HEALTH ISSUES
As a prospective Weim owner, whether you get a puppy from another breeder, or from us at WeatherRun, there are some health issues in the breed that you should be aware of. I'll share a few for your information. You will see my health guarantee elsewhere on the website.
Distachiasis: - this is a row of extra eyelashes that can sometimes appear in several breeds. We're not sure of the genetics of this condition but I breed away from it. I will not knowingly breed a dog or bitch that has this condition. Fortunately, this hasn't been a problem for me in this bloodline. If they do appear (which can happen at any age) electrolysis or laser can remove them so they don't cause an irritation and subsequent possible infection. Most often, if they appear in puppies, they will fall out naturally in a few months. It should be noted that the lashes can appear at any time. If they appear later -- 10-15 months of age they can grow inward and are quite often bristly. These must be removed before the cornea is damaged.
Hip Displaysia: - This is a quite commonly known disorder in dogs. Over the past 20 years, Weimaraner breeds have done a lot to get rid of this disorder. Reputable breeders will not breed animals that have not been X-rayed and evaluated as GOOD or EXCELLENT. Here at WeatherRun, we subscribe to this policy and to date have not had a problem in my bloodlines.
HOD:- Hypertrophic OsteoDystrophy : Genetically, this is an autosomal recessive, autoimmune disorder (the puppy's immune system becomes overactive and starts to attack its own tissue). It usually manifests itself as painful swelling of the joints and high temperature and may progress, in very serious cases to other systems of the body. Often it manifests itself in puppies at the time of their 12-week vaccinations. The standard multivalent vaccine is thought to put too much stress on the immune system. Many breeders follow the practice of splitting off the Parvo shot and giving it separately between the other shots. Recent research has shown that there is no significant difference in the number of affected puppies whether given the multi-valent vaccine or the split vaccines. It has been postulated that if the multivalent shots are started when the puppy is still receiving mother's milk and thus her immune protection, the puppies show no reaction and have a smooth transition to developing their own immunities. Here at WeatherRun, we use a Multi Valent vaccine developed for breeds with a high incidence of this disorder. As an autosomal recessive genetic trait, both the Sire and the Dam must be carriers of this genetic trait. Therefore careful research of the pedigree and Breeder honesty is very important as all we have to base breeding decisions on is the anecdotal health history shared by owners and breeders. This disorder can be fatal if not recognized and treated promptly. You should not delay in getting your puppy to the vet for treatment should you notice any symptoms.
Thyroid:- Thyroid dysfunction has been seen in the breed in the past--both Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism. To be on the safe side, I test all breeding stock to be sure their thyroid function is normal. Several generations back a problem did show up in this bloodline, but nothing since.
Bloat/Torsion: - In larger breeds sometimes there is a problem of stomach torsion causing bloat. Basically, the stomach flips, which twists and obstructs the bowel and the blood supply to the stomach. It is most often fatal. Recent research has shown that there is a genetic or familial component to this disorder. this may be through internal structure or external structure or conformation. --Extreme depth of chest, shortness of rib cage and very high tuck - up of the belly. While some breeders of many breeds view this conformation as desirable, it is a conformation that I will not subscribe to nor breed for. I choose my breeding stock to display good depth of chest, long rib-cage and moderate belly tuck --to produce a gradual taper from front to rear. The research also determined a very high link to elevated feeding arrangements. I also think management has a large part to play in this. Many feed once per day. I choose to feed twice a day with free-choice water. This way the dogs do not GORGE themselves on food or water.
That is about all that comes to mind right now. I think you will find my guarantee quite comprehensive. Healthy bloodlines allow that. I hope this has been of value to you. Please contact me if you have other questions or if I can be of assistance in helping you make your decision.
Yours in Weimaraner Health
Tom Lyon
WeatherRun Weimaraners