Dogs with Down Syndrome

Dogs with Down Syndrome: Cases, Symptoms, Expectation:

Most of us are familiar with Down Syndrome and its manifestations in humans. However, only a few of us know that even dogs may also be affected with this condition.

Down Syndrome is a condition where one of the main chromosomes, the Chromosome 21, is absent during the development of the fetus while inside the mother's womb. This chromosome, while not mainly affecting the fetus's chances of survival, is however vital in the formation of some body parts and internal organs. The physical and mental abnormalities usually appear after a few years from the individual's birthdate.

Though the condition in humans is usually manageable, the condition in dogs is far more life-threatening. Cases of dogs with Down Syndrome are rare primarily because most ‘puppies' who have it don't even get to see the light of day, as the mother's body usually rejects the damaged ‘zygote' at an early stage. Those who do survive, however, are expected to live alife different from those of the others.

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Dogs with Down Syndrome: Cases, Symptoms, Expectation

Does Your Dog have Down Syndrome?

Your family veterinarian is the only one who can identify if you pet is one of the dogs with Down Syndrome. The usual symptoms may include:

• congenital heart disease stemming from the abnormal formation of the dog's circulatory system;
• difficulty in hearing, very noticeable when the affected dog in a pack is the slowest to react versus the others
• poor eyesight, with a chance of cataract buildup in one eye or in both eyes;
• thyroid problems, accompanied by impaired metabolism and unstable body temperature, and;
• unusual physical features, with an always-dry and warm nose, unusual skin patches, frequent hair loss, deformed / incomplete legs and facial features being the most common

Aside from these, dogs with Down Syndrome may also exhibit unusual behavior. Though they tend to be more reserved versus the unaffected ones, affected dogs may frequently wail due to the potential malfunctioning of their internal organs.

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Does Your Dog have Down Syndrome?

Managing Your Pup's Condition

• Unfortunately, there are no treatments available to cure the dog's condition. Despite this, the owner of the affected dog can still give it a normal life. What could help the dog keep up with the demands of his ‘special' condition is primarily a balanced diet, just so the body still gets the vital nutrients it needs to sustain its daily functions.
• Dog foods rich in protein – meat jerkies, mashed beef, etc – will help the dog strengthen and repair wasted muscle. There is a caveat, however - some affected dogs may experience allergies when consuming substances included in processed foods. It is still best to have the vet check the dog food's contents to avoid aggravating the dog's condition.
• Lots of exercise – like daily brisk walking, training for dog tricks, and even sports like Frisbee – will also help the dog strengthen his heart and bones. Inactivity may pose some serious risks to the dog, including the weakening of the bone's skeletal structure. Similar with the precautions of giving food, it is also best to ask the vet about the activities the dog can do especially if it has congenital heart disease, as too much exercise may cause more harm to it than good.
• As maintenance, the vet may also advise regular checkups and prescribe vitamins / medications to keep the dog's system in functioning well. However, the prescriptions may cost a bundle since these are not over-the-counter, given the rarity of the condition among dogs. Proper dosages and time of medication should be strictly observed, as the dog's body may react differently compared to other affected dogs. The vet may advise the owner to try a few drops / little dosages of the prescription first and report allergic reactions, if any. The dog may experience seizures, unusual itching, and irregular panting if it's allergic to the substance given to it. The owner is advised to bring the dog to the vet immediately.

Having a life with dogs with Down syndrome may seem a bit difficult after reading some facts about it, but in reality it's as normal as anyone else's lives with their pets. Those who have taken care of their affected dogs are quite happy and fulfilled in being able to raise these dogs as normally as they could. To some, just the thought of being able to prolong the life of their ‘best friends' in ways they couldn't have imagined is a miracle. In effect, some even became nurses or health practitioners to both humans and animals, thanks to the ‘nurturing' gene they've developed.

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Dogs with Down Syndrome

What To Expect : Dogs with down syndrome

Of course, this is not to say that there are no tradeoffs. There will be adjustments, primarily in the household, for dogs suffering this condition. The pet owners should keep their kids and other sick household members from the affected dog, as its discharges (i.e. feces, blood discharges from the rectum) may contain substances harmful to one's health. Frequent sanitation of the dog's house spot is a must. The dog's sleeping area must be comfortable, too, as his senses and abilities will not enable him to move around that much. It is also not advised for owners to make their affected dog a ‘guard' of the house as it may not be able to do what it's supposed to because of its sensory impairments.

Also part of the owner's responsibilities is to ensure the affected dog can go out anytime and mingle with other dogs. Dogs with down syndrome will have no problems communicating with other dogs regardless of their condition. They have their own way of communicating among themselves and, unsurprisingly, normal dogs are able to find out if the other isn't normal or is sick.

Would it be safe to have another dog in the household?

Generally it is, as Down Syndrome even with dogs (and given its manifestations) isn't contagious, so it's okay for the affected dog to regularly mingle with its other canine housemates. There might be instances, however, when the discharge of the affected dog may be ‘consumed' by another dog, and this may result to bacterial infections. Another way to avoid this is to potty-train the affected dog, which is possible but might take longer than usual.

Reproduction among affected dogs is impossible given the chromosomal difference, and even if it was possible, the likelihood of the offspring to suffer the same fate is a given fact.

Taking care of your dog affected with Down syndrome is more of a gift rather than a burden. Living a normal life is possible just as long as the proper medication and guidance is given by the vet. More than the experience of taking care of the dog, however, is the emotional maturity that the setup is going to give to the owner, as taking care of the dog with a down syndrome is no easy task. Still, this is certainly something that will enable a dog owner to realize so many things. Who knows that even by just owning a dog, he is able to give so much love, attention, and concern? Who would know that despite the circumstances, he is able to give the dog the life that it deserves? Who would've known that taking care of a sick dog somehow become a crash course in nursing – sort of? These realizations would only come to those who are experiencing unusual life conditions, more so if it is something as rare as owning a dog affected with Down Syndrome. As they always say – those who go through the toughest of situations are the ones who come out the strongest in the end.