Irish
Setters are generally a hearty breed, often reaching 13 or
14 years of age; still, they are prone to health problems
of varying degrees of severity:
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is present in Irish Setters. With seizure disorders,
and with all the conditions mentioned here, it is important
that Irish Setter puppy buyers ask breeders about the frequency
of occurrence of such disorders in the pedigree.
Gastric
Dilation-Volvulus (GDV)
Often also called gastric torsion (or bloat, a misnomer, because
in bloat without torsion the stomach does not rotate), GDV
afflicts Irish Setters more often than most other breeds.
In this condition, the stomach twists and distends, acutely
affecting key veins in the abdominal cavity and causing the
failure of body systems. It should be noted that while GDV
in Irish setters is sometimes accompanied by the classic symptoms
of bloat, such as a distended abdomen and unproductive attempts
to vomit, these symptoms often are not present, at least not
in the earlier stages of GDV. Extreme restlessness is often
the only observable symptom. Any Irish Setter suspected of
being in torsion should receive immediate veterinary attention,
and Irish Setter owners should not be shy about insisting
on x-rays to ascertain a dog's condition. Furthermore, since
traditional home methods of relieving bloat (such as passing
a stomach tube or releasing trapped gas with a hypodermic
needle) are not effective in cases of torsion, Irish setter
owners are advised not to waste time trying such remedies
when they suspect torsion; getting veterinary attention for
dogs in torsion should be the top priority.
Precautions
should be taken by Irish Setter owners to lessen the likelihood
that their dogs develop this acute and life-threatening condition.
These precautions include:
1) feeding two or more smaller meals per day rather than one
large meal;
2) wetting dry food and allowing it to soak before feeding;
3) not allowing vigorous exercise for one hour before and
two hours after feeding;
4) elevating food dishes;
5) using a high quality food that doesn't contain soy.
GDV
can be quickly fatal, but if caught in time a prodedure called
gastropexy, in which the stomach is surgically tacked to the
abdominal wall, can be performed. This surgery radically decreases
the possibilty of GDV recurrence. Extensive information about
GDV can be found on the homepage of Purdue University's College
of Veterinary Medicine at http://www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/vad/cae/cgdvweb.htm
Hip
dysplasia
Also somewhat common in Irish Setters. All breeding stock
should be radiographically cleared of hip dysplasia at two
years of age before being bred.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is fairly common in Irish Setters. Proper diagnosis
of low thyroid activity requires a thyroid stimulating hormone
(TSH) response test in addition to the standard T4 test.
Progressive
Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
PRA, a form of hereditary blindness, was once a serious problem
in Irish Setters. Recently, however, a DNA test was made available
to determine which Irish Setters are PRA carriers and which
are not. In Irish Setters, PRA is a simple recessive and can
therefore be eliminated from breeding programs by breeding
known non-carriers to known non-carriers. Unlike some other
forms of PRA, in Irish Setters the condition has an early
onset; combined with the simple recessive nature of its inheritance,
the early onset of the disease enabled some Irish Setter breeders
to implement an effective, if controversial and not widely
adopted, program of test-breeding to eliminate PRA from their
breeding programs in the decades before the DNA test became
available. Information on the DNA test for PRA (rod-cone dysplasia
1) in Irish Setters is available at http://mendel.berkeley.edu/dogs/diseases/pra/blood.html
Hypertrophic
Osteodystrophy (HOD)
HOD afflicts some Irish Setter puppies (primarily between
four and eight months of age) and is sometimes fatal. Symptoms
can include fever, lethargy, swelling of joints, and lameness.
Many veterinarians are not experienced in diagnosing and treating
this condition, so it is important that puppy owners be aware
of HOD's existence. Oversupplementation of puppies and high
levels of protein in puppies' diets have been linked to the
development of this condition.
Spondylosis
Elderly Irish Setters often develop spondylosis, an arthritic
condition of the vertebrae which decreases mobility. This
condition often responds well to treatment with Adequan or
its oral forms (such as Cosequin and Glycoflex), and/or acupuncture.
