Siberian Husky Health Problems


Although health problems are often prevalent in purebred dog breeds, the Siberian Husky is a fairly hearty breed. It has few breed specific health concerns and is believed to be clear of the serious condition of hip dysplasia that affects many dog breeds.

It is important; however, that when you purchase a Siberian Husky, you do so from a reputable.Husky breeder that screens their dogs for all potential health risks including hip and elbow dysplasia.
Even though it is not a concern in the breed at this point, poor breeding practices could lead to hip dysplasia becoming a problem and your new puppy could experience it if the parents have poor health or are at risk. It is also crucial that your puppy and the parents have certified eye exams since eye problems are prevalent in Siberian Huskies.

Cataracts: Everyone has heard of Cataracts and even dogs can get them. A cataract is when a film, or opacity, occurs on the eye, more specifically on the lens. This is seen as a cloudy film in your dog’s eyes and it does impair sight for the dog. It can be treated surgically and is something that can be both an inherent disease and one that is seen with age.

Corneal Dystrophy: Another disease that affects the eye, it is more prevalent in female dogs but it can be seen in all dogs, generally when they are young adults. It is an opacity in the eye, usually in the cornea, that gives the dog’s eye(s) a cloudy appearance. It is a condition that does not seem to impede vision and there is no treatment for it.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This is a serious disorder that affects the eyes of a dog. It is a progressive disorder where the dog begins to lose the photoreceptors at the back of the eye. As the condition advances, the eye sight of the dog degenerates until the dog is blind. On a positive note, this disease is one that can be detected before any significant long term vision loss occurs by having yearly eye exams and only selecting puppies from breeders who get their dogs eyes tested and certified.