When do health issues generally show up?

[gzarr]

I purchased my puppy from a pet store before joining YT and finding out about puppymills. She is now 5 months old and in seemingly good health. The only physical thing I could see that would maybe cause problems? is that her back is not straight. I kind of humps a bit in the middle (swayback?). I'm not sure if this is just a cosmetic thing or if it is something that could cause issues later? At what age do problems arise if they are to?

[Ellie May]

Anytime.

The only real issue Ellie had as a pup was retained puppy teeth (normal).
Since it wasn't taken care of and her teeth weren't brushed, she ended up with stage 3-4 peridontal disease by age 5. Nine adult teeth had to be pulled.

She has very mild luxating patella diagnosed at about age 6.
She has high bile acids (I requested the test just in case).
This has something to do with a liver functioning issue.
She had one acute case of pancreatitis at age 6.
She developed a hypersensitivity to corn and possibly an allergy to beef at age 6.
She had a vaccine reaction that could have taken her life without emergency treatment. This happened at age 5 but really age had zero to do with it. It may be related to her liver issues.
Her ears seem to be prone to yeast infections (may be related to diet).
Now she has gastrointestinal issues that are hopefully under control.

Although some of these issues were diagnosed later in life, they may have been diagnosable earlier with proper testing.

[MauiGirl]

Originally Posted by gzarr

I purchased my puppy from a pet store before joining YT and finding out about puppymills. She is now 5 months old and in seemingly good health. The only physical thing I could see that would maybe cause problems? is that her back is not straight. I kind of humps a bit in the middle (swayback?). I'm not sure if this is just a cosmetic thing or if it is something that could cause issues later? At what age do problems arise if they are to?

I don't know if there is a correct way to answer your question about AGE, because there are so many other variables such as genetics, diet, activity, exposure to toxins, diseases, parasites, on and on.

One thing that stands out is that many owners don't have a clue that there is a problem until they have pre-spay/neuter bloodwork done and it comes back abnormal. Often that is around 6 months, which is the common age for spaying, and most dogs are not showing symptoms.

Definitely do bloodwork before any surgery or anesthesia procedure.

Other than that, just feed them well, keep them safe, and exercise them and ENJOY them. We see so many cases of illness on YT, that it can make you paranoid, but people are less likely to be raving about how healthy their dog is.

[krisknr]

What does the vet say about her back?
When you take her in to get fixed you can have her checked for luxating patellas to.
The best thing you can do to keep your dog healthy is feed her good food and make sure she plays and gets exercise

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by gzarr

I purchased my puppy from a pet store before joining YT and finding out about puppymills. She is now 5 months old and in seemingly good health. The only physical thing I could see that would maybe cause problems? is that her back is not straight. I kind of humps a bit in the middle (swayback?). I'm not sure if this is just a cosmetic thing or if it is something that could cause issues later? At what age do problems arise if they are to?

Oh yes, Ellie has hump back too.
It hasn't affected her at all.

[gzarr]

The vet never said anything about her back but maybe she was too young and fluffy to see it? Who knows. She'll go in to get spayed in January so I'll definitely have her blood work done, knees checked, etc. I can't believe all that's happened to Ellie!!! How aweful for her and expensive for you! Are the health problems just because they are inbreed? Why wouldn't just plain 'ol mixes or dogs have more problems then? Don't they say that mutts generally are more healthy dogs?

[gzarr]

By the way, Ellie avatar is priceless! Look at that face!!!!!!!

[gzarr]

Originally Posted by krisknr

What does the vet say about her back?
When you take her in to get fixed you can have her checked for luxating patellas to.
The best thing you can do to keep your dog healthy is feed her good food and make sure she plays and gets exercise

We live in the beautiful, warm, never windy, er... okay, it's freezing North Dakota so I can't take her for walks until spring arrives. She's shivering even when she goes from the house to the car in our attached garage to pick up kids from school! So no walks till it gets warmer. However, we have a min. daschund next door and a havanese on the other side of us and we all ask if each other's dogs can "play." So at least once a day she has some wrestle time with another small dog.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by gzarr

The vet never said anything about her back but maybe she was too young and fluffy to see it? Who knows. She'll go in to get spayed in January so I'll definitely have her blood work done, knees checked, etc. I can't believe all that's happened to Ellie!!! How aweful for her and expensive for you! Are the health problems just because they are inbreed? Why wouldn't just plain 'ol mixes or dogs have more problems then? Don't they say that mutts generally are more healthy dogs?

Actually, her GI issue (whatever it is) may be bothering her and when she get yeast and her ears, that bothers her and the allergies bother her but really she looks and acts like a very healthy dog.

None of her issues can really be considered congenital 100% of the time, so we don't know.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by gzarr

By the way, Ellie avatar is priceless! Look at that face!!!!!!!

Aww, thiank you.

[Patti]

With my Cali, who I also bought before I found YT from a BYB, her health issues started after I had her for a few days. She went hypoglycemic and was rushd to the ER vets this happened several times even though I fed her frequently and watched her like a hawk. She had a rough first 8 months and was diagnosed with mild liver shunt (MVD). She also has terrible allergies that require and expensive medicine every day and garde 4 LP. But I also have an old pom who was from a petstore and she had been healthy until she got older 9-10 years old and is afflicted with some dieases associated with aging. My other 2 Yorkies from a breeder have been healthy knock on wood. So I would reccommend you get the routine bloodowork and a good check up and that should give you a pretty good idea on her health.

[Ladymom]

Like Ellie, Lady's genetic health issues didn't show up until she was much older. She is thirteen now.

She was diagnosed with epilepsy age age 4.5.

She was diagnosed with diabetes at age 6.

She was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis at age 7. Her vet said her joints looked like those of an elderly dog.

She was diagnosed with allergies at age 7.

She was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 10.

Lady also has constant infections because of her weak immune system from the diabetes. Her pancreas no longer produces the enzymes necessary to digest her food properly. She has liver disease from years of phenobarbital for seizures.

My advice for anyone with a poorly bred dog is to set up a separate account for veterinary bills. Actually, that's my advice for anyone with pets, but it is especially important if your dog came from pet store or backyard breeder. Lady's diabetic supplies and medications plus routine vet visits to monitor her conditions run about $5,000 a year now. That doesn't include an illness or emergency which usually runs another $5,000-$1,000.