Gastric Torsion is a critical condition that often follows an episode of bloat. Bloat is something that can occur within the stomach of the dog when an excess of gasses build up to a dangerous level. This causes a rapid expansion of the stomach, which can lead to such a deformation of the stomach sack that the blood supply is severely restricted, which can then lead to parts of the stomach being so starved of oxygen that there is partial tissue death.

In addition, the entire stomach sack, for reasons not clearly understood, can flip over or rotate into a new position that pinches off both ends, causes a critical emergency. If not corrected swiftly, the ever expanding gases and loss of blood supply to the stomach can lead to rapid decline, shock and death.

The symptoms of canine bloat can be difficult to spot easily.

• Your dog’s abdominal area will be swollen, but it may be difficult to notice.

• He will also pant and salivate excessively.

• Dogs with canine bloat will also walk around agitated, may find it difficult to lay down, and may whine.

• Some dogs also retch or vomit, although nothing will come up.

It is important for owners of deep chested dogs such as the Leonberger to be aware of this serious condition, to know the signs, and to have the details of a 24 hour emergency vet on hand at all times, in case of such an emergency.

There is a Youtube video which you can view showing an Akita with the initial signs of bloat – the dog did receive treatment and survived, but this video provides a very graphic illustration of what a bloating dog looks like and how it acts.

Hip Dysplasia is a widespread condition that primarily affects large and giant breeds. Hip Dysplasia is caused by joint looseness (when the cup and ball do not fit properly together) which leads to joint erosion which can be followed by new bone formation all of which can result in inflammation and pain. It is believed to be a polygenic condition, meaning that several genetic factors may be involved. The scores of as many generations as possible for both parents should be examined to see what scores have been achieved. Using breeding stock with consistently low scores will help reduce the incidence of HD and maintain the lowest scores possible.

Other factors such as environment, feeding and exercise can influence the severity of HD, so care should be taken to raise lean puppies on non-slip surfaces. A one off x-ray after a minimum of 12 months of age is considered acceptable for scoring under the  BVA / KC. 

The KC / BVA have a scoring scheme which evaluates the individual giving a score from 0 (perfection) to 106 (has this dog got hips!). At present the Breeders’ Guidelines of the LCGB states that only those with a score of less than 25 (15 max on one side) should be bred. 

As stated above, there are two main factors leading to HD, one is genetic and the other environmental, (including suspected impact injuries in very young puppies). These are said to be equally responsible for HD being present in a dog. Although the genetic code passed on by ancestors has a direct influence on the likelihood of offspring having the disease, the way a pup is reared can influence whether or not it develops HD.

Obesity can cause the bones to erode as the carrying of excess weight on fragile new bones can exacerbate the problem. It is thought that feeding a correctly balanced puppy food in the right quantities is the best way to help promote proper bone growth, these have the specific amounts of calcium, phosphorus and protein needed by pups and will help maintain the optimum body weight if not overfed.

Excessive exercise can also increase the incidence of HD in the young (especially big boned, heavy pups) but fit, well-muscled adults will be less likely to develop problems with age, swimming and free running on natural ground are said to be particularly beneficial for adult animals.

There are different scoring schemes around the world. The table below gives an approximate correlation between different schemes.

Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid illness in dogs, characterised by an abnormally low production of thyroid hormone. It is thought that most cases are the result of destruction or deterioration of the tissue of the thyroid gland, commonly believed to be the result of an auto-immune disorder.

Symptoms may include the development of an overly dry coat (sometimes with a waxy or greasy quality to it), or excessive shedding, lethargy and general dullness, weight gain, an increase in blood cholesterol levels, or even anaemia. Once diagnosed, (which may involve two or more stages of specific blood tests), the condition is relatively easily treated through the use of a drug called thyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone. This will need to be continued throughout the dog’s life but the prognosis is generally very favourable

Intussusception is a more common condition than you may think. Almost always found in puppies, the condition occurs when the (usually small) intestine pulls into or telescopes in on itself, like a sleeve inverting into itself.  This in turn restricts the blood flow to the intestine and if allowed to continue, the affected tissue will die and ultimately, so will the puppy. This condition can kill a puppy in a matter of days and so should be regarded as an absolute emergency.

