Leonberger Health

Kennel di Sforzando is dedicated to producing healthy, long-lived Leonbergers. Every breed of dogs has their share of genetic and environmental conditions and the leonberger is no exception. Through careful breeding, proper diet, and thorough veterinary care, we can maximize every leonberger's chances for a long, vigorous life.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia affects only about 10% of Leonbergers, but is a rampant condition in many other breeds of leonberger proportions. An unfortunate myth in the dog world is that HD is caused by a combination of diet, environment, and genetics. In truth, “hip dysplasia is a multiple gene, inherited disease. Environmental factors, like high caloric diet during the rapid growth phase, may exacerbate changes in dysplastic hips but will not create hip dysplasia.”HD, the structural failure of the femoral head to seat into the hip socket, is programmed from birth- just as the color of your leo’s face or the length of their tail. The symptoms of HD may manifest faster due to trauma or improper diet, but trauma and diet don’t cause the genetic condition. HD is often present in Leonbergers years before symptoms appear and many owners are oblivious to the condition. On the other hand, overzealous veterinarians have misdiagnosed HD in "loose" leonberger puppies and leonberger puppy owners need to be aware that hip dysplasia can only be properly diagnosed in a leonberger or leonberger puppy through an OFA style X-Ray. For the full article we submitted to the LeoLetter click here.

Cancer

Cancer, tragically, is the number one killer of Leonbergers. For young Leonbergers, there is some risk of cancer and for older Leonbergers the risks seem to increase exponentially as they age. The most prevalent types are osteosarcoma (a bone cancer responsible for half of leonberger deaths and that took our Gia) and hemangiosarcoma (a cancer affecting the lining of the blood vessels and some internal organs). A number of other cancers, though less common, can affect Leonbergers. Because of cancer, the lifespan of the leonberger only averages seven years. If a dog lives a healthy life to the age of four however, they have a very good chance of living into the double digits. We don't yet have a way to test leonberger puppies for risk or to evaluate their parents to know genetic leanings. The Broad Institute, through the support of responsible breeders and fanciers, is making great progress and the leonberger community is working to make many of these cancers an issue of the past!

Other Genetic Concerns

Leonbergers can inherit and develop a number of other conditions including thyroid disease, monorchidism, and polyneuropathy. Thyroid disease (when the immune system attacks the thyroid) and monorchidism (a not uncommon condition in leonberger puppies where a testicle fails to descend) are both easily and inexpensively treated. Polyneuropothy, a painless but crippling nervous system disorder, is rare, but becoming more and more of a cause for concern. Leo Watch is an excellent source for more information on health problems in Leonbergers.