Breed-related disease: The Rottweiler

John K. Rosembert

The Rottweiler is a breed of domestic dog regarded as medium-to-large, or large. The dogs were known in German as Rottweiler Metzgerhund, meaning Rottweil butchers’ dogs, because they are descends from dogs used by the Romans to drive the herds that fed the army as it marched through Europe. Along the way, the Roman dogs bred with local dogs, and in the town of Rottweil, the result was strong dogs used by butchers to drive cattle to market. On the way home, the dogs served as protection, guarding the butcher’s proceeds from robbers.

Rottweilers are slightly longer than tall, large dogs, ranging in height from 22 inches for a small female to 27 inches for a large male. They are blocky dogs with massive heads. Ears lie fairly tight to the head, hanging down somewhat. Muzzles are square and strong, but Rottweilers can be a bit drooly because of loose flews (lips). Rottweilers should always be black with tan points, and the ideal coat is quite short, dense, and a bit harsh.

The Rottweiler breed often gets a bad reputation. You’ve probably heard — in one way or another — that Rotties can be incredibly aggressive, downright mean, and off-putting to other people. While these traits can certainly be true, and are perhaps a bit worse when it comes with a dog powerful enough to do damage, these traits don’t apply to most Rottweilers. The personality of every dog depends on their upbringing, how they were bred, and the personality of their parents. These ‘bad’personalities often come from poorly bred puppies that didn’t experience proper socialization.

The true personality of a Rottweiler, and what they were bred to be, is a mixture of the loyal, steadfast watchdog, and the incredibly homebody. Also, despite popular belief, the Rottweiler loving is actually one of the most intelligent dog breeds in existence .

As both an independent and intelligent breed, the Rottweiler requires an experienced hand for control, letting a dominant-minded dog run unchecked within the family can lead to many negative behaviors. Apart from these traits, it’s important to realize that there can be quite a lot of variation in the personality of Rottweiler’s, Some tend to be natural entertainers who love to play, while others may be much more reserved and calm.

Besides, even with their dominant temperament, this breed is vulnerable to several diseases, here are some of the most common diseases related to this breed.

Bloat : Gastric dilatation volvulus, also known as GDV or bloat, usually occurs in dogs with deep, narrow chests. This means the Rott is more at risk than other breeds. When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas. When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas. The twisting cuts off the blood supply to the stomach and sometimes to the spleen. Left untreated, the disease is quickly fatal, sometimes in as little as half an hour.
Bone and Joint Problems : A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in Rottweilers. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. With diligent observation at home and knowledge about the diseases that may affect your friend’s bones, joints, or muscles, you will be able to take great care of him throughout his life.
Neurologic Problems : Several neurologic diseases can afflict Rottweilers. Symptoms of neurological problems can include seizures, imbalance, tremors, weakness, or excessive sleeping.
Hip dysplasia: Rottweilers are one of the breeds most affected by hip dysplasia, a genetic deformity in which the head of the femur doesn’t fit properly into the hip socket. This condition can range from mild to severe. Severe cases are extremely painful and often require surgery to correct. Even with the surgery, the dog is likely to develop arthritis as he ages.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease : Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is an immune system disorder common in Rotts in which the intestinal lining becomes overrun with immune system cells called lymphocytes and plasmacytes. The stomach and/or intestinal lining becomes thickened affecting his ability to absorb nutrients properly. Chronic vomiting or diarrhea is common, or symptoms may flare up suddenly and then improve again for a time. Stress, diet change, or intestinal parasites can make IBD worse.