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The Chow Chow is a unique dog breed, looking just like a teddy bear yet very dignified and ready to protect their home at a moment’s notice. No wonder this breed, native to the northern region of China, is such a popular breed. If you want to take good care of your Chow Chow, here are some of the health problems that are common to them and how you can address them.
Hip Dysplasia is one of the most common issues a Chow Chow can have, so you’ll want to keep a close eye out for it. This is an inherited condition, and it allows the hip joints to develop improperly. This can lead to arthritis in the joints, too. Severe hip dysplasia causes mobility loss and joint pain which can be debilitating for your Chow Chow’s health.
As your Chow Chow matures, you may see that their legs become stiffer or lamer. They may also find it challenging to get up from a lying position. If you see this, you’ll want to seek help as soon as possible. A vet will take X-rays of your dog’s bones to diagnose the problem, then treat any pain they’re dealing with. Depending on the severity of the issue, surgery could be another option.
Be aware that managing your Chow Chow’s weight is essential, as this will help manage hip dysplasia too. If a dog is overweight, it could develop it sooner and suffer with it more than a dog of a healthy weight.
Canine hip dysplasia can be a painful and debilitating condition. For dogs with mild to moderate hip dysplasia a dog hip brace offers joint support and relieves hip pain. The combined sense of compression and lift at the hip joint may make it easier for the dog to move.
For severe hip dysplasia walking and placing weight on their hind legs may be impossible for some dogs. In these instances, a dog wheelchair can be vital for a dog. The support of a canine cart reduces the pressure on the hips and allows dogs to move their back legs to walk normally.
Joint pain is another common issue with Chow Chows, so it’s something that you need to be aware of. When the puppy grows, it can develop a condition called eosinophilic panospanosteitiso, known as pano or eo-pan. This is when the joints and bones suffer inflammation.
Your vet should look for this at check-ups and see if the dog shows pain when manipulating the area. If they diagnose this, they will get X-rays to see the bones and what treatment is needed. The good news is that there’s no permanent damage, and you’ll need pain medication for your pup to manage it.
Chow Chows are susceptible to eye issues, especially Rough Coated Chow Chows. That can include glaucoma, which can present as watering eyes, squinting, or the eye looking as though it’s swollen or bulging. Entropion is another common condition, where the eyelid rolls inwards and causes the eyelashes to rub against the cornea.
If eye issues aren’t treated right away, they can eventually lead to blindness. Plus, they can be very painful. As such, watch out for any problems, and have your pet looked at by a vet if you’re unsure.
Diabetes can happen in all dog breeds, but Chow Chows have been seen to have a higher incidence of it. That can be seen in dogs with increased eating and drinking habits, frequent urination, and unexplained weight loss.
It can be managed relatively easily if caught early with daily insulin injections. That will help the dog manage their blood sugar levels and these symptoms.
Just like humans, Chow Chows can suffer allergies too. Unlike us, though, it doesn’t come out in sneezing; instead, the allergies will make their skin itchy. This is called ‘atopy’ in dogs. You’ll see the signs of this in your dog’s feet, belly, folds of their skin, and ears. Typically, your dog will lick these areas or rub its face. You may also see more ear infections.
Just like for humans, though, there are lots of treatment options available. You can talk to your vet to see what kind of options are available to you to help your Chow Chow with their allergies.
As you can see, there are various health issues that your Chow Chow can experience in their life. There’s no need to worry, though; if you’re taking good care of them and keeping an eye on their health, you should be able to pick up on any changes quickly. If you see any changes, make sure you go to your vet for help and advice on managing their condition.
Schaeffer (16 and a half years old), a Chow mix. has always been a happy loving dog, but with age, his rear end started to give up. When it first happened two years ago, after multiple acupuncture sessions and aqua and laser therapies, he got him back on track. Unfortunately, this time there was no progress.
After doing some research, we found out about Walkin’ Wheels. How happy Schaeffer was to be able to go on daily adventures with us again! The look in his eyes was priceless! It’s amazing how simple and easy it was to set up his new wheels! The frame is very light, but not junky. Schaeffer is an “off-road” dog, so at first we were skeptical about the wheels (we thought they should’ve been bigger), but they seem to work just fine.
The customer service was excellent, and the package came on time. Also, when I called the company to ask some questions, there was no wait, and the representative was very friendly and helpful. I can’t express how grateful we are for Walkin’ Wheels! You guys made our lives easier and happier – ask Schaeffer! Woof!
– Derek and Natasha
Jenny Han is a writer for Dissertation Writing Service. She writes about dog care and health.
hello i have a chow chow 9 years old she is iching all the time and i feel that her mouth gum is grey to black is it normal thank you