- Bloat
- Cataracts
- Central progressive retinal atrophy
- Elbow dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Hip dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Lymphosarcoma
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Skin and allergy problems
- Stationary night blindness
- von Willenbrand's disease
- Miscellaneous canine health links
- Rec.pets.dogs Medical Info FAQ
- Bloat Notes, May 1993
- Bloat Notes, December 1993
- Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus; Bloat
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals web site
- Vetinfo elbow dysplasia information
- Briard hips in the US
- Acmepet series of articles on canine hip dysplasia
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals web site
- Rec.pets.dogs Medical Information FAQ
-
Fred Lanting on Canine Hip Dysplasia
- Frequently asked questions about canine hypothyroidism
- Thyroid testing in Dogs: A Reference for Dog Breeders & Owners
- Rec.pets.dogs Medical Info FAQ
Briard health information
This page is still very much under construction. Some of these disorders are fairly common in the Briard, some are rare; I have provided information on incidence where I could. Please don't let this list scare you--generally, Briards are pretty healthy dogs.
Bloat (Gastric dilation/volvulus syndrome)
--contributed to Briard-L by Sandy WicklundThis is always an acute situation, a disorder with sudden onset...in short, an emergency in need of immediate attention and treatment. The condition is very serious and always we must guard our prognosis and warn our owners that the outcome may be fatal. Bloat, with or without torsion, occurs most commonly in the large, deep-chested breeds, including Briards.
The history in these cases is quite typical. Bloat follows, usually, the ingestion of a quantity of commercial dog meal and the consumption of voluminous amounts of water--but may occur at any time. The clinical signs include, whining, pacing, panting, repeatedly getting up and laying down, attempted vomiting an defecation, abdominal discomfort, salvation, abdominal distention, saw-horse stance and prostration. Shock, indicated by loss of color in gums, may or may not be present.
Treatment: We anesthetize our patient with pentothal sodium and pass a stomach tube to relieve the gas and siphon off the stomach contents. In many instances, we are unable to reach the stomach with our tube. This tells us that we have a torsion or twist of the stomach. In this situation, we are obliged to administer a gas anesthetic, open the abdomen, relieve the torsion, and open the stomach to remove the fermenting dog meal. Intravenous fluids and steriods are given to combat shock. It is advisable to withhold food for the first 24 hours post treatment, and then small quatities of canned dog food may be served three or four times a day.
Preventive measures include avoiding violent exercise immediately before and after eating, however, walking is permissible. Two small meals a day instead of one large one. Water should be available at all times, but limited immediately after feeding if the dog appears to over-consume. Do not make abrupt changes in the diet. When changing dog food do so over a ten day period, by gradually decreasing the old brand and increasing the new. Also recognize that bloat may occur after animals return home from being at the veterinary hospital or boarded at a kennel.
Do not take this condition lightly. Bloat can kill and kill quickly! If you suspect a problem, waste no time in getting immediate treatment.
For more information on bloat:
Cataracts
--excerpted from "Ocular Disorders Proven or Suspected to be Hereditary in Dogs" by the American College of Veterinary Opthamologists (ACVO).
Mode of inheritance: not defined
ACVO advises that affected animals should not be bred
A cataract is a lens opacity which may affect one or both eyes and may involve the lens partially or completely. In cases where cataracts are complete and affect both eyes, blindness results. The prudent approach is to assume cataracts are hereditary except in cases known to be associated with trauma, other cases of ocular inflammation, specific metabolic diseases, persistent pupillary membranes, persistent hyaloid or nutritional deficiencies. The frequency and significance of cataracts in the breed is not known.
The list of Briards with current CERF registration is part of the Briard Homepage.
For more information on cataracts:
Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA)
--excerpted from "Ocular Disorders Proven or Suspected to be Hereditary in Dogs" by the American College of Veterinary Opthamologists (ACVO).
Mode of inheritance: autosomal recessive
ACVO advises that affected animals should not be bred
CPRA is a progressive retinal degeneration in which photoreceptor death occurs secondary to disease of the underlying pigment epithelium. Progression is slow and some animals never lose vision. CPRA occurs in England, but is uncommon elsewhere.
In the Briard, the early lesions are seen first in the temporal tapetal fundus and progress to affect the posterior pole region at a later time; the eye lesions may initially be asymetrical. The age of onset varies from young adults (>17 months) to older animals. Many dogs have been found to be normal on repeated examinations before 5 years of age, only to develop clinical signs at a later age. The disease is inherited as a simple recessive trait. The ERG has not been reported to be a useful test for the early diagnosis of the disease.
