[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Nothing left to judge - Tail Amputation, Health Question
- From: "paulette mcguirt" <cnnpmm2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2005 16:32:50 -0500
Karen Wrote
I have a health question. A colleague was telling me about a gsd that =
had=20
some behavioral (or neurological) disorder where he was so anxious he
chewed=20
on his own tail. They were having to amputate the tail. The claim is =
that
this disorder is "common" in the gsd. Is that accurate?
Karen Lollar
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D
=3D
I think your colleague was referring to a syndrome known as Acral Lick
Dermatitis or ALD. I once owned an E. European GSD that suffered from =
this
problem. He would literally tear his toenails off and chew up his hind =
legs
and feet. He had a complete diagnostic workup and the vets found no =
reason
for his behavior. Otherwise my dog was healthy and very active.
A lot of dogs are euthanized after the diagnosis is made because this
disease is so difficult to treat. In general, the dogs don't exhibit =
much
pain, but the owners can't handle the self-mutilation involved. It can =
get
very bad, hence amputations. My GSD lived to be 12, but I had to remain
vigilant in checking his legs and feet for signs of infection.
Here's a link to a site that details the disease in layman's terms.
http://www.lbah.com/canine/ald.htm
Here's a list of several breeds are prone to ALD:
Doberman pinscher=20
Great Dane=20
Golden retriever=20
Labrador retriever=20
German shepherd=20
Boxer=20
Dalmatian=20
English Setter=20
Shar Pei=20
Weimaraner=20
Paulette McGuirt
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