In general, all Nihon Ken are still very healthy, or as the layman may put it: not overbred. Nevertheless, some diseases can be observed more frequently. We would like to briefly present and explain them here. We only list them briefly under the respective breed.

Genetics - breeding selection

A good breeder examines his dogs for relevant (hereditary) diseases that can occur in the breed. The gene poles are sometimes very small and narrow, which may promote them.

Many clubs have separate and different regulations for breeding. The "leeway" that is given by this must be used by every breeder on their own responsibility.

For the Good of the Breed - Breeding means improving (health) and maintaining (default). We are not God and should experiment because you never know what the consequences will be!

eye diseases

PRA - progressive retinal atrophy

PRA is a genetic disease. It includes various retinal degenerations in dogs which lead to congenital blindness. Courses and variations are early or late onset, autosomal recessive, dominant, or linked to the X chromosome.

PRA PRCD

The PRCD stands for progressive rod cone degeneration. It is an autosomal, late-onset and recessive hereditary eye disease. It initially only leads to night blindness and the loss of peripheral vision. Eventually there is loss of daytime vision and typically eventual total blindness.

From about 1.5 years, this disease can be seen by a veterinarian. For the owner, pain-free signs appear between 3 to 5 years. One can observe increased reflectivity (eye appearance) and slowly constricting pupils in the light.

PRA-CRD4/ CORD-1

The also recessive hereditary eye disease, cone-rod dystrophy 4, is similar to PRA-PRCD. Only here does the dog first lose its day vision, then its night vision until it is completely blind. The average age at onset is 5 years, but varies greatly.

PPM - Persistent Pupillary Membrane

The pupil as such is not yet present in embryonic development. It is filled with vascular tissue. This tissue regresses completely at birth or until shortly thereafter. If this is incomplete, the remaining residues are referred to as PPM, which can impair vision.

CEA - Collie eyes

CEA or Collie Eye Anomaly is a congenital developmental disorder. Visual impairments are rare. With accompanying retinal detachment and/or intraocular bleeding (which can also occur later), it can lead to blindness.

The disease is hereditary, but does not occur in connection with specific characteristics (coat color, merle gene, coat type).

A diagnosis is only possible BEFORE the 8th week of life. Gene carriers can be identified by blood analysis.

joints and bones

Knee - PL - Patella Luxtation

The knees or the joints can go in and out during movements. Like other joint diseases, PL is not only hereditary but also caused by many environmental factors such as B. Wrong move. Signs are limping and lameness which may require surgery.

The PL is classified according to numbers after examining the "movability" of the kneecaps in certain positions. These are written L/R.

Grade 0 - The patella cannot be fully pushed out of the trochlear groove ("conventional groove") in any position.

Grade 1 - The patella may be completely dislocated; spontaneous reposition when the pressure is adjusted.

Grade 2 - The patella can be completely dislocated. Lead a hindlimb movement or manual pressure

for reduction.

Grade 3 - The patella is found dislocated. A reduction is possible. Adjusting the pressure causes again

dislocate

Grade 4 - The patella becomes permanently dislocated. A reduction is not possible.

HD - hip dysplasia

A disease that occurs in many breeds. For a diagnosis, the dog must be x-rayed, under sedation. Also, HD is not just of a purely genetic nature. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for her. It can be compared to arthrosis in humans. It continues to progress and is often of an age-related nature.

Obvious signs may include: limited/restricted movement, unsteady gait, pain, inability to stand up to collapse.

The hip joints do not sit correctly in the sockets and show signs of degenerative forms. There is a measurement, mostly according to the Norberg method, the angle. These then indicate the HD degree, taking other factors into account.

A classification is primarily based on letters, but you can also find numbers like the ED. An evaluation can also occur in combination with a letter and 1 or 2.

HD A - free

HD B - transitional form

HD C - light HD

HD D - medium HD

HD E - heavy HD

ED - elbow dysplasia

The counterpart to the HD. Here the front legs are affected. However, ED is currently not as acute as HD. For diagnostic purposes, the dog is again x-rayed under sedation.

The evaluation is similar to the HD.

ED 0 - free

ED 1 - transitional form

ED 2 - mild ED

ED 3 - medium ED

ED 4 - severe ED

panostitis

Panostitis is inflammation of bone tissue. The cause is unknown. Male dogs are affected more often than female dogs, medium and large breeds. First of all, this disease heals spontaneously by itself! Usually within a few weeks, rarely a few months.

