Gun dogs are popular for their athletic qualities and dedication to the hunt. They often have to assist their human partners in their hunting spree. Due to the nature of their activities, they usually face several health challenges.
Needless to say, gun dogs are special and, hence, need appropriate care. Specialized gun dog care makes them strive well. The veterinarians must ensure they provide the pet’s parents with relevant instructions and vaccinations to make them work dedicatedly. To treat pet disease in difficult situations, veterinarians must read veterinary webinars to gain knowledge and expertise.
The common diseases that gun dogs often have to go through are the following,
What is A Gun Dog and Its Breed?
A gun dog is a hunting dog. A hunting dog belongs to a broad category of dogs and hunting canines. A gun dog, in particular, is the one that is trained to work along with a loud fire alarm while making a hunt.
Three Categories of Gun Dogs
There are three main categories of gun dogs
- Pointers and retrievers
- Setters and spaniels
- Water dogs’
Gun Dogs Behavior and Personality
Gun dogs can be fun to be with. However, it is imperative to understand their behavior and personality to get along with them well. Moreover, for an active and cheerful gun dog, it is important to visit the vet regularly for vaccination for gun dogs
Following are the essential traits of the gun dogs to look for;
- They are very active.
- Gun dogs are friendly and quite social as compared to other dogs.
- A gun dog makes a perfect family dog.
- They can become unruly quite quickly.
- They are big-time foodies and can eat anything, which is why their intake should be monitored.
- This breed of dog is very cooperative.
- They have a good self-control.
Read Also: Top 10 Life Lessons You Can Learn From Your Dog
Common Diseases & Treatment
Gun dogs happen to have a lot of knee and joint injuries due to their hunting and working nature. The reports suggest that working and gun dogs are likely to be 60% more prone to have a cruciate injury. However, training gun dogs can reduce these medical problems.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Hunting dog health problems can be different from those of other breeds of dogs, though knee and joint issues are more or less similar. A few types of musculoskeletal injuries include the following;
Cruciate Ligament Rupture
This is a common injury that gun dogs happen to experience due to their work. Musculoskeletal injuries are especially common in larger breeds, resulting in knee joint instability.
Treatment
The treatment of this rupture may vary. It could start from conservative management, such as rest physiotherapy, to surgical interventions like tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). The intensity of the rupture plays a crucial role in the final treatment option.
Hip Dysplasia
The next condition is Hip Dysplasia a hereditary condition that affects the hip joint, often leading to pain. This also causes lameness in dogs, eventually leading them to have arthritis.
Managing Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is tried to manage well before going for treatment, which could be in severe cases. The veterinarians can train the parents to consider the following.
- Weight management
- Pain medications, according to the vet’s recommendation
Moreover, severe cases may call for surgical intervention.
Elbow Dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia can indicate the development of abnormalities affecting the elbow joint, causing pain and lameness.
Treatment
The treatment of elbow dysplasia ranges from conservative management to surgical procedures depending on the intensity of the abnormalities developed.
It is important to mention here that these musculoskeletal injuries often make the gun dogs have unspecific lameness. They could feel sluggish and limp, showing no interest in running or their hunting activities. Therefore, gun dog nutrition is crucial to monitor and care for the do to excel in his work.
Eye Conditions
Two of the eye conditions are common in gun dogs.
1. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
A few inherited diseases cause degeneration of the retina, which leads to blindness eventually.
Treatment
There is no approved treatment for this disease as yet. However, early detection can make adjustments to the dog’s environment, slowing down the disease.
2. Entropion/Ectropion
This is the inward and outward turning of the eyelid in gun dogs, which often irritates and causes discomfort.
Treatment
This case mostly calls for surgical correction.
Ear Infections
Hunting dog health problems do not end with eyes gun dogs are prone to develop a lot of ear infections, too.
These infections are often caused by
- Allergies
- Parasites
- Foreign bodies
Treatment
The only treatment is cleaning the ear canal and supervising topical and oral medications. Moreover, maintaining good hygiene can also help a gun dog avoid ear infections but also helps in preventing gun dog illnesses.
Skin Issues:
Gun dogs could develop two types of skin issues.
- Hot spots
- Allergies
Hot Spots
These are a few localized areas where gun dogs get to have intense itching and self-trauma. This condition is mainly triggered by parasites, allergies, and irritants.
Management
Regularly visiting a veternarian to prevent infection and keep the dog healthy is crucial to keeping the hot spots at bay.
Allergies
There are certain types of allergies that gun dogs could develop, such as;
- Food allergies
- Environmental allergies
- Flea allergies are especially common and can cause skin problems.
Treatment
It involved identification and avoiding allergens. The medications are mostly used to manage symptoms. Proper medication can also help with parasite prevention in gun dogs.
Dealing with gun dogs can be challenging for veterinarians at times.
Gun Dog Grooming Tips
A few gun dogs are high maintenance, especially their feathers and ears. However, keeping them clean and tidy and grooming them can help and is doable overall. For instance, gun dogs have a heart for lakes, muddy puddles, and jumping, which can expose them to many germs, leading to diseases.
Therefore, veterinarians should ensure they counsel their pet parents to groom and train the dog to avoid such sites and stop there when commanded. Moreover, when they jump and have fun in the lake and puddles, a quick shower after returning home can help them stay clean.
Here are a few vital grooming tips for absolute gun dog care that pet parents should consider to stay in peace.
- They should brush their gun dogs regularly to make their coat healthy and promote blood circulation.
- They should clean their gun dogs’ ears and eyes to prevent infection and discomfort.
- Dogs should be bathed once in a while to make them smell great.
- Trim their nails.
- They should teach their dog to enjoy grooming sessions and not get irked by them for optimum results.
To Wrap Up
Gun dog care needs detailed attention. Gun dogs happen to expose themselves to certain diseases, and treating them is extremely crucial. A few common diseases gun dogs tend to have are joint problems, ear and skin infections, and a few eye diseases.
If you are a vet techs dealing with canine fellows, Vet and Tech is your place to get registered for updated educational resources. The website also offers free webinars and RACE-approved credits. Do check it out for further details.
