List of common problems afflicting Weimaraners
Cryptorchidism or undescended testicle(s): bilaterals sterile; unilaterals fertile but barred from showing; widespread in many breeds. Inheritance: threshold; recessive(?).
Dermoid or corneal dermoid cyst:
Congenital cyst on cornea; contains skin, glands and hair. Inheritance: unclear
Distichiasis or double eyelashes:
extra row of eyelashes, usually on the lower lid but can be on the upper lid causing irritation to the cornea characterized by tearing.
Entropion or diamond eye:
Eyelids roll in and hair rubs on the cornea; effects are irritation, tearing and visual losses from scarring. This occurs in many breeds.
Von Willebrands Disease:Factor VIII Deficiency or hemophilia A; AHF:
Slowed clotting time; prolonged bleeding at time of tail docking, hematomas, etc. Inheritance: recessive, sex linked.
Factor XI Deficiency or minor bleeding disorder:
Potentially severe after trauma or surgery. Inheritance: autosomal dominant; incomplete penetrance.
Gastric Torsion or GDV, bloat/torsion, twisted stomach:
Bloat is a disease common to deep-chested dogs that can involve twisting or torsion of the stomach with a subsequent blockage of the esophagus at one end and the intestine at the other. Bloat happens quickly and is often fatal without immediate veterinary attention.
Its symptoms include retching with no vomiting, extreme salivation, obvious discomfort, and distention of the abdomen. Gulping food can bring on an attack of bloat, so Weimaraners should be fed twice daily to avoid the hunger pangs that lead to eating too fast. Some breeders believe that foods containing soybeans shouldn't be fed to breeds that are susceptible to bloat because the beans can produce gas.
Many cases of bloat occur in the evening, after the dog has perhaps shared the family snack of pizza or some other highly-spiced food and then exercised. Treatment is expensive and not always successful. Feeding moistened dog food and postponing exercise for a couple of hours after the meal may help prevent bloat. See Bloat update...
Hip Dysplasia, CHD or poor hips:
Progressive developmental deformity of hip joints; mild to crippling. Inheritance: polygenic; threshold.
For more information visit the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy or HOD:
Painful, swollen joints and bones; fever; may outgrow it but often left with bone deformities; most prevalent in giant breeds; auto immune reaction to vaccines; also associated with oversupplementation. Inheritance is unknown.
Hypomyelinogenesis - Delayed Myelination:
Born with improper nerve covering; tremors and incoordination; may improve and even be normal by one year old. Occurs in six breeds including Weimaraners, Brittany Spaniels and Bernese Mountain Dogs. The prognosis for puppies is good. Affected dogs are born with the myelin sheathing on the nerves underdeveloped. It is similar to Parkinson's Disease in humans, but unlike humans, the dogs are able to regenerate the sheathing with time. Because this insulating coating is missing, impulses sent along the nerves fanned out, missing their intended location and exciting all nerves along the pathway. Once the myelin is regrown, there are no further signs of the problem and puppies go on to lead normal lives.
Hypothyroidism -
Inadequate output of the thyroid hormone causing the coat to thin, becoming coarse, brittle and falling out easily. Other signs that develop gradually are lethargy, obesity, drooping of the eyelids, mental dullness, and irregular heat cycles. Mild thyroid deficiency frequently goes undetected. Diagnosis involves a blood test. Treatment: requires lifetime treatment with thyroid hormone.
Mastocytoma or mast cell tumor:
Malignant and often rapidly spreading nodular skin tumors.
Inheritance: unknown
Nictitating Membrane Eversion:
Haw has poor attachments; cartilage is rolled; everts, showing red swelling and curved cartilage.
Inheritance: autosomal recessive (uncertain).
Persistent Right Aortic Arch:
Abnormal artery constricts esophagus half-way to the stomach; vomiting; must be corrected surgically.
Inheritance: polygenic; threshold.
Pituitary Dwarfism:
Normally proportioned dwarf, immature and retarded; may be fatal.
Inheritance: autosomal recessive.
Retinal Atrophy, Generalized Progressive or general PRA:
Retina degenerates; first, night blindness; then total blindness before middle age.
Inheritance: autosomal recessive.
Syringomyelia, spinal dysraphism; hopper's disease:
Dog stands in a crouch position and hops to move; non-progressive; associated with myelin dysplasias.
Inheritance: unknown
Thymic Atrophy:
By one to three months, the dog has stunted growth, wasting and suppurative pneumonia.
Inheritance: unknown
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia:
There is a bad valve between heart chambers which causes other heart problems to develop.
Inheritance: unknown
Umbilical Hernia, rupture or "outie":
Bulging of the abdominal contents in sac at umbilicus; common; usually harmless unless it is very large.
AKC Policy On Umbilical Hernias
Inheritance: threshold
Ununited Anconeal Process or elbow dysplasia:
Growth plate in elbow does not fuse; secondary degenerative joint disease: pain and limp; surgical correction required.
