Dogs will always be considered as the best friends of humanity. But they are not immune to sickness and oftentimes are subject to illnesses that even lead to death.
As dog parents who wish to be with their dogs for as long as possible, it is very important to make sure that they will always be healthy.
This also means working tirelessly to prevent them from getting sick and learning about the symptoms of these illnesses to detect them and cure them as early as possible.
In order to prevent further illness, dog parents need to know how to spot the initial signs of sickness. One illness that is being studied now in dogs is Down syndrome, which is an illness of human beings as well.
Let us find out more about Down syndrome and how it presents itself in dogs. This article will discuss how Down syndrome, dog illness and prevention can be done by dog parents.
Dog Down syndrome: Description & Characteristics
What is Down syndrome? Down syndrome occurs when an extra chromosome is found in the body, this specific chromosome is called chromosome 21.
Human beings have 23 sets of chromosomes, 46 in total, those diagnosed with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes.
For dogs, there are 39 sets of chromosomes, 78 in total, if they will be diagnosed with Down syndrome; this means they will have 79 chromosomes.
The numbers of chromosomes determine the presence of Down syndrome, and for this to be confirmed tests should be conducted. But there are also certain characteristics that are considered tell-tale signs of having Down syndrome.
Here are the signs of Down syndrome in human beings who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
• A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose
• Almond-shaped eyes that slant up
• A short neck
• Small ears
• A tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth
• Tiny white spots on the iris (colored part) of the eye
• Small hands and feet
• A single line across the palm of the hand (palmar crease)
• Small pinky fingers that sometimes curve toward the thumb
• Poor muscle tone or loose joints
• Shorter in height as children and adults
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/downsyndrome.html
All these characteristics can be seen physically in babies, but a chromosome test is still necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Aside from these physical traits that are evident with people diagnosed with Down syndrome, there is also a significant difference in their mental and physical capabilities.
People with Down syndrome are slow to develop in terms of mental capacity, and have lower IQ (Intellectual Quotient) they are also slow to speak.
All these characteristics do set people with Down syndrome apart but are not considered handicaps. Someone with Down syndrome can still live a full, happy and healthy life, with proper care and encouragement from their support groups.
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Due to the number of people diagnosed with Down syndrome when they are born, it has been a common illness.
And is considered “normal” in a sense, that even if a baby is diagnosed with it, it does not stop the parents from giving everything that they can to give their child a happy and full life.
This is for people, with a specific set of chromosomes and where a significant number of tests have been performed to a considerable number from the population.
As of now, Down syndrome in animals is not yet conclusively proven because of the lack of tests performed. We cannot 100% say that dogs can have or has ever had Down syndrome.
Unless proper research with enough number of test subjects will be conducted in the near future.
However, based on the traits of someone who has Down syndrome, some are seen in dogs as well, but there is another diagnosis given by veterinarians.
Since we cannot at this moment confirm that Down syndrome does exist in dogs, the best we can do is to determine the similar conditions that have been proven to exist in dogs as well.
In the next parts of this article, the dog conditions that show similar traits with Down syndrome in people will be discussed in length. This is to give information to dog parents in order to help prevent worsening of their dog’s condition.
As they say, prevention and early detection is always better.
Dog illness that has similar symptoms with Down syndrome
Dogs with Down syndrome have not been confirmed nor denied by the medical community, due to the lack of enough research. But this can be an area of improvement in order to fully help our beloved dogs.
We need to fully understand their conditions with the correct tests.
We do have dog illnesses that present similar traits as Down syndrome; let us list them all down in this part of the article.
Here are the symptoms of Down syndrome, dog symptoms do exist, which are very similar:
• A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose
• Almond-shaped eyes that slant up
• A short neck
• Small ears
• A tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth
• Tiny white spots on the iris (colored part) of the eye
• Small hands and feet
• A single line across the palm of the hand (palmar crease)
• Small pinky fingers that sometimes curve toward the thumb
• Poor muscle tone or loose joints
• Shorter in height as children and adults
For example, there is this common sickness in dogs, called congenital hypothyroidism where puppies suffer from stunted growth; they become physically and mentally underdeveloped.
