Basset Health

Most breeders of pure breed dogs have a common ethic regarding dealing with congenital and inheritable diseases in their breed. That is, to breed out of their lines, those "diseases" which can be bred out. Certain physical characteristics which define many different breeds, are technically "diseases", but for obvious reasons cannot and will not be bred out.

Following is a list of those congenital and inheritable diseases which may affect the Basset Hound:

• Achondroplasia: abnormal development of cartilage leading to dwarfism (seen aberrantly in most breeds, but that's what makes a Basset hound and other achondroplastic breeds long and low).

• Bloat: a condition where a dog's stomach produces excessive gas and enlarges severely enough to cause death without immediate treatment. Usually associated with gastric torsion (see below).

• Gastric torsion: a condition where the stomach twists, thereby impeding input and output.

• Ectropion: an abnormal rolling out of the eyelids.

• Entropion: an abnormal rolling in of the eyelid.

• Glaucoma: abnormally high pressure in the eye.

• Otitis externa: an infection of the external structures of the ear.

• (Eosinophilic) panosteitis: a painful inflammatory bone disease of young, rapidly growing dogs, often characterized by increased eosinophils in the blood.

• Von Willebrand's disease: a type of bleeding disorder caused by defective blood platelet function. Occurs in 59 dog breeds but most often in Doberman pinschers. An autosomal trait affecting both sexes.