Mini schnauzer health issues. Miniature schnauzers are the smallest schnauzer breed, but they have a big personality. This dog breed is easily identified as naturally curious due to their bushy beards and brows.
They are smart, energetic, and loyal dogs who enjoy being the focus of attention. They are also one of the easiest small dogs to train. Health issues specific to or frequent in miniature schnauzers may be congenital or inherited, manifesting later in life.
Regular health visits to a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about the breed can help prevent some issues or result in early treatment before a condition worsens. Obesity is a common health issue in the breed, and you can help your dog avoid it.
Give your miniature schnauzer lots of exercise, offer them high-quality dog food, and limit their treat intake. Obesity is just one of the miniature schnauzer old age problems.
Eye Problems
Several genetic eye problems affect miniature schnauzers. These include congenital juvenile cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, which can eventually cause blindness.
Cataracts can be present at birth and if not surgically corrected, they increase over time and cause partial to complete vision loss.
You can avoid the possibility of some mini schnauzer health issues by insisting on the breeder’s parental certification from the Canine Eye Registration Foundation.
Be sure to also check out signs of eye problems in dogs that are common to most all dogs.
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular issues are a common part of miniature schnauzer old age problems. Mitral valve disease causes degradation of the heart valves, eventually leading to congestive heart failure and death.
Early symptoms include heart murmurs, followed by coughing and breathing difficulties. Unfortunately, future mitral valve disease in puppies cannot be predicted. Affected dogs’ symptoms are addressed, but there is no cure.
Pulmonic stenosis, a cardiac abnormality, is present in some miniature schnauzers at birth. Mildly damaged dogs are asymptomatic, whereas dogs with severe defects develop activity intolerance, breathing difficulties, and perhaps collapse.
The illness has the potential to escalate to congestive heart failure. Surgery may be an option for dogs with pulmonic stenosis, although it is a dangerous alternative. Treatment often comprises a low-sodium diet and a stress-free lifestyle.
Proper nutrition is an important part of a dog’s health along with feeding the right amount.
Skin Problems
Schnauzer skin problems can occur with the breed. The formal term for blackheads and whiteheads is comedones. This type of canine acne is so widespread in miniature schnauzers that it has gained the moniker “schnauzer pimples.”
These pimples might be caused by poor cleanliness or a bad diet, but they can also be caused by allergic reactions or metabolic abnormalities. Your veterinarian will perform tests to determine the cause of your miniature schnauzer’s acne and will recommend appropriate treatment. Never squeeze these blackheads or treat your dog with human acne medicine.
Skin abnormalities, including hair loss, skin thinning, and frequent infections, can indicate Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism, all of which are common in the breed and mostly affect older dogs. Medication, once diagnosed, can put these disorders under control.
Atopic Dermatitis
These Schnauzer skin problems are distinguished by itchy skin in response to airborne particles such as pollen or house dust. Atopic dermatitis is an allergic reaction in your miniature schnauzers that causes irritation, causing them to itch, bite, lick, or scratch the affected areas.
Atopic dermatitis caused by airborne pollutants may not be treated but only controlled. Anti-itch, anti-inflammatory, and stem cell treatments may be recommended by your veterinarian.
Bladder Stones
Urolithiasis, or the production of bladder or kidney stones, is one of the particularly common mini schnauzer health issues. Urinary issues are characterized by frequent urination, typically with blood in the pee. Take your pet to the doctor as soon as you notice any urinary tract problems.
If the stone obstructs the urethra, early treatment can avoid stone formation as well as life-threatening occlusion. The type of stone involved determines how urolithiasis is treated. A chronic infection may cause the struvite type to form.
The oxylate type can be caused by high blood calcium levels or a low urine pH. A prescription diet can help prevent stone formation, but a blockage is an emergency that requires prompt treatment. Bladder Stones are more prevalent as miniature schnauzer old age problems.
Hyperlipidemia and Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is another one of the common mini schnauzer health issues. You’re dealing with a really sick dog if you see vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, or abdominal pain. Pancreatitis in miniature schnauzers can be caused by hyperlipidemia, or high levels of fat in the bloodstream.
Hospitalization is required for pancreatitis, and not all dogs recover. Once a dog has had pancreatitis, they are at risk of having it again. It is another one of the miniature schnauzer old age problems.
Liver shunts
This breed is more likely than others to have a liver shunt, known as a portosystemic shunt. With this disorder, some of the blood supply that should be going into the liver instead flows around it, depriving the liver of the blood flow it requires to expand and operate normally.
According to veterinary experts, these shunts might be present at birth (congenital shunts) or develop later in life (acquired shunts).
Symptoms include slow growth (congenital shunts), having a poor appetite and/or eating strange foods, loss of weight, heightened thirst and urination, urinary incontinence or blood in the pee, vomiting, perhaps including blood, diarrhea with or without blood, behavioral changes such as vacant staring, impaired vision, unsteadiness, and circling.
Surgery to close the shunts or drugs and diet to help manage the symptoms are both options for treating hepatic shunts.
Mini Schnauzer Health Issues
Miniature Schnauzers are fabulous dogs and great companions. This article is meant to educate you about miniature schnauzer health issues that are possible with the breed. It is not meant to scare you away from getting one of these great dogs.
Most dogs are susceptible to some kind of health issues, so it is hard to find a dog breed that doesn’t have a history of at least some health problems.
It is also good to note that there are many human foods that should never be fed to your dog. See my post on What Human Food is Bad for Dogs. There are also many good human foods for dogs. See my post on What Human Food Can Puppies Eat for 10 great people foods that are good for dogs of all ages.
Also please consider being a dog foster parent. See my article on How to Be a Foster Parent for Dogs for details.
As always, it is important to give your dog proper nutrition along with feeding the recommended amount. It is also important to know that you should never give cat food to a dog.
If looking at French Bulldogs, please see my article about health issues with French Bulldogs and Eye Problems in French Bulldogs.
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