Other than congenital hypothyroidism, there is also pituitary dwarfism. Pituitary dwarfism results when the dog’s growth hormone is insufficient. It leads to undeveloped organs and mental processes.
Aside from congenital hypothyroidism and pituitary dwarfism, another common dog illness that has symptoms like Down syndrome is called congenital hydrocephalus.
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Congenital hydrocephalus is caused by an oversupply of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the dog’s skull. This excess fluid makes the dog’s brain cramped; making some parts not function as well as the others due to the excessive pressure that they are experiencing.
A fourth dog illness that shows symptoms like Down syndrome is portosystemic shunt. This disease is characterized by the irregular connection of the systemic and portal vascular systems.
This abnormal connection leads to an underdeveloped liver, which deters its functions as well.
These four dog illnesses result in symptoms that are similar to that of Down syndrome in humans. That is why there is a question of can a dog have Down syndrome or not.
Because there are illnesses like these and dogs who suffer similar traits as someone who has Down syndrome.
Since most of these illnesses appear when dogs are born, there are instances when dog parents think that Down syndrome puppies exist.
Since research is not yet enough to fully confirm the existence of Down syndrome in dogs, by conducting an actual chromosome test, it is best to fully understand these illnesses and how they are similar to Down syndrome.
Lastly, it is best to know how to tell if your dog has Down syndrome to fully care for them and create an environment that will give them a full, healthy and happy life despite being different from other dogs.
Let us look at each dog illness and put the question “do dogs get Down’s Syndrome” to rest.
Because even if they do not get the “exact” sickness, in terms of its medical definition, dogs who are sick deserve our love and care, no matter what syndrome, illness, or disease they have.
1. Congenital Hypothyroidism
What is Congenital Hypothyroidism?
Congenital Hypothyroidism is the condition of dogs where their thyroid gland is less active than normal, causing stunted growth.
Dogs with congenital hypothyroidism are shorter than other dogs in the same age and breed.
Congenital hypothyroidism also leads to abnormal bone development in their skull. Here are the symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism in dogs based on Wagwalking.com:
• Lethargy
• Keeping their puppy coat
• Poor appetite
• Constipation
• Tremors and spasticity
Similar to Down syndrome, dogs with congenital hypothyroidism have these symptoms:
• Protruded tongue
• Shorter in height
Though not yet confirmed, this can be one manifestation of Down syndrome in dogs. If your dog shows any of these symptoms it would be best to consult a veterinarian right away.
And if they can perform a chromosome test it can lead to the confirmation of Down syndrome in dogs.
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What are its causes?
The inactive thyroid gland causing congenital hypothyroidism in dogs is due to the small amounts of iodine, iodine deficiency or problems in the organification of iodine, this is based on wagwalking.com.
According to the study of Bojanic and Jones found in Pub Med.gov, congenital hypothyroidism is also caused by unresponsiveness to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid dysgenesis, and dyshormonogenesis.
Let us look at these one at a time.
TRH is the master regulator of thyroid gland growth and function according to yourhormones.info.
The lack of this hormone and the body’s response to it can lead to the lack of activity in the thyroid glands that directly affects the growth of the body and other neuromuscular functions.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that fuels the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine, and then triiodothyronine which stimulates the metabolism of almost every tissue in the body (according to Wikipedia).
Both TRH and TSH are important hormones that make sure that the thyroid gland performs its functions for the metabolism and growth of the body.
Meanwhile, thyroid dysgenesis happens when a thyroid gland does not develop normally. Thyroid dysgenesis can be caused by agenesis (absence of thyroid tissue) or hypoplasia (smaller thyroid).
Lastly, thyroid dyshormonogenesis occurs when there are genetic deficiencies in the production of thyroid hormones. All of these conditions can lead to congenital hypothyroidism and results in the abnormal growth and metabolism of a dog’s body.
How can it be treated?
Is there a way to treat congenital hypothyroidism in dogs?