Although easily treated via an operation, removal of the affected section of the small intestine and a short time to heal, the important thing is catching it in first place. Signs of intercusseption are;

• being off food,

• lethargy,

• wanting to pass a stool but not being able too,

• a temperature,

• lack of activity in general.

In particular, these symptoms can be seen during or after a period of bloody watery diarrhoea. This condition is difficult to detect to the untrained eye and often the professionals can’t find it until they operate.

The condition is thought to be caused by Enteritis (inflammation of the intestines) secondary to parasites, viruses (parvovirus), foreign bodies, intestinal masses, previous surgeries, in older dogs often associated with tumour, but in a lot of cases we never discover the cause. Anything that has the potential to affect the rate of motility within the intestines can be suspected. There is no clear indication that worming a puppy can lead to it as some may have suggested in past years.  A worm burden itself is, however, one known cause.

Kennel Cough is a highly infectious disease and very prevalent in areas where large numbers of dogs are kept within the same airspace. This includes kennels from which the commonly used term “kennel cough” originates but also can include training centres and dog show venues.

Every dog already has a number of microorganisms present within the upper respiratory tract, one of these is Bordetella Bronchisseptica, which when exposed to certain viruses can develop into various upper respiratory disease. Infection occurs from direct dog-to-dog contact or aerosol transmissions (sneezing or coughing) of microorganisms. This means that both a virus and a bacteria acting together are the cause of CCRD.

The type of virus involved governs the type of symptoms presented and the severity of the disease. Following inhalation the microorganisms rapidly colonise in the lining of the airway. This leads to acute inflammatory reaction within approximately four days of transmission.

The most classic symptom is a dry non-productive cough often induced by excitement, exercise or sudden change in the environmental temperature. Many owners describe a sudden outburst of coughing which induces retching and sometimes vomiting. A clear nasal discharge is usually present and this can, if a secondary bacterial infection takes hold, become a thick mucopurulent discharge. Most dogs usually remain bright and appetite not affected. In some instances, usually those involving individuals that already have compromised immune symptoms (elderly, very young, those on steroids) the condition can develop more serious symptoms as the infection spreads to the lower respiratory system, they can also take much longer to fully recover.

Your vet will usually prescribe antibiotics in those instances to help combat the secondary bacterial infection. 

Recovery can be up to 14 days but for those who are more affected it will take longer, months even. Affected dogs should be isolated in the sense that they should not socialise with other dogs until about 5 days after the symptoms have ceased. It is also a kennel club requirement that dogs should not be shown for 21 days after symptoms have ceased if diagnosed with an infectious disease. Be aware that any dog that came into contact with an affected dog 5-7 days before the symptoms developed could also become affected, so try and let other owners know so they can also take the necessary precautions.

This disease is rarely life threatening but can be quite unpleasant. There are now a number of vaccines available to aid in the prevention of CCRD. Some variants of CCRD are covered in your dog’s annual booster given via an injection by your vet. There is also an intra nasal spray. This is a live vaccine that provides more localised immunisation, and lasts between 6-12 months depending on the type of vaccine used.

Vaccination is either a weak or inactivated variant of the disease, that once administered initialises an immune response. This means that if the dog is exposed to a similar microorganism it is able to recognise it and develop the correct antibodies to fight off the disease.

Always check with your vet before administering any medications

LEMP stands for Leukoencephalomyelopathy. It is part of a group of neurological illnesses known as leukodystrophy. This is a central nervous system illness, meaning that it affects the brain and spinal cord and therefore the whole body often with a fairly rapid onset and symptoms such as loss of coordination, which may be seen in all four limbs at the same time. This very rare condition has been found in a very small handful of Leonbergers around the world. This illness appears to be very similar to one found in Rottweilers. It’s first confirmed emergence in our breed was probably a cluster of cases in a Dutch litter in the late 1990s. 

In 2017 a genetic test for this condition was developed by our research partners at the University of Bern in Switzerland and the University of Minnesota in the United States. Their joint research has determined that this is a recessive condition and therefore, individuals who carry a single copy of the affected gene, as well as an unaffected normal copy of the gene will themselves be perfectly healthy and free from any impact. They are called Carriers of the condition. 

Furthermore, these Carriers may safely be used in breeding programmes so long as care is taken to not match them with other carriers of the same defective gene. By testing all future breeding stock we can be certain that carries are not bred to other carriers and therefore this devastating illness can be avoided in future Leonbergers.

