Diseases of the Karst Sheepdog


Diseases of the Karst Sheepdog: a proud and resistant breed, little prone to pathologies. Let’s see what the common ones.

Even if it is not a very common breed in our country, it is still very much appreciated.

In fact, there are many looking for breeding of these puppies that apparently look like teddy bears.

Very often, you have to go to their homeland in order to have one.

Precisely because of this little diffusion, it happens to know very little about the breed, its needs and above all about pathologies.

That is why, in this article today, we are going to learn about the probable diseases of the Karst Sheepdog.


Diseases of the Karst Sheepdog

The Karst Sheepdog is a canine breed of Slovenian origin, with a rather muscular but overall harmonious structure.

Equipped with a height at the withers of about 57-63 cm (ideal size 60 cm) and a weight from 30 to 42 kg.

It has a robust and strong health, thanks also to the thick fur that protects it from the cold and bad weather, but in the hottest periods, if it is outside, it is good to provide it with shelter from the sun.

Therefore, it has no propensity for genetic diseases, apart from hip dysplasia, which it shares with the other molossers.

However, like all other breeds it can be a victim of the common diseases that affect all dogs.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia in Karst’s Sheepdog occurs when the femur is positioned incorrectly in the hip cavity of the animal, resulting in a limp and intense pain in the dog.

It can be severe or less severe in the first 6 months of life, a period in which the puppy is growing and therefore more vulnerable.

Symptoms can be identified that vary a lot, depending on the stage of the disease and the limitation of joint functioning and depending on the age of the dog.

The diagnosis of the hip is performed with an x-ray to be programmed as early as 4 months of age in already predisposed breeds and in all large and giant dogs.

It is possible to intervene surgically in the most serious cases, but the doctor can establish, depending on the severity, even just a preventive therapy.

Common diseases in dogs: the main ones

The diseases common to all dog breeds can be:

  • Rabies: a very serious infectious disease, it is transmitted through a wound, generally the bite of an already infected animal and can also be transmitted to humans;
  • Otitis: is the inflammation of the epithelium that covers the ear canal of the auricle;
  • Mycosis: it is a disease caused by fungi;
  • Diarrhea: can be caused by infections, internal parasites, stress, dietary changes, unsuitable food such as leftovers or too-rich snacks, spoiled food, and other organ dysfunction.
  • Constipation: Usually caused by dehydration, insufficient fiber intake, ingestion of hair or foreign bodies, aging, tumors, trauma or fractures, spinal cord disorders, nerve-based large bowel disorders, metabolic or endocrine disorders, debilitation, poor physical activity;
  • Conjunctivitis: it is the inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye;
  • Abscess: it is an infection that occurs when there are deep wounds on the dog’s body;
  • Allergies: they can be of various origins;
  • Periodontitis: a disease of the dog’s mouth;
  • Leishmaniasis: a particularly serious chronic disease that causes progressive damage to the dog. It is an infectious and contagious pathology caused by the parasite Leishmania Infantum transmitted by the bite of small insects;
  • Leptospirosis: a serious dog disease, caused by a bacterium, Leptospirosi interrogans but also a serious zoonosis;
  • Giardiasis: caused by a parasite that spreads mainly through the feces of contaminated animals.

These are all common diseases in all dogs regardless of breed, age and gender. Which is why they can also affect Karst’s Sheepdog.


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