Did you know that there is a dwarf dog? Dwarfism in dogs is a very rare genetic condition in dogs that can affect some pets. Animals with dwarfism are reduced in size and may have other health problems due to the hormonal change that causes the condition. Thus, the dog with dwarfism needs some special care throughout life. To know how dwarfism in dogs is caused, you can find outdevelops, what are the characteristics of a dwarf dog and if there is treatment for the condition, check out the following article that Patas da Casa has prepared!

Dwarfism in dogs: understand what this rare genetic condition is

Dwarfism in dogs is an endocrine condition resulting from a deficiency in the production of the growth hormone, GH. This deficiency occurs due to malformation of the pituitary gland, the gland that produces GH. A case study of dwarfism in dogs published in the journal Ciência Rural shows the difference in GH levels between a dog with dwarfism and one without. In the study, a German Shepherd with dwarfism wasThe researchers noticed that the animal's GH level after pituitary stimulation was between 0.5 ng/ml and 1 ng/ml. When the animal has GH less than 2 ng/ml after stimulation, it is considered a dwarf dog. This proves the diagnosis of the German Shepherd with dwarfism.

A dwarf dog does not always have parents with dwarfism

The condition of dwarfism in dogs is hereditary, meaning that it is passed from parent to child. However, this does not mean that one of the parents needs to be a dwarf dog. The dwarfism gene is recessive, meaning that if parents have the gene in their DNA, even if it does not manifest itself in them, they can combine and generate a puppy with dwarfism. Also, it is not necessarily the case that two puppies that havegenes for dwarfism in animals will generate a puppy with the condition. Therefore, it is common for one of the puppies in the same litter to be a dog with dwarfism and the others not, because in them the gene has not manifested itself.

The hormonal change that causes dwarfism in dogs can also lead to other endocrine problems

Animals with dwarfism have a deficiency in the production of growth hormone. Pituitary dwarfism occurs due to the malformation of the pituitary gland and mainly affects dogs of the German Shepherd breed, but can also occur in Pinscher, Weimaraner and Karelian Bear. With this problem, some bones, muscles and organs end up not growing and developing in the correct way. In this case, the dogThe dwarf, although it does not grow, has a proportional body, so it always retains the appearance of a puppy.

The pituitary gland, in addition to producing GH, produces other hormones. Therefore, it is common for dogs with pituitary dwarfism to present, in addition to a deficit in GH production, a deficiency in the production of other hormones as well, thus resulting in other endocrine diseases, such as canine hypothyroidism. It is worth remembering that there is yet another type of dwarfism in dogs. Achondroplastic dwarfism is one in which there is a deficit in the production of GH.Disproportion in body structure: the limbs are shorter than the rest of the body, but it is not related to the pituitary gland. This type of dwarfism in dogs is naturally present in breeds such as Dachshund, Basset Hound and Corgi, whose little legs are much smaller than the body.

The dog with dwarfism develops more slowly, showing physical changes and health problems

A puppy with dwarfism does not show any signs of the condition until it is two months old, when it still only looks like a normal puppy. After this period, the signs of dwarfism in animals start to become noticeable. The dwarf puppy develops much more slowly than its littermates who do not have the condition. The puppy's coat remains that of a puppy,After a while, the dwarf puppy begins to lose hair and show signs of bilateral alopecia. In addition, it remains small in size, looking as if it has always been a puppy. Other characteristics of a dwarf puppy are:

• Thin skin

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• Delayed emergence of teeth

• Peeling and/or irritated skin

• Prognathism (mandible longer than the jaw)

• Secondary bacterial skin infections

• Hypothyroidism

• Heart, kidney and liver problems

The dwarf dog is diagnosed by observation of the body and laboratory tests

After two months of age, the guardian begins to notice these signs in the puppy. Dwarfism can be diagnosed by observing the dog's reduced size and an analysis of hormones. A blood test on the puppy can measure hormone rates such as thyroid and insulin growth factor. The results prove whether or not it is the case of a dwarf dog. Another way to diagnose itthe dwarfism in dogs is through the stimulation of growth hormone. In the case of the dog with dwarfism, this stimulation will not have as much effect.

The dog with dwarfism has a shorter life expectancy

Dwarfism in dogs is not a condition that usually leads to death. However, it is common for the dwarf dog to have a reduced life expectancy. With continuous and effective treatment, the condition can be alleviated and the dog has a better quality of life. However, hormonal changes affect the pet's growth a lot, so that the development of its organism as a whole is affected.Thus, a dog with dwarfism often has a life expectancy of less than 10 years.

Dwarfism in dogs has no cure, but its effects can be ameliorated

Although dwarfism in dogs is a genetic condition with no cure, some treatments help to improve the animal's health and quality of life. The application of canine GH as a therapeutic use does not yet exist on the market and the use of porcine GH is also not available, despite its amino acid sequence being similar to that of the dog. The reason for this is mainly the side effects that canarise, such as canine diabetes.

The application of progestogens that induce the body's own GH secretion also has many effects, such as recurrent pyoderma and tumors. So, the most recommended are supportive treatments: topical medications for skin lesions, thyroid hormone replacement (if hypothyroidism is present), specific treatment for kidney and liver problems (common mainly in pets thattake many medications), among others that vary according to the clinical manifestations.

The dwarf dog needs frequent visits to the vet and special care in everyday life

A dog with dwarfism needs care for the rest of his life. In addition to proper treatment prescribed by a professional, visits to the vet should be routine. Periodic examinations need to be done to control hormone levels and identify any problems early on. The dwarf dog must have a quality diet to stay healthy and avoid problems when eating,as many find it difficult to eat and end up vomiting after a meal.

As for physical exercise, talk to your veterinarian to find out the appropriate intensity of exercise for your dog. Dwarfism does not prevent the animal from exercising, but some pets may have more difficulty. But even with these precautions, it is important to always take him for a walk, as the dwarf dog also loves to play and needs moments of leisure. After all, dwarfism in dogs does not preventAnd above all, the dog with dwarfism - just like any other - needs a lot of love!