Often at the age of 5 to 18 months, but also as early as 2 months or as late as 5 years. A painful disease that can be accompanied by lameness. The front limbs are often affected first. A "jumping" of the disease to other limbs is possible. Panostitis can occur with general disturbances such as fever, fatigue, etc.

Polyarthritis

A joint inflammation similar to human rheumatism (rheumatoid arthritis). Is an inflammatory autoimmune disease. There is infectious and non-infectious arthritis.

Do not confuse this with the similar and often closely interwoven partner arthrosis.

hypodontia

= the absence of one or more teeth. Hereditary non-assessment. The opposite is hyperdontia (excess number), which should not be confused.

other dental defects/problems are e.g. B. Jaw crowding, overbite and underbite

Internal organs

heart

Mainly heart murmurs, valvular septal defects and pulmonary artery stenosis can occur. In young puppies, they can be an indication of congenital heart disease, a defect the puppy was born with. It can be a harmless noise, which should disappear by 4 months of age at the latest, but otherwise requires further diagnostics.

cryptorchidism

This is a "very harmless disease". It is referred to when one or both testicles do not descend correctly into the scrotum. The testicles develop near the kidneys in the abdomen and usually descend into the scrotum by the age of 2 months. It can also occur later, but not/rarely after 6 months.

One speaks of cryptochism when after 2 to 4 months the testicles cannot be felt in the scrotum. Dogs with this disease should be excluded from breeding as it is heritable. The inner testicles must be surgically removed as they usually degenerate.

Allergies - intolerances

A more common problem as in humans. Symptoms include itchy skin combined with scratching or biting, up to loss of fur, changes in skin color and texture, and hot spots.

In order to diagnose an allergy, you either have to test the types of food up to 5 months before the "toxins" have left the dog's body, or do a blood test (not necessarily in the case of food intolerance) at the veterinarian's.

congenital sebadenitis

Is a rare idiopathic and immune-mediated disease. This leads to a selective inflammatory reaction with subsequent destruction of the sebaceous glands. This mostly occurs in middle age. Usually starts on the head, ears and tail and later affects the back. Firmly adhering silvery scales form and hair breaks.

Sebadenitis is not curable. But you can get relief with sprays and shampoos or cyclosporine (capsules). In combination it is even better and you can later reduce the intervals or dosage.

vestibular syndrome

Is a sudden disorder of the vestibular system. The vestibular system consists of a part in the inner ear and a part in the brain. The main task is to maintain body balance and coordinate head and eye movements.

Symptoms are tilted head, rapid eye movements, unsteady gait, walking in circles and, in severe cases, falling to the side. Accompanying symptoms are nausea and food refusal.

Therapy and prognosis depend on the cause affected (ear or brain). In the case of the idopathic (unknown cause/no pathomechanism -> symptom = disease) form, e.g. B. supporting drugs for the circulation and blood flow. Further support is provided by curing the side effects and rest, as well as vitamins. The symptoms disappear and a normal life is possible. In rare cases, a slight head tilt remains, which does not affect the quality of life.

Epilepsy - seizures

A neurological bad disease. The dog drools, stiffens convulsively, and collapses. It is a sudden, unpredictable event of variable duration and triggering stimuli. Treatment is limited, but sometimes unsuccessful.

GM gangliosidosis

Is a lipid storage disease and is divided into different types 1, 2 or 3. Non-degradable deposits occur due to an enzyme deficiency in the nerve cells. This is where neurological failures occur, which manifest themselves early (a few weeks) and later (<1 year) lead to death, or euthanasia prevents unnecessary suffering. There is currently no cure. One can only avoid this hereditary disease by selective breeding and testing.

Cancer

Cancer is already known to many through human medicine. Nobody is safe from it. Neither do our fur babies. Unfortunately, it is not possible to say what, when, how and whether cancer can occur at all. Only that there are many forms with which one can live or should just let life go...

cystinuria

There are 3 different types and this inherited metabolic disease occurs in several animal species and also in humans. It is heterogeneously pronounced (phenotypically and genetically).

Cystinuria is a metabolic disorder of amino acid transport (cystine - problematic; lysine, ornithine and aeginine - unproblematic) in the kidneys.

Here, in the dog case, the cystine, which is insoluble in the urine, accumulates. Crystals and stones form which irritate the urinary organs. This has a consequence of difficult and painful urination, susceptibility to infection of the urinary organs and a blockage in the worst case. Males are mostly affected due to their different anatomy (longer urinary tract).

A cure/remedy is usually only possible through an operation (in the case of an occlusion to prevent kidney failure or bladder rupture). You can also make the urine alkaline with medication and thus stimulate and prevent the solubility of cystine. Adjusted feeding can also help preventively.