Breeding Guidelines for LPN1, LPN2, & LPPN3  and LEMP

The following charts illustrate the chances that any given puppy in a litter from the indicated mating will have the LPN genotype of N/N, D/N, or D/D. Matings that might result in affected puppies as indicated in red on these charts are not recommended!

Leonberger dogs may suffer from neuromuscular disease collectively termed Laryngeal Paralysis - Polyneuropathy (LPPN). Many LPPN affected dogs suffers from laryngeal paralysis; clinical signs include noisy breathing, a change in their bark, or even difficulty breathing due to involvement of the larynx and laryngeal folds in the throat. Additionally, dogs may show signs of slowly worsening exercise intolerance and develop gait abnormalities, such as an exaggerated hitched step, especially in the hind limbs; there is often wasting of the hind limb muscles as well. Eventually the disease may progress to the point where surgical intervention for laryngeal paralysis is required or the dog cannot support its own weight. Biopsies of nerve from affected dogs show degradation of the nerve fibres and loss of myelin, the insulating material that normally helps speed messages along nerves. Muscle biopsies show atrophy resulting from nerve loss. 

 In June of 2010 the first genetic marker test for a particularly harsh early onset form, designated as LPN1 was released. LPN1 is believed to be to be a recessive illness meaning that two defective copies of the damaged gene – one inherited from each parent – are considered to be necessary to cause the illness. An individual that inherits one correct copy from either parent, (along with one damaged copy from the other), is deemed to be a “Carrier” and will not develop this form of peripheral neuropathy, although it is still possible for some other peripheral nervous system illness to be present.  They can, however, still pass on the illness if they are mated to another carrier. If they are mated to a partner that is clear of the defective gene, then they will not pass on the illness to their offspring.

In 2014 a further genetic test was released for a second serious form of the illness, designated as LPN2. This second variant is believed to be a dominant condition, meaning that a single defective copy of the gene is believed to be sufficient to potentially cause neurological impact in a dog, and therefore, there is no safe carrier status. A dog with either one or two copies is equally vulnerable to developing the illness, on average by their 8th year. The LPN2 test therefore allows breeders to avoid using any affected dogs in their breeding programme while they are still young and asymptomatic.

In 2020, the genetic basis for another variant of these conditions was identified and a test was released, this time termed LPPN3, which is found in Leonbergers and some other breeds, most notably Labrador Retrievers. This is believed to be a recessive condition, meaning both parents must pass on the defective gene for a puppy to be affected, and therefore a carrier need not be removed from a breeding programme, so long as it is not matched to another carrier.

It is believed that these three tests, now offered as a single bundle, can be used to screen for over half of all suspected LPN – type neurological conditions that affect our breed. All three are required to be done as pre-breeding tests by the LCGB Breeders’ Guidelines. It is known that there is at least one further form of these illnesses for which the specific genetic has yet to be identified and which accounts for the remainder of clinical cases. The Leonberger Club of Great Britain supports the on-going research aimed at unlocking all forms of polyneuropathy in our breed.

Panosteitis is commonly referred to as “growing pains” and the problem is especially common in large breed puppies during periods when their long bones grow very rapidly. This exact cause of Panosteitis, sometimes called “Pano” is not fully understood, but the disease normally goes away as the dog matures and the growth rate slows down. Some lines may be more prone to this than others. The condition can however be very painful for the puppy, and contacting a veterinarian is recommended if you suspect that your dog is suffering from Panosteitis.

Panosteitis is sometimes called “wandering lameness” due to the fact that it can affect first one limb, then another, and so on. The first signs of Pano are often a slight lameness in one leg, progressing to a severe limp and possibly non-use of the affected leg. It may last for days to weeks, and may seem to resolve then recur in the same leg, or another one. Some dogs can exhibit lameness in more than one, or even all legs at the same time. Often Pano shows up in a foreleg first. Bouts of lameness can come and go, seemingly for months. Usually, rest and time are advised, although some vets may recommend the use of anti-inflammatory medicines as well. This is referred to as a “self-limiting condition” meaning that it generally resolves itself with no further consequences for the dog once it matures.

If you see the signs of lameness in your young dog, it is advisable to seek veterinary attention to ensure there is nothing more serious going on. Panosteitis symptoms can also be confused with other skeletal and/or muscle problems.