Since the main cause of congenital hypothyroidism is a lack of certain hormones that can help the thyroid gland function properly, there are supplements that dog parents can give to their dogs in order to keep the thyroid functioning properly.
The administration of these supplements in dogs should be approved by their veterinarian. Therefore a proper checkup and consultation should be scheduled first before giving your dog any of these supplements.
Here are the supplements that can help treat congenital hypothyroidism:
• Thyroxine (the thyroid hormone)
• T4 (synthetic levothyroxine)
• T3 (liothyronine sodium)
All of these supplements should be approved by veterinarians before being given to dogs. It is not advised to diagnose dogs without professional help, and it can be detrimental for dogs.
Especially since an overdose of these supplements can lead to hyperthyroidism which can be harmful as well.
How can it be prevented?
There is no way of preventing congenital hypothyroidism. But supplements and a balanced diet can be helpful in making your dog have a happy life despite having this illness.
It is always recommended to have regular checkups with a veterinarian for early detection and treatment of congenital hypothyroidism.
How to care for a dog with Congenital Hypothyroidism?
If your dog has congenital hypothyroidism, they need to be checked by a veterinarian and be given prescriptions on what supplement they should take and how often they should take it in order to make the thyroid gland perform its functions.
There will be regular checkups with the veterinarian in order to determine if the supplement is working, and if the thyroid gland now has the normal amount of hormones it needs to function properly.
For dogs with congenital hypothyroidism it is best to always have someone to take care of them. They should not be left on their own since they are not physically well developed compared to other dogs.
Their short height may affect their performance of watch dog duties, it is best to not rely on them for this function.
Dogs who do not receive treatment for congenital hypothyroidism can have an extreme case that can lead to a coma. This is in relation to one of the symptoms, lethargy; it can lead to stupor and even coma, called Myxedema coma.
Make sure to have your dog checked by a doctor and provide treatment when necessary.
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2. Pituitary Dwarfism
What is Pituitary Dwarfism?
Pituitary dwarfism occurs in dogs when the pituitary gland produces lesser amounts of the growth hormone. This causes physical short stature in dogs. Here are the symptoms of pituitary dwarfism in dogs, according to Wagwalking.com:
• Slow growth
• Body is longer than normal
• Shorter legs
• Bulging eyes
• Swollen abdomen
• Tongue sticks out of the mouth
• High pitched puppy bark
• Short jaw and upper teeth behind lower teeth (a.k.a “underbite”)
• Larger than normal head
• Feet turn outward
• Swollen joints
• Bowed front legs
• Not growing at the proper proportion
• Lack of or slow teeth development
• Hair coat is not growing in like it should
• May seem slower mentally than the other puppies
• Panting more than usual
• Breathing difficulty
• Snoring
• Hair loss
• Darkened skin
• Small testicles (infertile)
All these symptoms could mean that your dog has pituitary dwarfism. Going back to the main topic of this article, which relates dog illnesses to Down syndrome;
We can see that the following are the similar symptoms you will find between Down syndrome and pituitary dwarfism in dogs:
• Tongue sticks out of the mouth
• Smaller height
These two traits are common in people with Down syndrome and in dogs that have pituitary dwarfism. This shows how some symptoms do point out that dogs may have Down syndrome.
But the information that research has on this topic is too few to be conclusive. In the future if there are more chromosome tests conducted in dogs who are sick, hopefully there will be a clear distinction.
As of now we can only say that Down syndrome and dog illness like pituitary dwarfism share some common symptoms.
What are its causes?
The main cause of pituitary dwarfism is the lack of growth hormone being produced by the pituitary gland in dogs. But there can be other possible reasons, like the hereditary genes of dogs, especially German Shepherds.
Other possible causes of pituitary dwarfism are: cysts, tumors, infections and a lack of development of the dog’s pituitary gland.
The actual cause of a certain dog’s pituitary dwarfism can only be determined after conducting proper tests by veterinarians.
If the symptoms present themselves in your dog, it is best to have them checked by veterinarians to find out the correct diagnosis and cause of the illness.
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How can it be treated?
Pituitary dwarfism can be treated using 4 methods, still according to Wagwalking.com. The treatment that should be used for the dog will depend on the cause of their specific case of pituitary dwarfism.
If the cause is hereditary and lack of development of the pituitary gland, porcine (pig) growth hormone can be used.
Progestins may also be used to help the production of growth hormones in dogs. But using this drug can have the following side effects for your dog: allergic reaction and diabetes mellitus.
Another method to help the production of your dog’s growth hormone is giving them thyroid hormones. Lastly, if the pituitary dwarfism is caused by cysts, tumors and infections they can be removed and treated with surgery.
All the treatments indicated in the previous paragraph can only be done under the supervision and approval of a veterinarian. Do not consider any of these treatments without the doctor’s advice.
To keep your dog safe, always have them checked by doctors before giving them any drug or supplement. Some dogs may have adverse effects which can cause them more harm.
To be sure, contact a veterinarian when you see symptoms of pituitary dwarfism in your dog.
How can it be prevented?
Ways of preventing pituitary dwarfism is not yet discovered. The best advice is to always have your dog checked by doctors in order to detect this illness as early as possible and for the correct treatment to be administered.
How to care for a dog with Pituitary Dwarfism?
It is best to treat your dog as normally as possible. Do not make them feel that they are sick and make them still feel special even if they are smaller than other dogs.
If there are organs that are underdeveloped like their kidneys, it would be best to get a doctor’s opinion on the proper treatment for it.
Most of the needed supplements or hormones would need to be administered for dogs in their lifetime. This can be expensive but it will be worth it, since the life of your best furry friend will be extended.
Pituitary dwarfism is an illness that can still be considered minor and not lethal if properly diagnosed early on in the dog’s life. Let us love all dogs no matter how big or small they are.
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3. Congenital Hydrocephalus
What is Congenital Hydrocephalus?
Congenital hydrocephalus is characterized as an illness affecting the brain of the dog. It is usually caused by an overproduction of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which pushes the soft parts of the brain towards the skull. This affects the brain’s development.
According to Wagwalking.com these are the symptoms of congenital hydrocephalus:
• Domed skull
• Wide set eyes
• Seizures
• Erratic or restless behavior
• Blindness
• Bumping into things
• Lack of coordination
• Compulsive circling
• Open fontanel or soft spot on the head
• Standing with legs crossed
• Weak back legs
• Smaller in size than littermates
• Kicking out front legs when walking
• Slow growth
• Difficulty in house training
• Difficulty drinking or eating
Based on this list and the one provided earlier, here are the common symptoms of congenital hydrocephalus and Down syndrome:
• Shorter height
• Difficulty in house training – slow mental development
These are the two symptoms that are shared by Down syndrome and congenital hydrocephalus.
The main similarity between the two is the slow mental development that exists in both conditions. This also affects the muscle coordination, which is why dogs with congenital hydrocephalus often hit objects around them.
Though we can point out that congenital hydrocephalus does not originate in the chromosomes of dogs unlike Down syndrome, the main reason is the condition of the dog’s brain. Although this cannot be confirmed at this time due to lack of research.
What are its causes?
The main cause of congenital hydrocephalus is the excess amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the dog’s brain; it is considered a birth defect.
It is also characterized by a domed skull or an apple head. Diagnosing a dog with congenital hydrocephalus cannot be done after they are born and it is not immediate.
It takes a lot of tests and can be fully diagnosed only once the dog starts training, drinking and eating on its own. There are instances when hydrocephalus is acquired by dogs due to brain swelling, infection or tumor.
How can it be treated?
Treatment for congenital hydrocephalus can be using medication or surgery. The treatment that will be used to reduce the inflammation in the dog’s brain will be decided by the veterinarian that will look at your dog’s specific condition.
The most common medicine prescribed to treat congenital hydrocephalus is called corticosteroids. Other drugs can be recommended depending on the severity of the dog’s condition.
In some cases, surgery is also one way to treat congenital hydrocephalus. Only veterinary specialists can perform this surgery and it should only be done upon the advice of the veterinarian who will check the dog.
Constant checkups should be done after the treatment is given to the dog. This is to track the progress of the dog’s condition and to make sure that there are no negative side effects.
In having surgery to treat congenital hydrocephalus, there are risks that should be discussed between the dog parent and the doctor. There are cases where surgery will not be advised.
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How can it be prevented?
Until now there is no record of a way to prevent congenital hydrocephalus in dogs. The only way to prevent the life threatening effects of this illness is early detection.
There should be scheduled appointments with veterinarians to regularly check the condition of the dog. And to make sure that they are not sick, even before they show any physical symptoms of the disease.
It is always best to detect these illnesses as early as possible in order for the treatment to start early and prevent feelings of discomfort in dogs.
How to care for a dog with Congenital Hydrocephalus?
Once a dog is diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus the dog parent should ask for the doctor’s advice on the best way that the illness can be treated.
If the treatment is medication, proper procedures in administering this medication should be followed and the dog’s progress should be tracked on a regular basis.
If the treatment choice is to have the dog undergo surgery, expectations should be set for the dog parent and the risks should be properly explained.
Dogs should be cared for whether they are sick or not. If they are diagnosed with an illness, there is no reason for them to not enjoy their life with their dog parents.
Dogs will appreciate all the efforts of their dog parents in assuring that they live a happy, healthy and an enjoyable life. Dog parents should always focus on getting dogs regular checkups to prevent any untoward illnesses.
4. Portosystemic Shunt
What is Portosystemic Shunt?
Portosystemic shunt occurs in the liver of dogs and is characterized by an irregular connection of the veins near the liver, causing blood to bypass the liver.
This can lead to hepatic underdevelopment, hepatic atrophy and will lead to liver failure. These are the symptoms of portosystemic shunt, according to VCAhospitals.com:
• Stunted growth
• Poor muscle development
• Abnormal behaviors: disorientation, starting into space, circling or head pressing & seizures
• Drinking and urinating too much
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
Based on these symptoms for portosystemic shunt, the following are the similar ones with the symptoms of Down syndrome:
• Short height
• Poor muscle development
These are the common symptoms between portosystemic shunt and Down syndrome.
What are its causes?
The cause of portosystemic shunt, according to VCAhospitals.com, is the failure of the shunt called ductus venosus to collapse when the puppy is born.
The ductus venosus is only needed when the dog is still a fetus but should disappear after birth. There are cases when it does not and it leads to the abnormal connection that affects the liver and its functions.
Another possible cause of portosystemic shunt is an irregular blood vessel outside the liver, which causes the blood bypass. These two causes cannot be determined before a puppy is born and will only present itself after the actual birth.
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How can it be treated?
There are three common treatments for portosystemic shunt. They are: diet change, lactulose and antibiotics. The treatment will be determined by the veterinarian depending on the severity of the dog’s condition.
A dog with portosystemic shunt should only eat high quality and highly digestible protein.
This is the meaning of diet change in dogs, instead of giving them meals that are rich in protein they will eat the opposite.
They can still eat protein but only the ones that are easy to digest, this is to aid in the digestion of the food and to not strain the liver.
The second treatment is the introduction of the sugar, lactulose which makes the large intestine of dogs rich in pH, and helps minimize production of toxins and bacteria in the large intestine.
Lastly, antibiotics can be given to dogs in order to minimize the bacterial population in the dog’s intestines. All of these treatments aim to not stress the dog’s liver and to help reduce the bacteria produced in the large intestine.
The specific treatment that will be given to dogs should be duly approved by the veterinarian. And an administration plan for the lactulose and antibiotics should be in place, to assure that the treatment will work.
Doctors may also suggest surgery for dogs depending on the severity of the portosystemic shunt.
How can it be prevented?
Prevention of portosystemic shunt has not been discovered yet, and is not possible as of now with the medical technology that we have.
Since the symptoms will only appear after birth, it is difficult to determine if a fetus will have this illness before they are born.
Dog parents can only practice the treatment recommendation of doctors, as well as the regular checkups with the dog’s veterinarian to aid in early detection and treatment for this dog illness.
How to care for a dog with Portosystemic Shunt?
Once a dog is diagnosed with portosystemic shunt and once a treatment has been prescribed by the doctor, dog parents should follow the prescription and keep the dog as happy and healthy as possible.
It is always better to make the dog feel loved and cared for and not left alone since they cannot do all the things which normal dogs can.
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Conclusion
To end this article, dog parents should see how important regular checkups are for the dog’s health and happiness as well.
Since most of the dog illnesses mentioned in this article have no known prevention yet, the only way to secure the future of your dog is the early detection and treatment of these illnesses to give them a happy and painless life with you and your family.
Down syndrome in dogs is still not conclusively proven up until now. Unlike for human beings, the number of tests conducted in dogs is too few to create a conclusion that dogs have Down syndrome.
But it is clear that there are common dog illnesses that resemble the symptoms found in human beings who have Down syndrome.
Even if it is not yet proven, there are articles indicating that dogs that are requiring special needs can be considered as dogs that have Down syndrome. But this can lead to misconceptions about the actual illness of the dog.
Actual illnesses of dogs should be made clear and not lumped with another different condition. It is clear that no matter how energetic or adorable a dog is, they are still prone to sickness.
That is why as dog parents, we should be responsible for keeping tabs on our dogs and making sure that they are well cared for, whether they are diagnosed with a certain illness or not.
Human beings will always be stewards of nature, and in this natural world, animals exist and we welcome them to our homes in the form of pets.
It is not right to treat them differently if they get sick or give them up just because it is too expensive to take care of them. This is not acceptable, as stewards of nature we should care for all living creatures, regardless of their health diagnosis.
There are a lot of research facilities, hospitals and foundations that aim to uphold animal rights and make sure they are truly cared for and not abandoned, just because they are not perfectly healthy.
All dogs deserve to live in a happy home with human beings who care for them no matter what; this should not be forgotten by dog parents everywhere.
At the end of the day, the only question that should be asked is, “how committed are you to your pet dog?”
If you are not committed to a life-long journey with man’s best friend then you should not get a pet dog.
Otherwise you will just be adding another number to the total number of stray and abandoned dogs found in all countries of the world. It would be unfair for dogs if they will not get the commitment, love and happiness that they truly deserve.
Caring for dogs should not be a burden, it should be a responsible choice of someone who can commit and not give up halfway.
As human beings, we should value life, especially those who are not as mentally developed as us, everyone deserves to live.
And if dogs will be shunned just because they are different, smaller or uncoordinated then they are not being given their right. We should protect the right of dogs, their right to live properly, happily and healthily with their chosen family.
To end this article, everyone should reflect on the commitment we are willing to give to our pets.
We are the ones who are responsible to maintain their living conditions and we should not get pets if we are not going to take care of them as long as they live.
Having pets should not just be a hobby or an activity to pass time. It is like marriage, it’s a lifelong commitment that should be protected and cared for by both parties.
Dogs will always love their dog parents. Dog parents should do the same, regardless of a dog’s breed, color, health condition and other factors that may affect their judgment.
The lifespan of dogs is not forever. Let us treasure our pet dogs as long as they are still with us. Regrets will come later on if we decide to leave them during the times they needed us the most.
And all dog parents should unconditionally love their dogs, because dogs do that for us. No matter how bad things get, a dog will always love their dog parent/s.
Let us spread love all around the world not just to dogs diagnosed with illness, but with our fellow human beings as well.
We are created equally even though we do not go through life in the same conditions and circumstances. It is only fair to respect one another, because we may never know what the other person is going through.
Let us support the studies being conducted to learn more about Down syndrome and respect those who are diagnosed with this condition. They are going through life with four times the difficulty that a normal person goes through.
Do not forget that at the end of the day we will all be equal once we die, let us live life knowing that in the end we are all the same.
Whether we are free from any health conditions or not, we are all human beings, living things, living on one planet. Let us cherish it and fill it with love and understanding.
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