Dr Liesel van der Merwe is a small animal medicine specialist. Send her your questions: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dr Liesel van der Merwe

Some conditions or problems our pets develop are in their genes and are as a result of breeding. Owners should be aware of the ‘problems’ that come with their selected breed and discuss preventative management with their veterinarian.

In some cases management is all that is required, such as a low calcium diet and controlled feeding in large-breed dogs to limit joint problems. In other cases a more radical surgical ‘nip and tuck’ may be appropriate.

Sterilisation: All dogs should be sterilised if not used for breeding purposes. Sterilizing (spaying) before the second heat almost eliminates the risk of mammary tumours in bitches. Every time a bitch comes into heat, regardless if she is mated or not, her body thinks it is pregnant and the uterus develops a lining and glands to support a pregnancy. Over time the lining of the uterus becomes thickened and cystic and is prone to develop severe life-threatening infections in unsterilized, un-bred bitches.

Male dogs can be left intact if they are not prone to aggressive and roaming behaviour.  However, with age they are inclined to develop benign prostatic enlargement which also predisposes to the development of prostatic cysts and abcessation. The prostate of a male dog surrounds the urethra, so prostatic enlargement in old dogs can cause urination difficulties. Castration will cause the prostate to shrink in size.

All sterilised animals are more prone to obesity. On average they immediately require up to 30% less food.

Upper airway obstruction: All brachycephalic (short nose/ flat faced) dogs (bulldogs, Boston terriers, pugs, boxers, Pekingese) have some degree of obstruction to normal breathing. In some individuals these defects are pronounced and they would benefit from early surgical correction. Common defects include a very long soft palate which hangs over the larynx and obstructs airflow as well as vibrates, causing snoring and even sleep apnoea. The nostrils might also be very narrow and benefit from a procedure to widen them. Increased effort to breathe will eventually weaken the surrounding tissues in the throat, worsening the problem. 

Eyes ‘popping’ out: Pekingese, pugs and other breeds with bulging eyes are prone to eyes popping out of the orbit with minimal trauma. However, these eyes can often not be saved and are removed. In young animals a stitch can be placed at the outer corner of each eye to close the eyelids a little more and thus hold the eyes in place. This could easily be done at the same time as sterilisation.

Excessive skin folds: Bulldogs, pugs and pekes have a lot of excess skin, which can cause problems in combination with their short noses and bulging eyes. The hair on the skin folds can rub against the cornea of the eyes and cause irritation and ulceration. These folds can easily be removed. Areas with excessive folds can also be prone to recurrent dermatitis.

Dewclaws: Some dogs still have dewclaws – a small first toe on the inside of the foot. The dewclaw can be very rudimentary where the bone doesn’t actually articulate with the wrist, or it can be more developed. This toe is inclined to hook onto fences and branches and is best removed in working dogs.

Gastropexy: Some of the large breed dogs, especially those with deep chests (Great Danes, German shepherds) are predisposed to a twisted stomach, which is frequently fatal, and even when detected early is costly to treat and manage. These dogs are also normally highly strung. For certain breeds it is almost recommended that a surgical procedure to fix the stomach in the correct position to the abdominal wall is performed. This procedure, known as a gastropexy, will prevent the stomach from twisting.