1. GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
Goldens
have had more than their share of breed-related health issues, the most
common and most tragic is cancer. Our family has been lucky enough to
escape this diagnosis, but countless other owners will be getting bad
news about their dogs today, and many of those dogs will be young. Many
of us veterinarians not-so-secretly call this breed "The Cancer
Retriever," which is why I'm so excited about the Golden Retriever Lifetime Project, a huge and important step in helping to save many of these dogs down the line. And many people too!
2. BULLDOGS
The Bulldog
is the beloved breed of the advertising world, today more than ever.
There's no denying the adorability factor here, and I'm as much in love
with the look of the Bulldog, French Bulldog and Pug as anyone else. But the exaggerated features of the Bulldog and other related breeds have produced a perfect storm of health problems that
diminish the quality of life for many of these dogs, and often make
them extremely expensive to own. Many need surgery to shorten their soft
palate and enlarge their nostrils just so they can breathe somewhat
normally. Much as I love them as individuals, as a veterinarian these
problems make me hurt for these dogs and their families.
3. CHIHUAHUAS
Health usually isn't the problem with the Chihuahua.
These active, in-your-face little dogs behave much bigger than they are
(but not bigger than they think they are, which is huge!), and many of
them live well into their teens with regular wellness care. But as one
of the two most common breeds in many shelters these days, finding homes
for them all is a challenge. For that, you can thank Taco Bell and
Paris Hilton, I guess, but I'd like to thank everyone who adopts them,
and spays and neuters them. A little Chihuahua goes a long way, and I'll
be happier when I see a lot less of them in practice, because that
means the shelters aren't struggling to cope with the overpopulation.
4. GERMAN SHEPHERDS
A good German Shepherd
is an awe-inspiring dog, and the best have served in so many ways.
German Shepherds were the original service dogs for people who can't
see, and they've long been used for police and military work, and for
search and rescue. Their popularity has been pretty steady since the
days of Rin Tin Tin,
but the problems with the health of the breed seem to have increased
with every decade. German Shepherds are prone to epilepsy, vision
problems, bleeding disorders and digestive problems, as well as bad hips
and degenerative myelopathy, an incurable condition that causes
progressive paralysis. The German Shepherd is the world's first
media-darling dog, and remains the classic example of the problems of
popularity.
5. PIT BULLS
The biggest problem with Pit Bulls? Too many of them. Just as with Chihuahuas, the popularity ofPit Bulls
has driven a population explosion that's out of sync with the number of
homes available and suitable for these large, powerful dogs. The
majority of Pitties are sweet and stable, but the unfair negative press
the breed has received makes many people afraid to adopt them. As with
the Chihuahua, more adoptions and a lot fewer litters are the answer.
