Keeping your Rottweiler healthy should be a key priority, as nobody wants to see their dog in pain or discomfort from health issues.
Fortunately, there are many things dog owners can do to maintain the health of their pets.
We’ve outlined 15 Rottweiler health issues to be aware of and how to reduce the risks of your Rottie getting sick.
Internal Parasites
Internal parasites are quite nasty and can linger inside your Rottie’s body without you knowing it. This includes roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, and heartworms.
Prevention and treatment of these nasties are available by speaking with your local vet.
External Parasites
While external parasites are much easier to detect than internal parasites, they should be dealt with quickly.
This is because they can quickly cause internal problems with your Rottie.
External parasites can include any of the following:
Fleas
While flea bites are not considered serious, they can become problematic if not treated early enough.
“Prevention of fleas is much easier than treatment and prevents unnecessary pain for your Rottie.”
In the unfortunate event that your Rottie gets fleas, a number of treatments are available.
These include medicated shampoos, spot on treatments, and sprays. Your Vet can outline the range of options available.
Ticks
Along with all dogs, Rottweilers are prone to tick bites which can make them very sick.
While vaccinations aren’t available for most tick-related diseases, prevention is critically important.
While your local Vet can guide you on the best prevention products available, the following should be considered:
- Check your Rottie daily, especially if they spend lots of time outdoors
- Check their body for ticks
- Minimize the risks of ticks in your yard
Mites
Mites are tiny in size, typically around a quarter of a millimeter long. They look like little black dots and are generally transferred between dogs.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should check for mites on your Rottie or seek advice from your Vet:
- Partial hair loss
- Noticeable dandruff
- Ongoing scratching
- Itchy red skin
“In most instances, Veterinary treatments are straightforward in which medication is applied to the dog’s ears and skin.”
Rottweiler Breed-Specific Health Issues
Like all dog breeds, Rottweilers have their fair share of health issues that need to be managed. While some are quite serious if left untreated, most are fairly manageable.
Below are the most common Rottweiler health issues to be aware of.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a common problem amongst large dog breeds, including the Rottweiler. This condition occurs when the hip joint isn’t properly formed and usually affects both hips.
As a form of osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia causes pain and weakness in the hind legs. If you notice your Rottie struggles to rise or climb stairs, limps, or bunny-hops, these could be the early signs of this condition.
Hip Dysplasia can be caused by any of the following factors, including genetics, nutritional factors, environmental factors, and injury.
Genetics – this is the main factor that causes this condition, in which certain Rotties may carry the gene at birth.
Nutrition Factors – poor diets can lead to dogs becoming obese, increasing the risk of hip dysplasia. Excessive weight puts additional pressure on the hip joints and the ball of the femur.
Environmental Factors – Excessive or unnatural movements can contribute to this condition. This includes high-impact exercise, agility, frisbee activities, and scaling upstairs on a regular basis.
Injury – Any injuries your Rottie sustains to their muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the hips may result in a deterioration of the hip joint’s ball and socket.
“It’s important to note when the support structures of the hip become damaged, hip dysplasia is more likely to occur.”
There are several methods available to treat hip dysplasia, as shown below:
- Managing your dog’s weight (reducing stress off their hips)
- Minimizing exercise on hard surfaces
- Joint supplements
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Physical therapy
- Providing quality bedding
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in dogs, that affects the nervous system and results in convulsions and seizures.
While its exact cause is unknown, epilepsy seizures will usually start with any of the following symptoms:
- unusual shaking
- excessive drooling
- sudden loss of bladder and bowel control
- Anxious behavior
- Stumbling motions
While most epileptic seizures in dogs last around one to three minutes, it is best to remain as calm as possible during this period.
Always seek medical advice from your Vet regarding the best treatment options for this condition.
Gastric Dilatation – Volvulus (Bloat)
Gastric Dilatation, also known as bloat, can be a life-threatening condition for Rottweilers. This condition occurs when the dog’s stomach fills up with gas, resulting in the stomach twisting upon itself and causing a blockage.
“Exercising immediately after a large meal or large amounts of water consumption is likely to increase their risk.”
The following is recommended to reduce the likelihood of your Rottie experiencing this condition:
- Feed a calcium-rich diet consisting of mainly dry food (including fish, chicken, meat, and lamb)
- Add some canned food
- Feeding your dog two to three times per day (moderate serves)
- Providing a relaxing environment free from stress
The video below shows a real-life example of a dog experiencing bloat. As you can see, the symptoms are very unpleasant:
Consult with your Vet immediately if you suspect your Rottie has bloat or shows any of the symptoms shown in the above video.
Heart Disease
While heart disease is often genetic in Rottweilers, external causes can also play a role.
Providing your Rottie with a diet high in fat, along with insufficient exercise, will increase their risk of developing heart disease.
“Early signs of heart disease in dogs may include excessing coughing and difficulty breathing.”
