List of Potential Samoyed Diseases
The Samoyed, like all other breeds of dogs, can get sick. There are a host of diseases that all dogs are susceptible to, such as; viral and bacterial infections, dental diseases, obesity and parasite infestation among others. Dental care is important for Samoyeds and other breeds, and daily brushing of the dog’s teeth can prevent periodontal disease which may lead to teeth loss and put the dog at risk for kidney, heart and other organ damage.
Obesity is another disease that dogs usually experience. It can be caused by overfeeding or inadequate exercise or both of those factors. Samoyeds typically do not eat much, and they burn their canine calories quickly from being so active, however overfeeding can still happen and sometimes, the dog is not allowed daily exercise. That should be avoided.
One common viral infection in Samoyeds is parvovirus, a type of highly contagious canine virus that often times leads to death; it has a mortality rate of about 91% if left untreated. Its symptoms include vomiting, passing out blood during diarrhea, lethargy and fever. It can be prevented by vaccination but once the Samoyed has contracted the virus, it should be immediately admitted at the veterinarian clinic as the chances of death are very high.
Brucellosis is another infection (bacterial), which is basically a canine STI. It is sexually transmitted and can lead to abortion is pregnant Samoyeds and other breeds. Lyme disease is also a bacterial infection common in canines. It is caused by tick-bites. Lyme disease doesn’t just affect dogs, it can also occur in humans. Parasite infestation is responsible for a lot of dog diseases as ticks, fleas and all sorts of worms (e.g botfly worms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms etc) just won’t quit if let alone. Provision of clean water in the Samoyed’s water bowl, regular baths and brushing can go a long way to prevent parasite infestations but powders, oils and special dog parasite treatments from the vet also go a long way.
As a breed, Samoyeds are susceptible to a range of diseases such as eye problems which may lead to blindness e.g glaucoma, cataract and Distichiasis (a disease where hair grows inside the eyelid and gets into the eye), bone, joint and muscle problems e.g displacia (where the joints don’t develop well and the dog can get arthritis), diabetes (symptoms of which, in dogs, include weight loss along with increased drinking of water and eating), bloat, bleeding disorders, neurological problems, and heart and kidney diseases.
The important thing to note is that these diseases do not happen in every case but as the Samoyed becomes older, it has a higher tendency to develop them than other breeds.