15 Things Only Boxer Dog Lovers Will Understand

Hip dysplasia is an inherited disorder in which the thigh bone is not securely attached to the hip joint. Some dogs will show pain and lameness in one or both hind legs, but there may be no symptoms at all in a dog with hip dysplasia. Arthritis can develop in aging dogs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, like the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program, perform x-ray techniques for hip dysplasia.

Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be used for breeding. When you purchase a puppy, get proof from the breeder that they have been tested for hip dysplasia and that the puppy is otherwise healthy. Hip dysplasia is hereditary but can be made worse by environmental factors, such as rapid growth, high-calorie food, or injury, jumping, or falling on slippery surfaces. Treatment options vary from supplements that support joint function to total hip replacement.

Hypothyroidism results from a lack of thyroid hormones and can cause symptoms such as infertility, obesity, mental sluggishness and decreased energy. The dog's coat can become rough and brittle and begin to fall out, while the skin becomes tough and dark. Hypothyroidism can be kept very well under control with a daily thyroid hormone tablet. The drug must be administered throughout the dog's life.

This refers to several eye diseases that are non-inflammatory and hereditary. Usually one or more layers of the cornea of both eyes are affected, although not necessarily symmetrically. In most breeds, corneal dystrophy presents as an opaque area in the center of the cornea, or near the periphery. It is usually not painful unless corneal ulcers develop.

The third form of this disease, demodectic pododermititis, is confined to the paws and can cause deep infections.