The OFA has more information on elbow dysplasia. Inheritance: polygenic
Weimaraner Club of America
Cryptorchidism or undescended testicle(s): bilaterals sterile; unilaterals fertile but barred from showing; widespread in many breeds. Inheritance: threshold; recessive(?).
Dermoid or corneal dermoid cyst:
Congenital cyst on cornea; contains skin, glands and hair. Inheritance: unclear
Distichiasis or double eyelashes:
extra row of eyelashes, usually on the lower lid but can be on the upper lid causing irritation to the cornea characterized by tearing.
Entropion or diamond eye:
Eyelids roll in and hair rubs on the cornea; effects are irritation, tearing and visual losses from scarring. This occurs in many breeds.
Von Willebrands Disease:Factor VIII Deficiency or hemophilia A; AHF:
Slowed clotting time; prolonged bleeding at time of tail docking, hematomas, etc. Inheritance: recessive, sex linked.
Factor XI Deficiency or minor bleeding disorder:
Potentially severe after trauma or surgery. Inheritance: autosomal dominant; incomplete penetrance.
Gastric Torsion or GDV, bloat/torsion, twisted stomach:
Bloat is a disease common to deep-chested dogs that can involve twisting or torsion of the stomach with a subsequent blockage of the esophagus at one end and the intestine at the other. Bloat happens quickly and is often fatal without immediate veterinary attention.
Its symptoms include retching with no vomiting, extreme salivation, obvious discomfort, and distention of the abdomen. Gulping food can bring on an attack of bloat, so Weimaraners should be fed twice daily to avoid the hunger pangs that lead to eating too fast. Some breeders believe that foods containing soybeans shouldn't be fed to breeds that are susceptible to bloat because the beans can produce gas.
Many cases of bloat occur in the evening, after the dog has perhaps shared the family snack of pizza or some other highly-spiced food and then exercised. Treatment is expensive and not always successful. Feeding moistened dog food and postponing exercise for a couple of hours after the meal may help prevent bloat. See Bloat update...
Hip Dysplasia, CHD or poor hips:
Progressive developmental deformity of hip joints; mild to crippling. Inheritance: polygenic; threshold.
For more information visit the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy or HOD:
Painful, swollen joints and bones; fever; may outgrow it but often left with bone deformities; most prevalent in giant breeds; auto immune reaction to vaccines; also associated with oversupplementation. Inheritance is unknown.
Hypomyelinogenesis - Delayed Myelination:
Born with improper nerve covering; tremors and incoordination; may improve and even be normal by one year old. Occurs in six breeds including Weimaraners, Brittany Spaniels and Bernese Mountain Dogs. The prognosis for puppies is good. Affected dogs are born with the myelin sheathing on the nerves underdeveloped. It is similar to Parkinson's Disease in humans, but unlike humans, the dogs are able to regenerate the sheathing with time. Because this insulating coating is missing, impulses sent along the nerves fanned out, missing their intended location and exciting all nerves along the pathway. Once the myelin is regrown, there are no further signs of the problem and puppies go on to lead normal lives.
Hypothyroidism -
Inadequate output of the thyroid hormone causing the coat to thin, becoming coarse, brittle and falling out easily. Other signs that develop gradually are lethargy, obesity, drooping of the eyelids, mental dullness, and irregular heat cycles. Mild thyroid deficiency frequently goes undetected. Diagnosis involves a blood test. Treatment: requires lifetime treatment with thyroid hormone.
Mastocytoma or mast cell tumor:
Malignant and often rapidly spreading nodular skin tumors.
Inheritance: unknown
Nictitating Membrane Eversion:
Haw has poor attachments; cartilage is rolled; everts, showing red swelling and curved cartilage.
Inheritance: autosomal recessive (uncertain).
Persistent Right Aortic Arch:
Abnormal artery constricts esophagus half-way to the stomach; vomiting; must be corrected surgically.
Inheritance: polygenic; threshold.
Pituitary Dwarfism:
Normally proportioned dwarf, immature and retarded; may be fatal.
Inheritance: autosomal recessive.
Retinal Atrophy, Generalized Progressive or general PRA:
Retina degenerates; first, night blindness; then total blindness before middle age.
Inheritance: autosomal recessive.
Syringomyelia, spinal dysraphism; hopper's disease:
Dog stands in a crouch position and hops to move; non-progressive; associated with myelin dysplasias.
Inheritance: unknown
Thymic Atrophy:
By one to three months, the dog has stunted growth, wasting and suppurative pneumonia.
Inheritance: unknown
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia:
There is a bad valve between heart chambers which causes other heart problems to develop.
Inheritance: unknown
Umbilical Hernia, rupture or "outie":
Bulging of the abdominal contents in sac at umbilicus; common; usually harmless unless it is very large.
AKC Policy On Umbilical Hernias
Inheritance: threshold
Ununited Anconeal Process or elbow dysplasia:
Growth plate in elbow does not fuse; secondary degenerative joint disease: pain and limp; surgical correction required.
The OFA has more information on elbow dysplasia. Inheritance: polygenic
Weimaraner Club of America