Prevention of heart disease can be aided through a clean diet, regular exercise, and reducing your dog’s exposure to toxic environments.
Hypothyroidism
This genetically based condition relates to issues with the thyroid gland, in which a lack of thyroid hormones is generated to meet the dog’s needs.
Typical symptoms include weight gain without increased appetite, general lethargy, intolerance to cold weather, excessive shedding, and slow heart rate.
This condition can be treated with a thyroid replacement hormone, which your Vet will advise and recommend as required.
Von Willebrand’s Disease
Von Willebrand’s disease is a common bleeding disorder inherited by dogs.
Rottweilers are prone to this condition, in which abnormal bleeding occurs when blood isn’t clotted properly after surgery or trauma.
Common symptoms of this disease include bleeding from the nose or gum line, from the vagina, or where blood is noticed in the dog’s urine or feces.
Treatment involves transfusions of certain quantities of blood or plasma, with a focus on increasing the levels of Von Willebrand factor in the system.
General Rottweiler Health Issues
Along with Breed specific issues, Rottweilers are also prone to a number of other health conditions at times. These include:
Allergies
Food is generally the cause of most allergies with Rottweilers. In particular, products containing dairy, wheat, or corn have often resulted in allergic reactions in the Rottweiler breed.
“Not all Rotties will be prone to this, however, those that experience allergies will suffer from excessive sneezing, itching, and watery eyes.”
Itching is the main symptom that is noticeable and can be treated by changing up your dog’s diet and eliminating the offending food group that caused the allergy.
Ear Infections
Ear infections can sometimes occur with Rottweilers, where the symptoms are normally quite obvious.
These include excessive shaking or tilting of the head, scratching at the ears, or tilting the head in one direction.
Sometimes the ear may appear swollen and red in color, with a discharge and offensive odor coming from the ear.
Your Vet can prescribe medication to treat your dog’s ear infection, which can resolve fairly quickly.
Eye Infections
Eyes infections are not uncommon with Rottweilers and can be caused by bacteria that a Rottie encounters when playing outside.
Typical symptoms include excessive pawing at the eye, which is a sign of discomfort that something is wrong.
Often, eye infections can be resolved with antibiotic ointment, which can clear up the issue.
The following video shows a lovely Rottweiler with Entropian, a nasty painful condition where the dog’s eyelids roll inwards.
Cancer
Unfortunately, cancer is a condition that Rottweilers sometimes encounter. Early diagnosis is crucial to ensure your dog has a high chance of beating this disease.
“Typical symptoms of cancer include lumps and bumps on the dog’s body.”
Prevention of this insidious disease is never guaranteed. However, attention to your Rottie’s diet, exercise levels, and a toxin-free environment all play a role.
Treatment options for cancer include radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. While cancer is not always terminal, early intervention is a must to reduce these risks.
Keeping Your Rottweiler Healthy
While certain health conditions are a fact of life for most Rottweilers, there are things owners can do to prolong their dog’s life.
Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, Rotties also need regular checkups and vaccinations to remain healthy. We’ve outlined these below:
Find a Local Vet
Finding a local vet should be high on the priority list when adopting a rottweiler. A local vet should be easy to get to and be familiar with the breed you have.
“Asking neighbors and friends about their experiences with the local vet is a great starting point.”
Checking local vets on google is another great approach, in which many have client ratings and feedback that can be publicly viewed.
Ask the Right Questions
When reviewing your local Vet’s credentials, it’s highly recommended to ask them about their experience with Rottweiler and/or large dog breeds.
You can do this by visiting your local vet. This will give you a good indication of their level of service, their overall friendliness, and their knowledge of Rottweiler care.
Check to see if the facilities are clean and well-maintained. Do they have enough staff on hand, and do they have a caring and engaging manner?
While these are all personal choices, they will help you identify if the facilities and services are suitable for your needs.
After Hours Service
Knowing in advance if an after-hours Vet service is available will help provide peace of mind.
This should be asked when meeting your local vet, including confirmation on the process if an after-hours emergency occurs.
Annual Check-Ups
Following your Rottweiler’s initial checkup and mandatory vaccinations, an annual checkup is required.
During these checkups, your Vet will weigh your Rottweiler and undertake a thorough physical examination. Questions will be asked about lifestyle habits and changes that may have occurred.
Certain Vets will also recommend routine blood tests, especially with aging dogs.
“The focus of these checkups is to detect issues early and recommend changes or treatments to preserve the health of your Rottie.”
Vaccinations
Understanding which vaccinations are required for your Rottweiler is essential to minimize the risk of health issues while promoting longevity.
Your Vet will be able to provide clear guidance on the minimum requirements.
While vaccinations should be discussed at annual Vet checkups, the following vaccination schedule provides a typical guide for your puppy’s first year
Source: AKC Puppy Shots Complete Guide
