Dog Breeds Common Health Issues With Corgis

A Corgi is one of the most well known dog breeds in the world. These dogs commonly grace the homes of the British royal family, and Queen Elizabeth II owns many of them. These fun loving dogs have short, elongated bodies, dense, harsh textured, medium length fur, and fox like ears. Corgis are sturdy, mobile, tough, alert, intelligent, active, steady, and are neither aggressive nor shy. They are known to be used as herding dogs, taking care of livestock. Although they have short legs, they are very fast and can obey most commands snappily.

Before getting a corgi, its best to have a little background on their health issues. Corgis are generally healthy dogs. They are after all bred for work. But they still do face some illnesses.

Skin Problems

Believe it or not, young corgis actually have skin thats as sensitive as humans. They face a lot of skin problems caused by irritants, mites, ticks and fleas. Parasites that bite the dog can cause rashes that may lead to infections. These can be treated with medicated baths, ointments and sprays. Some corgis may also have food allergies, so be careful what you give them. Food allergies take time to diagnose so its best to consult your vet it you notice something wrong with their stool, bowel movements and skin.

Weight Problems

Corgis are actually very prone to weight problems. This is caused by the same reasons as why humans become overweightmore food and less exercise. Since corgis are built to run around and be active, its best to give them a proper amount of exercise. Although they are medium to small sized dogs, corgis do better in wide living spaces where they can run around and play.

Degenerative Myelopathy

Degenerative myelopathy is a disease that affects the dogs nervous system. This illness usually affects bigger dog breeds, but in the corgis case, its also a common medical issue. This illness starts with the loss of control of the paws and hind legs, it slowly moves up all throughout the dogs body, resulting in full paralysis. Unfortunately, there is still no cure for this illness, and it can only be diagnose when the dog is older. Corgi owners must get themselves ready if this.

Joint and Back Problems

Because of their long bodies and short legs, corgis have a tendency to have joint and back problems. They also experience a lot of issues in the hip area. Proper diet and exercise helps keep their joints and back in good shape.