The list of Briards with current CERF registration is part of the Briard Homepage.
Reference:
Redford P: Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy (CPRA): study of the disease in the briard. J Sm Anim Pract 25:129, 1984.
For more information:
Elbow dysplasia (ununited anconeal process, OCD of the elbow, etc.)
A few cases of elbow dysplasia has been reported in the breed to date--I do not know what type they were.The Complete list of OFA-certified Briards is part of the Briard Homepage. It includes information on elbow certifications.
For more information on elbow dysplasia:
Epilepsy
A few cases of epilepsy have been known to occur in Briards. I do not know if these were considered to be idiopathic (inherited) epilepsy or whether they were due to other causes (injury, toxins etc.)For more information on epilepsy:
Hip dysplasia
Like most other large dogs, Briards may be afflicted with hip dysplasia (also referred to as canine hip dysplasia or CHD). There is no cure for CHD but its incidence can be reduced by careful breeding practices. Xrays must be performed for diagnosis. In the US, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certifies potential breeding dogs as being free of CHD. Currently, about 14 percent of the Briards whose xrays are submitted to OFA fail to be certified free of CHD but the actual incidence of CHD is probably higher.The Complete list of OFA-certified Briards is part of the Briard Homepage.
For more information on hip dysplasia:
Hypothyroidism
An under-active thyroid gland is a problem which occurs fairly frequently in many breeds of dog, including the Briard. Diagnosis is by blood test.For more information on hypothyroidism:
Lymphosarcoma
Lymphosarcoma is a cancer of the lymph system. Typically a dog presents with swollen lymph glands. Unfortunately it is usually rapidly fatal, with death usually occurring in less than a month if no treatment is undertaken; however chemotherapy can usually often the dog's life another 1-2 years.A recent survey showed by the Briard Club of America showed that lymphosarcoma was responsible for more than 10 percent percent of Briard deaths that occurred between the ages of two and nine. It is not yet known if there is a genetic factor at work.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
--excerpted from "Ocular Disorders Proven or Suspected to be Hereditary in Dogs" by the American College of Veterinary Opthamologists (ACVO).
Mode of inheritance: not defined
ACVO advises that affected animals should not be bred
PRA is a degenerative disease of the retinal visual cells which progresses to blindness. This abnormality may be detected by electroretinogram before it is apparent clinically. In all breeds studied to date, PRA is recessively inherited. In the Briard, early fundus abnormalities usually appear after 4 years of age. The eletroretinogram (ERG) shows marked functional abnormalities indicative of a progressive rod-cone degeneration. The age for early diagnosis by ERG has not been established but should be possible in dogs over 2 years of age.
The list of Briards with current CERF registration is part of the Briard Homepage.
Reference:
ACVO Genetics Committee, 1992 and/or Data from CERF All-Breeds Report, 1991.
For more information on PRA:
Skin and allergy problems
Skin and allergy problems occur in some Briards.For more information on skin and allergy problems:
Stationary Night Blindness
--excerpted from "Ocular Disorders Proven or Suspected to be Hereditary in Dogs" by the American College of Veterinary Opthamologists (ACVO).
Mode of inheritance: autosomal recessive
ACVO advises that affected animals should not be bred
SNB is a non-progressive retinal function defect characterized primarily by night blindness; day vision is normal to severely compromised. Opthamological examination shows no abnormalities. The condition is detectable by 5-6 weeks of age, after the postnatal maturation of the retina is completed. Nystagmus is present in some dogs, particularly in those having night blindness and severely compromised day vision. The ERG results are specific and diagnostic for the disorder. ERG testing is essential to distinguish this disorder from more central visual pathway defects which may appear clinically similar. The disease must also be distinguished from progressive retinal atrophy, from which it is distinct. Abnormalities in serum lipids (mild hypercholesterolemia) and elevated arachidonic acid have been noted in some animals. The significance of these findings is unknown.
References:
Riis R and Aguirre G: The briard problem. Trans Amer Coll Vet Opthamol, 1983.
Riis R and Siakotos A: Inherited lipid retinopathy in a dog breed. Suppl Invest Opthamol Vis Sci 30:308, 1989.
Narfstrom K et al: The briard dog: a new animal model of congenital stationary night blindness. Brit J Opthal 73:750, 1989.
The gene which causes SNB has been identified and testing is commercially available from two sources:
For more information on SNB:von Willenbrand's disease
Low levels of von Willenbrand's factor, a substance in the blood that is involved with clotting, occurs in many breeds of dog. A few cases have occurred in the Briard. Diagnosis is by blood test.For more information on von Willenbrand's disease: