Diseases in Bernese Mountain Dogs

The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of four varieties of the Swiss Mountain Dog, all of which are native to Switzerland. The Bernese is a large-breed dog, originally used by farmers for a variety of tasks including driving cattle, pulling carts and guarding the farm and family. The Bernese Mountain dog is primarily a hardy dog, though there are some diseases and disorders that are commonly seen among the breed.

  1. Elbow Dysplasia

    • Elbow dysplasia is an umbrella term that is used to describe a variety of conditions such as fragmented medial coronoid process, osteochondrosis of the medial humeral condyle, incongruent elbow and ununited anconeal process. These condtions can also be a manifestation of osteochondritis dissecans, which causes an abnormality in the maturation of cartilage in the elbow. In many cases, a Bernese Mountain dog can be plagued by more than one of these conditions. Elbow dysplasia causes lameness and pain and most often affects both of the dog's front legs.

    Hip Dysplasia

    • Hip dysplasia is a progressive disease that affects the ball and socket of the hip joint. In dogs with hip dysplasia, the ball of the hip joint fits loosely within the hip socket, causing it to slide in and out occasionally. When this occurs repeatedly, it can lead to further joint degeneration which further weakens the hind legs. Hip dysplasia will often result in osteoarthritis, a painful condition that can cause lameness in your dog. Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition that is often seen in large-breed dogs like the Bernese Mountain dog. It cannot be cured, but it can be managed with pain medication, and hip replacement surgery can help in extremely severe cases.

    Aseptic Meningitis

    • Meningitis is a condition that causes an inflammation in the membranes of the spinal cord and brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection; however, some dog breeds seem to be predisposed to developing the condition. The Bernese Mountain dog is one of these breeds, with a genetic predisposition for aseptic meningitis. Aseptic meningitis generally occurs between the ages of three and 12 months and symptoms include an irregular gait, pain in the neck and fever. The condition can usually be treated with coricosteroids, though in some cases the dog will have to remain on the medication for life.

    Histiocytosis

    • Systemic and malignant histiocytosis are two types of cancer that can affect the Bernese Mountain dog. Histiocytes are macrophage cells that come from the bone marrow and are part of the body's immune defense system. Histiocytosis symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite and significant weight loss. In the event of systemic histiocytosis, a variety of skin lesions will be present; however, these skin lesions are extremely uncommon in cases of malignant histiocytosis. There are few options available for treating histiocytosis, as both surgery and chemotherapy have proven ineffective at combating the disease.