include epilepsy, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, heart disease, and cancer of the toes (digital squamous cell carcinoma).
Some Giant Schnauzers cannot produce Vitamin B12, which is essential for brain and body function. A dog affected with Vitamin B12 malabsorption becomes weak and disoriented. Supplementing the vitamin solves the problem.
Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR Giant Schnauzer?
Yes, often you can.
- Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in Giant Schnauzers today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find a Giant Schnauzer 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 Giant Schnauzer puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.
Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy Giant Schnauzer 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 Giant Schnauzer lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet.
The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your Giant Schnauzer
The best diet for feeding your Giant Schnauzer 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 Giant Schnauzer
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 Giant Schnauzer puppy really need? Does your adult Giant Schnauzer 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 Giant Schnauzer.
Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of neutering your male dog.
Assisi Loop Review: How I Helped Treat Inflammation and Pain With Electromagnetic Field Therapy
Does your dog suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, disk disease, pancreatitis, colitis, injuries such as fractures and skin wounds, or a neurological condition? An honest review of a veterinary device you can use at home to help reduce inflammation and pain.
Copyright © 2000-2016 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.